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question everything

(48,797 posts)
Thu Nov 19, 2020, 08:54 PM Nov 2020

Only in store repair for the Geek Squad?

Earlier this evening could not turn the cable/TV for the news. The light on the side of the cable control was pulsating. Called Comcast, there were some upgrade recently and they were going to send a signal. Cable box seems OK but cannot turn the TV on.

It is a SONY 42" - perhaps less - and is only three years old. And yes, when we purchased it at Best Buy three years ago, also a sound bar we paid them to connect to the cable and the CD player etc.

OK, contacted the Geek Squad and for a TV that is 42" or less.... we have to bring it to the store.

So there are the two of us, probably will be able to manage, but, really. What if I were alone? And will they come again to connect everything?

I suppose if we were in a senior home, we would not have to worry about that.

At least managed to find time Saturday evening. Will see.

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Only in store repair for the Geek Squad? (Original Post) question everything Nov 2020 OP
Before you disconnect it drray23 Nov 2020 #1
Thank you! Excellent idea! question everything Nov 2020 #2
Check youtube before any service Arne Nov 2020 #3
My mother in law experienced the same thing weeks ago kimbutgar Nov 2020 #4
One suggestion.... OAITW r.2.0 Nov 2020 #5
Thanks. This was the first thing we did, for the cable, has happened before question everything Nov 2020 #6
Miracle of Miracles question everything Nov 2020 #7
Glad to hear! OAITW r.2.0 Nov 2020 #9
Thanks. This sound like what we had question everything Nov 2020 #10
When my cable box light blinks ... left-of-center2012 Nov 2020 #8

drray23

(7,962 posts)
1. Before you disconnect it
Thu Nov 19, 2020, 08:59 PM
Nov 2020

I suggest you label the cables with colored tape and take pictures of the connections in case you are not sure you can figure out how to reconnect everything.

Arne

(3,601 posts)
3. Check youtube before any service
Thu Nov 19, 2020, 09:05 PM
Nov 2020


Search youtube with the exact description of tv and symptoms.
New tv's are easy to fix.
My first job was television repair when it was black and white.

kimbutgar

(23,262 posts)
4. My mother in law experienced the same thing weeks ago
Thu Nov 19, 2020, 09:11 PM
Nov 2020

We brought her a 50 inch smart tv Samsung or Sony at Best Buy and set it up when we visited her 2 years ago and it died. She first called the cable company who came and said it was the tv not cable. This is total bs. But call Sony and see if you can get it repaired In home.

Personally, I would just buy a new tv, and have the delivery people put the old one in storage.

And if you lived in a senior home you’d be on your own. I move people into senior living places and they’ll help with the initial hookup but after that you’d have to arrange for the repair on your own or you’d have to have get a new tv.

I’m hesitant to buy from Best Buy again.


Good luck

OAITW r.2.0

(28,361 posts)
5. One suggestion....
Thu Nov 19, 2020, 09:14 PM
Nov 2020

If you are plugged into a power strip, turn it off for 15 seconds or so. Then turn back on. This is known as a 'hard reset' when power is shut off to your TV and peripherals. The blinking light could be a trouble signal that will clear when you do this. My Visio has experienced this condition a few times and this seems to clear the problem.

question everything

(48,797 posts)
6. Thanks. This was the first thing we did, for the cable, has happened before
Thu Nov 19, 2020, 10:35 PM
Nov 2020

but then Comcast sent a signal and it appeared the cable box was OK - solid light instead of a flashing one. We even tried to switch connection in the power strip, in case the one for the TV was dead. Was not.

question everything

(48,797 posts)
7. Miracle of Miracles
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 12:09 AM
Nov 2020

Spouse was really unhappy about the whole thing. Really did not make sense that all of a sudden the TV lost power. And the alternative, of having a Geek Squad rep in the house when we are isolating, was bad enough.

Decided to play with an extension cord just for the TV. There are currently six devices plugged into the power strip.

Took me awhile to figure out which one was the TV and... all of a sudden it came on. Yes, even after plugging it back to the power strip.

Just glad that it is OK now.

OAITW r.2.0

(28,361 posts)
9. Glad to hear!
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 07:48 AM
Nov 2020

When you turn the TV off with the remote, it cuts the power to the screen. The TV is still "on" as far as the TV electronics are concerned. When you pull the plug from the outlet or power strip, this shuts the the TV down completely. When you plug it back in and turn the TV on, it has to recycle through the whole software start-up sequence. When you have a bunch of things plugged into the same outlet, there can be some spikes of energy that get sent to the TV causing the CPU to freeze up and act like it's broken.

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
8. When my cable box light blinks ...
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 05:13 AM
Nov 2020

I usually can reset it by unplugging the power for 30 seconds and plugging it back in.

I have found other problems solved by googling the issue.

also sometimes instead of using the remote to turn the TV on or off to solve a problem I have to use the on/off button on the side of my TV.

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