DVR Erases Recordings Randomly

Are we absolutely sure that nobody else is deleting them behind your back?

Make sure the shows have the green checkmark to "keep until I erase." You can make that a default setting in the app, but if you use the DVR to record shows, you'll have to choose that option each time.

As I'm sure you know, if it's not set to "keep until I erase" then shows will delete automatically when space is needed for new recordings.

Thank you for your reply, there’s definitely nobody erasing the shows on my DVR. We have all the recordings set to “keep all episodes until I race”. This thing will delete a show hours or minutes after recording a show. It’s very frustrating. I’m waiting for a tech support supervisor to call me today as they are attempting to do something on their end that this person has never seen. It will probably erase all or my series and future recording settings and I will have to set it all up again. We’ll see, I can only hope. If it doesn’t work they plan to send a senior tech to my house, whatever good that’ll do. 

Others have reported that recordings will be randomly deleted with no apparent reason.  There has never been an explanation offered or a solution that worked.

Bear in mind that recordings on a DVR are meant to be watched in a timely fashion and not for long term storage but if recordings are being erased within minutes, something ain't right.

I've been fortunate that I've never suffered the "disappearing recordings syndrome" but I have lost recordings when I had to replace the DVR. 

Hi @Seanbafford, we are delighted to help.

Sorry about the issues you are having with your DVR.

• If it is a series recording, there is an option that allows you to keep until space if full, 1-7 episodes only, or until you choose to delete it.
• If one of those options are selected, it may be the reason for it getting deleted.
• If that is not the case, there may be issues with your DVR.
• Try doing a non-destructive recovery and seeing if it is still happening.

To do so:

1. Unplug the receiver or DVR power cord from the wall or back of the box.
2. Wait 10 seconds.
3. Plug in the receiver and DVR.
4. When three white dots appear on the screen, unplug the receiver/DVR again.
5. Repeat this process two more times.
6. Plug the receiver/DVR back in on the third time and leave in. Three white dots appear followed by a gear with a status bar at the bottom of the screen.
7. If the Disaster Recovery screen does not appear, repeat the steps above.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for contacting us on AT&T Community Forums!

Lafayette, AT&T Community Specialist

"If it is a series recording, there is an option that allows you to keep until space if full, 1-7 episodes only, or until you choose to delete it."

The OP mentioned that the "keep until I delete" was activated.

In addition, U-Verse has no option to keep "1-7 episodes only."

@ATTHelp  As @baseballisback said, you are giving erroneous information or as I like to say:

And now someone marked it as an accepted solution, pushing it past several older posts.

I appreciate people that are willing to chime in, even if it’s just to make sure I’ve tried various things. I’ve done a lot at research, read many postings and explored every forums I could find and there does not seem to be a real solution. It’s happened with 4 different DVRs and several gateways, in more than 1 house as we have moved twice, so it’s impossible to pin down any one possible solution. The only thing that may be a factor is that we have 8 televisions, but no more than 4 are ever being used at the same time. 

We moved into our current home a year and a half ago. Although we’d had the problem in our previous house it had been quite a while. It didn’t start in this house until a approximately one month ago. 2 weeks ago tech support offered to send out a new DVR to attempt to resolve the issue. They sent a gateway instead of a DVR. When I called they apologized but suggested that I replace the modem while waiting for the new DVR. The DVR kept some recordings that day but by the next morning they were all gone again. After I installed the new DVR everything seemed fine for a week or so but now it’s worse than ever. I’m still waiting for tech support, they should be calling in the next hour or so if they weren’t just stringing me along. 

@baseballisback said

And now someone marked it as an accepted solution, pushing it past several older posts.

We understand that you're still having trouble with your DVR @Seanbafford.

• Did tech support ever contact you?

Please let us know were here to help.

Charles, AT&T Community Specialist

Charles 

Tech support did contact me as promised. Apparently the technician or department that he was trying to reach was never available. He is sending me yet another DVR and plans to call me Monday. The DVR should arrive Tuesday so this gentleman says he will call me again Thursday since he is off Tuesday and Wednesday. I’m hoping there will be some real answers by then rather than just another piece of equipment that is nothing more than a bandaid. If you have any thoughts or suggestions I would sure appreciate it. I looked into using a Tivo and eliminating the AT&T DVR all together but it doesn’t work with U-verse. If I’m honest I’m considering changing services. I would hate to go through the drama of changing but this is ridiculous. 

@Seanbafford

Since you already have an agent working on this with you, we'll have to wait and give them the opportunity to find a resolution.

If it turns out that they're unable to do so and you still need assistance, we'll be happy to take over. If you need help with any other aspect of your account, just let us know.

Thank you for reaching out to the AT&T Community Forums team.

Aminah, AT&T Community Specialist

Hello

I installed the DVR that was sent to me as a potential fix about 5 hours ago, lo and behold, nothing. Recordings are disappearing as fast as ever. This is BEYOND F-ING FRUSTRATING!!!!! U-verse isn’t exactly cheap, and with a DVR and 8 TVs on the U300 package it’s really NOT cheap. What do I get for this major monthly expense... inability to use my DVR and poor service. Even when the service is acceptable it’s still not good because the problems still remain. How is it possible for this to happen repeatedly and not have some sort of fix?!? I NEED SOME ANSWERS AND I NEED THEM NOW!!!

I figured, a lot of talk but no action. AT&T should be ashamed of themselves. 

We have had the exact same thing happened to us three times. Every time they send out a new DVR and eventually that one erases all of our recordings again, so they sent out another DVR. Rinse and repeat, with no solutions ever I tried the disaster recovery method from the AT&T rep in this thread, but nothing changed when the DVR came back up so frustrating. We lost news reports where my grandson made news from his high school playing football and now that has lost forever. I think the most frustrating part is these tentacle support people from the Philippines, Taiwan, or wherever they’re from  Have Scripps to go by for simple problems, but don’t know how to deal with situation is that they don’t have a script for, which is apparently the same problem you and I are having. Getting ready to call again and talk to a supervisor for more assistance. Wish me luck .