OK - probably not quite, but it’s pretty bad. And I’m not talk pornography (although we happen to have a good one of those here today also) but straight-up, actual dirt.

See that strange blob on the right that looks like a prop from a ’70s outer space movie? Its smaller sibling is just to the left of the fan.

Here’s another shot from a different angle:

Let us implore you: please, please! consider cleaning out your TiVo. This adds a huge amount of heat to the inside of the unit, both by insulating the heat, and impeding the air flow. In this case, the power supply was blown, likely because it overheated.

If you have a hankering to open up your unit and clean it, just be sure to take the normal precautions:

• Unplug the unit and let it sit for five minutes. This lets the drive spin down, and drains power from the capacitors.
• Take the unit outside, or to a well-ventilated space.
• Carefully remove the cover.
• Clean the interior with compressed air, using short blasts from at least 12 inches away. 
• Never use a vacuum on the unit. Static electricity could cause serious problems.

Think of it as preventative maintenance: an apple a day for your TiVo.

Tags: dirty tivo, tivo cleaning

What great packaging! You used the plastic endcaps that we spend a fortune on! Thanks!

Oh, what’s that? You needed a bag for the drive? And so you used the one from your prescription for lubricating jelly for your bowels? Great! Thanks!

But, seriously folks: please, please don’t send us such packaging. It’s kinda gross, really.

If you call today and you’re on hold, that’s because we’re busy disinfecting the office.

This one takes the cake - dirtiest TiVo ever. King Tut’s got cleaner stuff:

Sand TiVo 1

Sand TiVo 2

And yet, with a new drive, it works . . . Don’t try this at home.

We do get lots of shipments here with really ingenuitive packaging. Every so often, one just really impresses us.

First off, this box was marked “Please Handle” and then “glass.” Please Handle? Excellent.

And notice the Hanes logo on the box? Maybe that explains the cushioning used on the unit.

What a way to recycle!

Is it possible that this is what is meant by “manufacturer-approved packaging”? Hmm. We’re thinking that it’s probably not the best way to send a hard drive, but this customer definitely wins points for leaving Vegas with something left in his pocket.