How do I stop the DVR from downloading shows I have already watched and not requested to be downloaded?

Using the search function to setup a series uses it default settings which is all channels and On Demand and reruns regardless of how you set up the DVR.  To record a program on a certain channel and time you use the guide to find it then press the record button twice.

I have always set the program to record off a certain channel from the guide and have never had this problem in the past.  Looking under series manager the shows are all listed as the current season and only on the channel that they air on.  When looking at the program series options I have them all listed as 1st run only & keep 5 episodes at most yet it continues to download entire series (10+ episodes) of many shows almost daily!  This is a new issue that has just started happening within the last two weeks.  I've had Directv for over 10 years and never had this issue.  I'm thinking the only answer is to drop Directv & just use streaming services & save well over $100/month!

Try a red button reset.

It's the guide data that does not list the 1st run correctly. Been broke for a LONG time.

Working fine here.

I've had that problem forever.

The information on whether a show is a first run or not SEEMS to be the difference between the first showing and the current showing.

You will see that some shows will display "first aired" and some do not.

I've seen this in varying amounts forever, have been a DirecTV customer for about 25 years, just about the time it first came out.

I have particular issues with the "gold" shows in Alaska.

I've even seen it fail when the displayed info shows the first run a year earlier. (this is why I think the data is in the guide data).

In any case, this has forced me to record ALL episodes. Irritating.

I have the same issue.  It'll suddenly and randomly record entire seasons of shows I've already watched from on demand.

After 2 loss of powers due to storms and a red button reset another round of multiple 21, 15 & 10 episodes downloaded causing my list to drop below 10% & shows being deleted for this download nonsense that I have NEVER requested.  Oh, and not to mention that I have less than 5% data on my internet plan for the month.  I have now deleted all but 16 programs to record in the series manager. Ditching Directv and switching to streaming only is looking really good especially in this economy

We never recommend connecting a DTV receiver to a caped/metered internet service.  While some channels don't put the correct or any air date(s) in the guide data those can generally be deleted before they are recorded.  Other then replacing the receiver I can't offer anything more.