Sadly, I think my efforts have been too little too late.
My ViP722 got as far as reformatting the new 1 terabyte external hard disc and then resetting (which I didn't want it to do after going through all the wait and hassle of getting it to reboot).
Usually the ViP722 would get as far as "3 of 5" on getting the signal from the satellite, then going black and resetting.
Then it finally rebooted, tried to download the guide but I canceled out of that, went directly to recordings and tried to copy something over to the ext. HDD. The receiver locked up a little way through the process. It hasn't rebooted successfully since.
I think the hard disc in the receiver is toast and I'm out $140 for pretty much nothing.
On top of that, I don't know how Dish is going to treat me in providing a replacement receiver. I'm a HD Absolute subscriber, plus have HBO. I've been with Dish since 1999. Don't know if that's going to mean anything.
Edit: I checked my billing. I assume the $6 per month DVR service fee will help me get the receiver replaced free of charge. Time to talk to a CSR!