just tried turning on the tv (and then the cable box)

waiting for the picture on the screen to pop up took a really long time, so i shut them both off, waited a few seconds and turned them back on.... no difference

so i shut off the main switch on both, let them sit for a while and then flipped the switch, and turned them both on, and now the cable box is blinking "hold"

***?

has this happened to anyone? what do i do?