My player has big trouble recognizing commercial DVDs

[emt3920]

I have an RCA dvd player model # is DRC212N (I think). I have no problems playing back disks that I burn myself, VCDs play really well. My problem starts when I try to play a commercial DVD. I usually have to load the disk sometimes 20 or even 30 times before the player will even recognize it. It says "Play is unavailable because no disk is loaded. Then it usually says the disk is incompatible with the player. Then after loading the disk a few more times it will finally play it. Sometimes it takes me 15 Mins or more to get it to play. Seems very strange when I play a VCD it loads and plays immediately. Can anybody help me to solve this ? Any suggestions are appreciated. I bought a Philips laser lens cleaner but it has done no good.

[ROF]

Did this just start happening or has this player always been like this. My Sony player before it died would refuse to play pressed media but would still play burnt media without issue. Your player may be ready to die.

[SingSing]

VCD and DVD uses different optical frequncies, Your DVD laser is out of specification.

A new player now cost $29.00, that most likely cost less than repair.

[ROF]

Do burnt backups and commercial presses of the same information use different frequencies? My Sony refused to play DVD5's but would play backed DVD5s just fine until it outright died.

[mats.hogberg]

My Sony refused to play DVD5's but would play backed DVD5s just fine until it outright died.

Exactly that did my Centrum/Vestel/SEG too - then went on to just read CD, a few moments before it hit the bottom of my garbage bin.
Good reason to buy a new player! For 1/2 the price of the old. With twice as many features.

/Mats

[emt3920]

Thanks for the advice. Where is the best place to find a new player? This one was my first one. I see them at WalMart but now I am really unsure what to buy. If this is off topic for this forum I apologize. Someone said I can get one for half the price with more features. Can you point me to WHERE? Thanks again for the feedback . Best Forum on the net I think!

[jtoolman2000]

PLyer is about to die. That is a typical symptom. Been there. Great players can be had for no more than $99. Many for much less if you catch a good sale.

[SingSing]

Thanks for the advice. Where is the best place to find a new player? This one was my first one. I see them at WalMart but now I am really unsure what to buy. If this is off topic for this forum I apologize. Someone said I can get one for half the price with more features. Can you point me to WHERE? Thanks again for the feedback . Best Forum on the net I think!

the better DVD players come from Toshiba, JVC and Pioneer. Walmart carries only Pioneer, you can find the others from Sears, or Best Buy.

[ROF]

Buy your DVD player at Walmart or wherever the cheapest one is sold. DVD is being supplanted by High Definition discs and the cheapest DVD player would be your best investment now. Do not get caught up in the hype of overpriced name brands.

[mats.hogberg]

I agree with ROF on this - Buy cheap. It seems like there's an inverse realtion between price tag and what a player accepts as suitable for playback. And a cheap player will either break within warranty time, or last until the DVD format is replaced by new standards.

/Mats

[CrayonEater]

If you want to be able to play back lots of formats, go for a Philips DVP-642.I think Target and Best Buy have them around $60. Pioneer has a similar machine though I think it's a bit more. Toshiba, in my experience, is pretty good too, though usually a bit pricier, and they don't play DiVX, MP3 on DVD, etc. But, as someone else mentioned, even the $29 variety you get in grocery stores isn't bad. I would just recommend using the DVD Player link at left to do some research if you're going to buy one of the ultra-cheap brands.