Like with every electronic device, you are bound to encounter a software bug on your DStv decoder at one point in time or the other. I always advise anyone who wishes to buy a satellite product to buy same from a professional installer and dealer.Today, I will be walking you through how to Fix DStv decoders Soft-brick problems. You can call this how to hard reset/factory reset a DStv decoder using button combination. This method comes handy when you can’t access your decoder’s menu due to software blimp
If you buy it from just a mega dealer or marketer(no insult meant) such person will be more concerned with sales than with offering troubleshooting guides. Many dealers don’t care to know most problems-solving fixes applicable to the devices they sell.
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Fix DStv decoders Soft-brick problems: How to revive/fix a DStv HD or Explora decoder with loading/booting problem
Definition of the problem
This problem occurs when a decoder that is already in use and with an existing subscription simply refuses to boot. I mean when you switch on your decoder, it loads till eternity without entering the menu. Now, before you hard reset this device, first try the simplest troubleshooting as follows:
METHOD 1
- Unplug the power cord from the decoder for at least 10 minutes.
- Disconnect every external input devices such as USB drives and the smart card.
- Now reconnect only the power cable and see if your decoder boots fully this time around. If it still fails, please proceed to method 2 below.
METHOD 2
If the above fails, then this must work otherwise, you may have to go to their office. All other things being equal, this method will solve your DStv decoder booting problem.
I will advise you to use the buttons on your decoder for this. Below are the steps.
- First of, unplug the power cord completely.
- Next without plugging back the cable, press and hold the P+(P plus) button on your decoder.
- Now, with your other hand, plugin your the decoder’s power cable while you continue pressing and holding the P+ button.
- Monitor the progress on your TV screen and immediately you see the message “CODE”( You will see this on the top right corner), let go of the P+ button.
- Almost immediately after releasing the P+ button, press the following buttons in the sequence/order: P-,P+,P+,P-(-++-).
- Your DStv HD decoder should now boot up properly on the next restart.
METHOD 3.
If the two methods above fail, then you will have no choice than to take your decoder to their office. However, make sure you follow the process judiciously.
Fix DStv decoders Soft-brick problems{ Solving DStv decoder that refuses to scan or one that brings an installation wizard page when powered on
Defining the problem
If you have something like what is in the picture below or your decoder fails to scan any channels upon startup, then this might help. What I am saying is that your decoder is not new, and it has been working previously without any issues.
Suddenly, you switch it on and you are greeted with the installation wizard as if you are trying to activate a new decoder. By comparison, yours won’t even scan any channels. If you have either of the abovementioned problems, please follow the methods below to fix your decoder without visiting DStv office
METHOD 1
In most cases, your decoder will refuse to display any channels if your coaxial cable is unconnected to the decoder. Also, if the cable is broken or the LNB is faulty, you will have problems getting channels. Finally, if you DiSEqC switch is history, you can also have this problem. However, for all the problems listed above, your DStv decoder will display the E48(bad signal error). Please take note of this. However, if yours is not having such error code. Then the next method will fix it for you.
METHOD 2
Just like that of loading problems, you can solve DStv decoder installation wizard error and channels scanning problems by factory resetting your decoder using the P+ and P- buttons.
- Power off your decoder
- press and hold the p+ button
- While still holding that button steadily, switch on your decoder
- look out for the word “CODE” on your TV and once you see it, release the P+ button
- After releasing the P+ button, press -++- in quick succession and your decoder will be able to scan once again. It will also be ready to complete the installation wizard successfully.
45 Comments. Leave new
Hi there.. I have a PACE HD PVR (the one that records to channels).. All I get when I switch it on the the word “boot”. But then nothing else, no flashing lights and moving on the next phase and it’s not responsive to the remote. Any ideas as to the cause/solution for this problem? Your advice would be most appreciated. Kind regarsd.. Dave
Hi L. Morgan.
Am Joseph mwansa from Zambia.
My dstv explora is not booting. But only show the ! Sign. What can i do
@Joseph mwansa: please try the tricks here: https://www.lemmymorgan.com/fix-dstv-decoders-soft-brick-problems/
Hi
Please my Explora keeps on asking for upgrade but when I try pressing it to upgrade it doesn’t but reboots and this goes on and on. I was taught how to upgrade software without using remote but it seems I must have forgotten. Please help.
@Ayo: perform the reset
I inserted the smartcard during the process
Hello
After pressing the p+(-) it showed me loader data and download progress without inserting my smartcard
@adewuni: let the process completes and you insert your smart card afterwards
Hi Lemmy
I’ve tried the resetting -p +p+p -p decoder reloads, then goes back to Installation wizard and gets stuck on step 3,-This function cannot be as the signal strength is poor. Any suggestions.
Thanks
@Andre: please why is your signal poor? have you asked an installer to help you look into your dish positioning and allignment?
