Video Asylum

Posted by Cosmic Closet (A) on November 29, 2008 at 15:14:47

My Panny DMR-EZ475 (DVD/VHS recorder combo) suddenly got finicky and won't read, let alone record, DVD-RWs anymore.
I put in discs recorded on the machine before (not long ago), and it should at least read them, stop and wait for further instructions. For re-use, it would normally be simple to erase and use again, but I can't even get to that point.

Now it just 'reads' with a bit of transport noise to indicate the laser is trying, and then freezes up. I can put in commercial DVDs and they play fine, and I can put in DVD-Rs and it will record and play them just fine too (finalized and unfinalized.) But no RWs for some reason.

I tested several of the RWs on other machines and the discs are fine.
I am hoping I am overlooking something (although I have done resets, unplugs et.cetera) since I use it for the evening news and I really don't want to waste DVD-Rs every night for that.

Of course, deep down the little voice is saying "With $2.50 of electronics on the board, what do you expect?".....:-) It has not been the most stable of machines, overall.

C.