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.
22 Comments. Leave new
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
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.