SDD Replacement

[johnmw1]

Hi,
As I suspect my SDD is on the fritz with a constant horizontal line running through the middle of the screen, I'm guessing there are a few choices?

Put up with it

Replace the SDD

Transfer the recordings to another portable drive, as the drive is nearly full anyway.

Points 2 and 3, I'm clueless, so I could use some help, please.

Cheers,
John

[Keith]

Hi John,

I'm no expert but it sounds more like a graphics issue with the Icebox, or a faulty HDMI cable, rather than how full your SSD is. Check the HDMI cable is fully seated at each connector. If that doesn't help, try changing the HDMI cable and see what happens.

If there are no other suggestions/advice from one of the IceBox gurus, I suggest you lodge a support ticket through the IceTV website (Help dropdown menu, Customer Support, Submit a Request).

Hopefully, it's something simple.

Cheers,
Keith

[prl]

I agree with Keith that it doesn't sound like an SSD problem to me, either. I doubt that a dodgy HDMI cable would cause that problem, either, but it's worth a try.

I'd be more suspecting the TV or the box's graphics hardware.

[NBOSTI]

I very much doubt it would be a full SSD.
First off I would check the Icebox settings, should be as in set up guide:
 > System > Display (bottom "Cog" on Advanced/Expert)
- Resolution 1920 x 1080.
- Refresh Rate 50.00
If they change after setting them it could be a HDMI fault.
Either the cable not a high enough standard, the HDMI port on the TV not supporting the standard or the TV itself not playing friendly.
Try these steps, and these are just off the top of my head and things that have worked for me in the past ,.
Restart the Icebox after each and check the resolution and refresh.
*Set the resolution and refresh rate as stated. Do a restart.
Try a different HDMI cable*
Try a different HDMI port on TV*
Is CEC enabled on the TV?  Try turning it off.  Different TV brands have their own interpretation on CEC and how it is implemented, quite often the "handshake" between the TV and connected devices can be broken for any of a number of reasons. TV software updates can disrupt this handshake.
Try a power cycle / reboot o TV as well.
All devices these days can benefit from a regular restart/ reboot, cleans up the system.
Another thing, under the "Initial Setup" guidelines for the Ice box is a section "TV Settings" regarding many different  options  with many different names TV makers choose to use. If any of these have been changed since initial set up of IceBox, then that may be the cause.
Good luck.

[DeltaMikeCharlie]

Try a different HDMI port on TV*

If you have another HDMI device connected to your TV, you could swap the 2 around and see if the problem follows the IceBox or follows the HDMI port.

[johnmw1]

Sorry, guys, I've been on nights and have only just tuned in again, so thanks for your replies in the meantime.

A couple of points and more investigation to follow.

This TV is only 12 months old, so I'm hoping it's not broken already.

I did have a software update sometime last week, and it was after that when I noticed this line appearing across the screen, but only on the IceBox, and not on any of my other streaming devices.

I have swapped the HDMI cable, but the line is still there. I will swap HDMI ports later today to see if it changes anything.

More to follow..........

[IanL-S]

If all else fails, you could try resetting the TV to factory defaults. I had problems with HDMI (cannot remember what) and the quick solution was to reset to factory defaults. This will zap installation for any streaming services you have - may have to install them again and sign in.

There may also be a setting allowing you to reset individual HDMI ports on the TV.

Ian

[johnmw1]

Hi again,

I have now swapped ports and done a complete power off and on again, all with no change.

Watching this horizontal line more closely, I notice that the picture seems split, and the top and bottom halves of the image do not line up anymore, only by mm but enough to become annoying.

As suggested by Ian, I could also try and reset the TV, or try and roll back the latest update.

[DeltaMikeCharlie]

Where does the error occur?
Does it only happen when watching TV or a recording, or also in the Kodi Menu?
Is it on the screen from the moment the IceBox powers-on, or does it appear later?

This could be a long shot, but are we sure that this artefact is not being generated by either Kodi or the operating system?

Maybe a screenshot when Kodi is running could help.  If the screenshot is clear then the error could be hardware-related, but if the line is there, then it could be software-related.

To do a screenshot, connect a USB keyboard to the IceBox and press Ctrl-S.  The screenshot will be in '/storage/screenshots'.

Have you tried another monitor?  It would not have to be a big TV, just a computer monitor with HDMI input would be sufficient.  Luckily, the IceBox is portable enough to take to a friend's house if you need to.

Have you tried adjusting the output resolution within Kodi?  Settings -> System -> Display.  You may find a setting that works or that the error changes in different ways, either could be helpful.

[johnmw1]

Thanks, DeltaMikeCharlie, you have given me a few more options to look into. I will not be able to test anything more for now until the end of the week, as I'm on night shift.

Cheers,
John

[johnmw1]

I have done a few more checks, and so far, I still cannot remove this line.

The only thing I have yet to do is perform a hard reset, but I'm unsure how to transfer my recordings to another drive first, as I would like to keep them. I tried plugging in a portable HDD into one of the USB ports on the IceBox, but that interfered with the RC and stopped it from working.

[MD]

Have you tried plugging the HDMI cable into another TV or monitor to ensure it is the IceBox or HDMI cable, not the current TV.

[johnmw1]

Hi MD,

I tried swapping ports on the back of the TV, as well as using a brand-new HDMI cable that was still in its packaging.

Live TV, and any other media service, I cannot see this line, and it's only when I run through the IceBox. All since the TV software update the other week.

Cheers,
John

[raymondjpg]

...but I'm unsure how to transfer my recordings to another drive first, as I would like to keep them...

If you have a Windows PC networked with IceBox then you can access all your recordings through file explorer. At the Network area in explorer click on the address bar and type in the IP address of the IceBox thus "\\xx.xx.xx.xx" (without quotes) where xx.xx.xx.xx is the IP address of the IceBox.

Recordings are in the "Recordings" folder.

Then copy to your portable HDD plugged into the Windows PC.

I tried swapping ports on the back of the TV, as well as using a brand-new HDMI cable that was still in its packaging.

The suggestion was to try a different TV/PC monitor. All you are doing here is confirming that IceBox has an issue with your current TV. With a different TV/PC monitor it will tell you if the issue is with IceBox or your current TV.

[johnmw1]

Hi Raymond,

Thanks for those instructions, as I had no idea.

Oh, I missed that point, so yes, I can try it on another TV tomorrow as I'm at work atm.

Cheers,
John