A method of managing a television receiver, comprising: creating a two-dimensional barcode with information corresponding to the configuration or settings information of the television receiver; and outputting the two-dimensional barcode from the television receiver for display on a display device; scanning the two-dimensional barcode from the display device into a mobile device; decoding the two-dimensional barcode with the mobile device and storing the information corresponding to the configuration or settings information of the television receiver in a configuration data source for later use in the event of reconfiguration of the television receiver; sensing an error condition of a television receiver during its operation indicating a failure of the television receiver; creating a two-dimensional barcode with information corresponding to the error condition of the television receiver and with routing information; and outputting the two-dimensional barcode from the television receiver for display on a display device; scanning the two-dimensional barcode from the display device into a mobile device; decoding the two-dimensional barcode with the mobile device to convey the information regarding the error condition of the television receiver and the routing information to the mobile device; utilizing the routing information with the mobile device to access a remote site and direct the information regarding the error condition to a service provider capable of mitigating the error condition; and subsequently, the television receiver: receiving an indication that it is to be reconfigured in response to the failure; establishing a connection to the configuration data source; downloading the previously stored configuration or setting information from the configuration data source; and configuring the television receiver according to the downloaded information. creating a two-dimensional barcode with information corresponding to the configuration or settings information of the television receiver; and outputting the two-dimensional barcode from the television receiver for display on a display device; scanning the two-dimensional barcode from the display device into a mobile device; decoding the two-dimensional barcode with the mobile device and storing the information corresponding to the configuration or settings information of the television receiver in a configuration data source for later use in the event of reconfiguration of the television receiver; sensing an error condition of a television receiver during its operation indicating a failure of the television receiver; creating a two-dimensional barcode with information corresponding to the error condition of the television receiver and with routing information; and outputting the two-dimensional barcode from the television receiver for display on a display device; scanning the two-dimensional barcode from the display device into a mobile device; decoding the two-dimensional barcode with the mobile device to convey the information regarding the error condition of the television receiver and the routing information to the mobile device; utilizing the routing information with the mobile device to access a remote site and direct the information regarding the error condition to a service provider capable of mitigating the error condition; and subsequently, the television receiver: receiving an indication that it is to be reconfigured in response to the failure; establishing a connection to the configuration data source; downloading the previously stored configuration or setting information from the configuration data source; and configuring the television receiver according to the downloaded information. receiving an indication that it is to be reconfigured in response to the failure; establishing a connection to the configuration data source; downloading the previously stored configuration or setting information from the configuration data source; and configuring the television receiver according to the downloaded information.