Thank you for your prompt reply. The hard drive from the Humax was indeed discovered when we connected it to a PC and went into disk management, but due to the different filing system we were not able to see the video files.
Without further information when I get time I will have a good look at the PCB. Theres a lot that can be done. Power supply rails can be checked with a scope. With the power off the PCB can be examined for faulty passive components such as the resistor and for poor soldering. In particular the components and circuit of anything heading towards the SATA data connector can be checked. Sometimes in general microprocessor based electronics it is possible to see the "body diode" looking into a chip using the diode test function, and this may apply to the system on a chip micro, but we couldn't discern anything this way looking into the SATA port.
The STB lives at my friends house and I will get back to you when I have made time to have another look with proper equipment.
The way the fault developed is odd in that the access to the HDD became more uncertain over a period of time. This suggests to me the gradual degradation of something passive such as an electrolytic, a soldered joint, or a resistor. Degradation of soldered joints can sometimes be found by setting the unit running normally and then twisting the PCB.
Thanks again
Dave.
