i have 2 HR24-100 receivers. about 3 years ago when the bedroom receiver went bad, they sent someone out to replace it. this time the living room receiver went bad and they sent me a replacement and told me I did not to return the old one.
I would hang onto it and check back with them about it as well, before you eventually find a Non Return fee on your bill.
The HR24's are the top non Genie recvr out there, it would be surprising that they wouldn't want it back ...
In the mean time, if your wife wants to watch them movies, have her do it before you turn it off.
You can always keep the service going till shes done watching, if it is working enough to do that.
Also, if it is working and she wants to keep the movies, you can transfer them to another device, DVD, VHS whatever, but you'll have to do it as regular playback speed.