DVD Recorder Repair

I have a Panasonic DVD recorder; it has a HDD upon which to record stuff as well as a DVD player to play discs and I can burn new DVDs on it. I was burning a recorded program onto DVD (purely for private viewing purposes; never to sell or show for reward) and, ever since that, the machine thinks that it has a DVD in the carriage thingy. There isn't one in there and now it won't play DVDs. let alone burn 'em.

Is there someone out there who knows about these things? I imagine I could go to Hills Telefix and pay a fee for them to tell me some easy fix, but I thought that this triffic little TWF community might well be the way to go.

clean out all content on the HDD. turn off and unplug dvd recorder for 24 hours, plug in again and see what happens. also consider downloading a firmware update for device, if one is available

open tray / cover and blow out dust - probably blocking the disc detect sensor

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Originally Posted by blueandblack

clean out all content on the HDD.

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But if it's a HDD then it should be ok to leave on it, right? And I'm wanting to burn them once the issue is resolved.

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Originally Posted by Happy

open tray / cover and blow out dust - probably blocking the disc detect sensor

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Is that the little glass dome thing? If not, what it look like?

Have you tried thumping it?

I'd give it a go with no disc in first, and then with a disc inserted and probably with power on/off also. Whack it on top and also from the side. Also with it on a soft surface such as your lap so you don't shock the HDD too much.

kinetic manipulation is an art form which tends to yield quite good results :)

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Originally Posted by Ecky

But if it's a HDD then it should be ok to leave on it, right? And I'm wanting to burn them once the issue is resolved.
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I'm wondering if it may help or not. Try leaving that step out and turn it off overnight (and unplugged). Also, Happy's suggestion fo cleaning the read/write head is a good one.

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Originally Posted by Ecky

But if it's a HDD then it should be ok to leave on it, right? And I'm wanting to burn them once the issue is resolved.
Is that the little glass dome thing? If not, what it look like?

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yep, however that may not be the issue, take the cover off and carefully go across the machine with your vacuum clean sucking dust out everywhere with a plastic attachment end, don't short anything out with a steel ended vacuum pipe .. you never know, nothing to lose.

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Originally Posted by Darren

Have you tried thumping it?


kinetic manipulation is an art form which tends to yield quite good results :)

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known as percussive maintenance in my neck of the woods

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Originally Posted by Timbo

known as percussive maintenance in my neck of the woods

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It's effectiveness can not be denied, and when all hope is lost and you've resigned yourself to ditching it - get a bigger hammer!

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Originally Posted by Darren

It's effectiveness can not be denied, and when all hope is lost and you've resigned yourself to ditching it - get a bigger hammer!

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One of Murphy's Laws: If it jams, force it. If it breaks; well, it needed replacing anyway!