ILO DVD04 possibly giving up. Hope not!!

[dvdchanic]

I'm having a very major problem with my ilo dvdr04 recorder. Every blank disk I record on becomes unreadable. I've been recording on Memorex dvd+rws and r's. I've also been using Maxell dvd+rs from the first day I bought the recorder, ( Jan. 3, 05) from Walmart for 149.00. I've never had a disk recording problem until just recently. Lately I've recorded onto ESA brand dvd+r too media for about the past two months without any problems. Here's what happens. I record the disk. It goes through the recording process seemingly ok until I try to play the disk. It will not play. All I get is a "no disk" readout on the display. It doesn't matter what media I use, it still happens. I have noticed after a recording when I look at the data side of a disk it appears to to be not recorded smoothly. I mean there's dark and light spots and rings on the disk. Before this started I noticed that the recordings would freeze a lot. I ran all these (now coasters) in Nero scandisk and every single one has red squares,( not readable). By the way, I do have over 60 perfect recorded disks before this problem started. I've got a bad feeling I'll be back to the VCR for recording daily shows. Too bad too. I was really starting to love not rewinding tapes.

[D.A.R.J.R.]

Have you tried cleaning it with compressed air? Maybe theres some dirt in the dvd drive. I havent had any problmes with mine yet and I hope I dont because they are replacing them with the dvdr05 model that is a rebadged cyberhome.

[dvdchanic]

It seems to be a bit more serious than a little dirt problem. I have another dvd player plus a computer and the disks won't play in either one. I'll try the compressed air and see what happens. I've already ran a lens cleaner through it 3 times. You mentioned about a replacement? If they'd want to replace this with a Cyberhome, then I'd just keep this one and buy another just like it. Ilo's at Walmart are only 118.00 now. And that is for the 8 speed drive unit. I have a Cyberhome DVR1500. It's under my bed collecting dust. NO WAY do I want a Cyberhome again. Thanx for your reply. I'll give the compressed are a try.

[D.A.R.J.R.]

Actually you shouldnt have used the lens cleaner on a DVD burner. They can scratch the lens and give the problems you are having. Is your Ilo less than 90 days old? if so, you can exchange it.

[solidsnake]

It seems to be a bit more serious than a little dirt problem. I have another dvd player plus a computer and the disks won't play in either one. I'll try the compressed air and see what happens. I've already ran a lens cleaner through it 3 times. You mentioned about a replacement? If they'd want to replace this with a Cyberhome, then I'd just keep this one and buy another just like it. Ilo's at Walmart are only 118.00 now. And that is for the 8 speed drive unit. I have a Cyberhome DVR1500. It's under my bed collecting dust. NO WAY do I want a Cyberhome again. Thanx for your reply. I'll give the compressed are a try.

Your kidding, only 118.00 now? I'm guessing thats just in certain stores?

[dvdchanic]

Actually I used the lens cleaner just recently. I'd already had 10 coasters in a row before using the cleaner. The cleaner I'm using is made exclusively for dvd players and computer disk drives. I has a very soft brush. And yes,,solidsnake. They have them for 118.00 at my local Superstore. It's in Northern Indiana. I hear they're gonna get rid of all the 04s and replace them with the 05s. They may even go lower if they go on a clearance sale. I'll probably buy another one. The one I looked at on the shelf was an 8 speed manufactured in December 04. Check more Walmarts. I'm sure they'll be on sale nationwide really soon.

[Racer2x]

i'd take it back. Sounds like a defective one. I've gone through 3 in the last 3 months. Saving for a pioneer, now.

[dvdchanic]

I'd love to have a Pioneer too. One with a hard drive. But if only there was a hack to remove macro on them. That's why I chose ILO. I have a lot of vhs tapes to copy. Some are C.P. About taking it back. I've had it for 5 months now and the warranty has run out. I might just buy another one since the price is dropping. Maybe below 100.00 soon. I hope!!

[Racer2x]

I smell a class-action lawsuit, if these issues continue, without customer reimbursments, or satisfaction.

[Guitarman]

I'd love to have a Pioneer too. One with a hard drive. But if only there was a hack to remove macro on them. That's why I chose ILO. I have a lot of vhs tapes to copy. Some are C.P. About taking it back. I've had it for 5 months now and the warranty has run out. I might just buy another one since the price is dropping. Maybe below 100.00 soon. I hope!!

Take it back to WalMart and tell them it was a gift and you do not have the receipt. They will not refund but will allow you to exchange for another. I did the with one I bought off of Ebay. It had a HDD problem (HD04) so I took it to my local WM and they did the exchange. Worth a try.

[Racer2x]

Hey Guitarman. You have pretty much been the leading authority on these ILOs. WHat has been your experience, with them, thus far? How many have YOU gone through? What problems have cropped up on you? Quite curious to know.

[LCSHG]

dvdchanic

Take Guitarman’s advice. I bet WalMart will exchange it. If not, it might depend on how strongly you stand your ground. WalMart’s return policy is 90 days but can be very flexible. Your machine is 5 mos. old and warranted for a year. I still bet they will exchange it.
You should do it now the 04 is being replaced with the 05 and there is no Hack available.

[dvdchanic]

Darn it Guitarman,,,,I wish I'd thought of that sooner. I already have it on it's way to ILO for repair/replacement. I've since put another one on layaway at Walmart. If the ILO company sends me a replacement, it might be the 05 model. I'll get my 04 out of layaway and have both models. I do have a Cyberhome dvr1500 under my bed and the 05 looks exactly like it from the back. No fan on the 05 either. Looks like another disposable dvd recorder to be on the Walmart shelves once again.

[Guitarman]

Hey Guitarman. You have pretty much been the leading authority on these ILOs. WHat has been your experience, with them, thus far? How many have YOU gone through? What problems have cropped up on you? Quite curious to know.

I purchased 2 off of Ebay for $215.00ea. One arrived with a bad HDD so I took it back to WM and used the "gift" story and got it exchanged and an exchange receipt. Both were working fine when I tried a faulty firmware upgrade on the exchanged one that left the recorder hosed. I boxed it back up and got another exchange for that one. I still have that HD04. When I decided to get the Pioneer 420, I boxed up the other Ebay HD04 (no problems with it) and took it back to WM and told them I was unhappy with it. I gave them the exchange receipt from the first one and got a full refund to a WM gift card, just shy of $300.00, which I turned around and sold to a friend of mine that shops there all the time for the cash. I then found a 420 on Ebay for $325.00. I still have the 2nd exchanged HD04 and have never had any problems with it and use it primarily for tape transfer.

[Racer2x]

Thanks for the summarization. So how would you compare the ILOs to the Pioneer? I STILL have the DVDR04, but was considering taking it back, and getting a pioneer. Yeah, they are more expensive, but usually, you get what you pay for, and since I haven't had great luck with the previous DVDR04s that I had, I feel like I am on borrowed time with THIS one.

[Guitarman]

I would say, if you wanting to back up your VHS collection, stay with the ILO since the Pioneer can't be hacked for MV removal and the ILO does a great job of cleaning up old VHS tapes. If the hacks for the ILO and copying tapes are not a concern, go with the Pioneer. I have and use both for different reasons and they both have worked great for me.