How to reset your DIRECTV DVR when it locks up

Earlier this week, my DIRECTV DVR completely locked up. It wouldn't respond to anything. This always frightens me as I have yet to find an easy and reliable way to backup the files (shows) on my DVR like I would with my computer.

I'm still fairly new to the DIRECTV DVRs so I figured like TiVo there was no way to reboot the DVR unless I unplugged it and plugged it back in. Unfortunately for me, this means pulling out equipment and blindly reaching for the power cord behind the DVR.

Luckily it worked and the DVR started rebooting.

When it finally finished rebooting a few minutes later, I was presented with a message letting me know that I had received a new software update and that my DVR was now 3D-ready.

Cool update, not so cool that it still didn't work

Pretty cool I thought, until I realized that as soon as I acknowledged the message everything locked up again.

I dreaded having to blindly fish for the power cord to reboot once again but then I remembered hearing something about a reset button on DIRECTV DVRs. It took me a minute, but I finally found this:

This button is located on my DVR in the card slot at the very bottom right of the receiver. Open the door to the card slot and voila, you're in business.

One press of the red reset button and the DVR started rebooting. That made me happy. Having to reboot a second time didn't.

For the record, the second reboot didn't work either. It wasn't until the third reboot that my DVR finally started working again.

Not alone

Apparently, I wasn't the only one with this problem because this email arrived in my inbox the following day:

Dear Patric,

You may have experienced a transmission glitch to your DIRECTV service. DIRECTV has fixed the problem and automatically reset the receivers. There's nothing further that you need to do. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this technical issue has caused.

Our promise is to provide you with the best television experience, and to resolve any issues that might arise as quickly as possible.

Thank you for being a valued DIRECTV customer.

A little late but at leasted they owned up to the problem.

So the lesson here is, if your DIRECTV DVR isn't responding or is otherwise locked up, look for the red reset button and press it. Or if necessary, press it 2 or 3 times like I had to.