[mythtv-users] Busted pcHDTV HD-5500

[Tom Dexter]

On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 1:29 PM, Larry
Sanderson<larry.sanderson at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Monday 15 June 2009 01:04:05 pm Brian Wood wrote:
>> On Monday 15 June 2009 10:50:36 Larry Sanderson wrote:
>> > After over 2 years of flawless execution, one of my two HD-5500 cards
>> > died. I tried the bad card in isolation on all my PCI slots, but the OS
>> > never saw it. I don't get any errors in my log files; it's just like
>> >
>> > ...
>> ...
>> Check the card over physically very carefully, look for blown capacitors,
>> broken lands or any other obvious flaw.
>>
>> Make sure the connector fingers are clean, and nothing is bridging any
>> connections.
>>
>> Make sure the card is seating properly in the slot.
>>
>> If possible, try the card in another machine.
>>
>> I know all these things are obvious, but it never hurts to mention them.
>
> Thanks for this... obvious is a good place to start.
>
> I have never seen a blown capacitor before, but google can help me there.  I
> think I'll try looking the card over one last time, clean the leads, and give
> it another shot.

A blown capacitor can often be physically cracked and/or have stuff
oozing out of it.  I know from replacing some power supply capacitors
in a hopelessly misengineered Panasonic DMR-E85H DVR in the darker
days before my MythTV system ;).

Tom