Hi Lemmy
I have 3 decoders, the primary and third decoder are fine. I reside in the Eastern Cape in South Africa and a friend of mine has the same problem as his second decoder also went down at exactly the same time( so I believe its a fault on Multi Choice side)He called an installer out and was able to reset the second decoder to factory settings. My problem is that my decoder is frozen on the Installation wizard screen even after reloading(-p+p+p-p).I am able to proceed to step 4 of the installation wizard stage and no further. I have plugged in an old decoder to test the signal strength via the LNB cable and all is fine.Defintly a software malfunction via the service provider. I have called them on numerous occasions and they promise to get back to me but still waiting
@Andre: I am happy that you are able to isolate the problem. Please walk in into any multichoice office to get this resolved
My explora 2 soon afterbooting it shows the dstv load screen then after a few seconds the screen turns all blue and it’s stuck there it cant boot. i hv tried several time to switch it on and off but to no avail. What could be the issue
@Dalo: have you reset it? Follow my tips above sir
Hi,
I have tried the reset option i.e continously holding the p+ button and then powering it on. Then doing -++- it the shows FU, after a few seconds it displays NONE. Then starts loAd with blue screen again.
@Dalo: you might have miscued the steps. Please repeat the steps patiently over again
Comment *my decoder hd 5s is showing a red sign on the decoder its not sending any signal to the screen
@Courage: Do you know any event that led to this? Have you check to be sure your HDM/AV cable is not faulty
Hi Lemmy,
My decoder keeps showing me a pop up to format it saying hard drive corrupt. I took it to multichoice and they were unable to format it. Saying the hard drive needs to be replaced but it’s super expensive. Is there anyway the hard drive can be fixed without having to buy a new one altogether?
@NCT: if the hard drive is damaged, I am afraid you may need to replace it, sir.
Good morning Lemmy i got a problem with my decoder its is the installation wizard i try too fix it but it don t go away soo what can i do now multichoice says i must call a installer
@Jackie: please read this article thoroughly https://www.lemmymorgan.com/fix-dstv-decoders-soft-brick-problems/
Hi there,
My Explora 2 went into the neverending boot – loAd sequence, obviously out of warranty…
I removed the hard drive – a 2 TB Seagate and tested it on a Desktop solution with Seagate ‘s SeaTools. The result is the HDD is shot, 1000s bad sectors advising to destroy it and replace it.
I replaced it with a Seagate 1TB formatted, and installed it back into the decoder.
When I boot the decoder and follow the HDD format procedure, it completes the procedure and then:
Boot, loAd…. but after about a minute it show FAIL message on the display… boot again and then loAd and stay in that mode with out ever loading.
I tried it a few times and the same result every time.
I also tried the P-P+P+P- code but it just display the “none” instead of HDDF or code, reboot and then stay in loAd mode.
Do you perhaps have any advice what else I can try – because I’m not buying another decoder, ever.
@Ben: i think the default HDD was linked to the decoder. Why can’t you go and buy the replacement HDD Directly from multichoice?
@Lemmy.
Thank you for your feedback, much appreciated.
I already had the 1TB drive, which I bought before the decoder issue to install in a local server. Therefore, I didn’t want to incur another expense and higher expense by buying it from Multichoice.
Do you perhaps know how many partitions are required and the size of those partitions and the required format of each partition?
@Ben: I am sorry I don’t know the answer to those questions. I am also 99% that you can buy and fix a hard disk on a branded/customized decoder and expect it to work just like that. If it works, it simply means there is a loophole in their system and hackers will take advantage of it.
I managed to replace the original disk in my Explora with another disk without taking it in to MultiChoice. Took a number of attempts, but it can be done.
[…] Especially relevant: How to solve DStv installation wizard and booting errors […]
Hello please help i have factory reset my decorder HD 5s model and am only able to view channel 100. for the rest of the channels am getting a E30-0 error saying we are confirming your subcription ,this may take a few minutes but its taking forever. Dstv office says my subscription is fine. i live far from dstv office.
@wamunyiwa: please wait it out.
My decoder flash red snd green continously, nothing showing on my screen
@Az: take it to their office please
Did you resolve your problem? Please let me know how?
My TV says no signal and my decoder has the red and green lights flashing while the amber light stays on. It doesn’t scan.
Comment Comment *please I’m in Ghana and I’m having a problem with my dstv 5s decoder,my son factory reseted it and now it’s at the installation wizard mode step 4 of 4.
it keeps rolling back each time the scanning is almost done.
@Gyim bot: please read through thei very carefully. https://www.lemmymorgan.com/fix-dstv-decoders-soft-brick-problems/
Comment *please I tried it and it worked perfect.thanks boss.
Hi thanks fur the good work you doing. Please I have a problem with a satellite decoder call VOD..
It doesn’t boot what could be the cause and what should I do pls .thank you
@Solution: what led to the problem? Did you discover this when you wanted to use it the first time?
My completed stage 3 but refuses to complete the process then I pressed scan then it said this can’t be processed due to bad weather or weak signal strength
@Vuyiswa: there is something wrong with either your dish and LN or the weather was bad as at when you were trying to set this up. The solution is for you to call an installer to help you check your dish alignment.
Oga Lemmy if u subscribe compact on Dstv will u still have sport 5 and 6 open?
@Sammy: some subscribers still do. My neighbour still receives them actually.
I had such problem in which my Dstv decoder refuse to boot it shown waiting for si..
I have encountered this issue severally what I do is unplug the power source then plug and unplug twice , then go to the satellite remove the cable and plug it in, and it starts to work
Those key combinations had saved me from an embarrassing moment some days back.