My neighbor gave us his TV before moving away. It's a nice Vizio but buttons on TV are lock and universal remote won't let it move or select

Not all universal remotes work with all TVs, if you have followed the instructions that came with the remote it doesn't work with your TV, instead of trying to program a remote order a factory remote on ebay for around $5.00

Janet, it is possible your television was on placed on timer, remove the timer then move on.

The instructions on letting the Hipi remote to seach for the code that came with my remote are not correct. I used the instructions from HOWTO.COM and printed below. There are two changes from the printed instructions. The first is to push the <TV> button after the <Code Search> button. The second is that the <Enter> button saved the code not the <MUTE> button.

Instructions
1
Turn on the Vizio TV.
2
Aim the Jumbo Universal Remote at the Vizio TV and hold down the "Code Search" button on the remove for roughly 3 to 5 seconds. The LED lights on the Jumbo Universal Remote will come on.
3
Press the "TV" button at the top of the Jumbo Universal Remote.
4
Start pressing the "ON/OFF" button repeatedly until the Vizio TV turns off. (This took only a few tries for my Vizio TV)
5
Press "Enter" on the remote immediately after the Vizio TV turns off to save the code.
6
Test the Jumbo Universal Remote by trying to control the Vizio TV with the remote. If the control doesn't work with the remote, repeat the entire process.

By manual I guess you mean the buttons on the TV and not switching the actual cables. my recommendation is to get a good new universal remote. My personal preference for my Vizio TV is the Logitech 650. Just know that you program it on a computer. It controls up to 6 devices (TV, DVD, Cable box, audio and more), is easy to program with no codes to enter. I am sure it is easier to get then a new Vizio remote though a little pricey at $60.
Hope this helps,
Cullen

Please rate!
$20 for a NEW remote is fair. There are some cheaper universal remotes from the big box stores but you then have to program it. Some of these universal remotes are tricky with combo units. A new remote would be ready to go out of the box.
Most of Toshiba's products have a manual online than can be viewed, downloaded, or printed off.

u can go 2 buy a universal remote with a handbook 2 tell u how 2 program it lol.b alot easier.that way if u have dvd & vcr...it can b programmed 2 operate it as well as the tv!universal remotes r the best sollution lol.lazier the better lol.

try 0000

Not all Vizio TVs use the same codes with their Vizio remotes also. That's why this is a problem.
Here's the possible codes from my Directv book.
11756 and 10178
If that doesn't work, you may still find a setup code that works for your device by stepping through the library codes in your remote. The following instructions will help you do this.

StepNSet

• Set the "Mode Switch" to the desired mode such as TV for a Television.
• Press and hold the "Mute" button and the "Select" button until the visible LED blinks twice.
• Enter the code "991" followed by the "device number"
  1. for Televisions
  2. for "AUX 1" devices - VCRs or DVDs
  3. for "AUX 2" devices - Audio
• You can step through the setup codes for this mode by pressing the "Channel Up" key to go forward through the codes or pressing the "Channel Down" key to go back to the previous codes.
• You can try out each code by pressing one or more function keys such as power, volume or digit keys.
• When you've found the setup code that works for your device, press the "Select" key.

You cannot unlock the TV without the remote. It will require a numeric password that you gave it and that can be only done with the remote. You can get a universal remote to do this without waiting for a replacement from LG/ZENITH

if you can bring up the menu try using the volume up / down and channel up/down on the remote to change your selection. that might work