A little help with the Toshiba DR-5

[rbatty11]

Just bought a new DR5 the other day.. set it up and nothing but problems. It won't accept brand new Fuji -RW discs.. "problem with disc". I tried 3 brand new ones and nothing. It accepted a brand new Fuji -R. I recorded a 140min movie at 3hr mode and glitches, freezes thru mid-section.. couldn't rip/copy the disc to hd either.

So I pulled a brand new TY from a cake pack and tried. Same thing.. glitches, freezes. I checked the source (LD) to see if it was the problem. Nope. LD played fine. Then I threw in a brand new Pioneer -R and guess what? It played perfectly. NOT!!!! Again, glitches and freezes througout the recording. wtf???

I had a JVC DRM100S for over a year, which just gave out on me, but I never once had a problem with the recordings. Maybe I just got a lemon?? I plan to return the DR5 but was wondering if anyone had same issues or maybe advise as to maybe something I'm doing wrong?? Thanks.

Edit: Just researched that some recorders won't record onto -RW's in Video Mode. Why?? Guess the DR5 can't. The JVC DRM100S could. After recording, I usually copy to hd and simple edit and author. Will I be able to in VR mode?

[vysar]

DR-5 is a crap. I had nothing but problems with the unit. Since I bought it from a online store I was unable to return the unit. Within a month of purchase, I end up sending the unit twice to get serviced. The first they replaced the DVD drive and Power supply. The second time they replaced video digiboard. I bought it brand new and it turned out to be refurbished unit. Toshiba customer service are rude people you would ever encounter. Please don't buy this.

[gshelley61]

That D-R5 is definitely having problems. Return it for an exchange or refund if you still can.

[FKrueger]

I have 2 DR5's, 1 over 6mos old and the other 1 month old. Sorry, no problems here. The 6 month old gets about 4 burns a week, the newer one maybe 2 a week. I have used only -R's, Memorex, Maxell, Sony and 2 cheapie brands to which I don't recall, one from Office Max the other from Circuit City

[Marvingj]

I have the D-4 great DVD recorder but D-5 is pretty much a strip version. It will have problems because of firmware is bad (according to my sources).

[rbatty11]

Anyway to upgrade/modify the DR5 firmware? And FKreuger, glad you've had better fortune than I did.

[samijubal]

If there's a firmware update, you'll have to call Toshiba to get it. They don't have updates on their site.

[jamiemark]

Strange, I was under the impression that Toshiba had done away with the 3hr. mode starting with the DR-5.

[FKrueger]

Anyway to upgrade/modify the DR5 firmware? And FKreuger, glad you've had better fortune than I did.

Ya, I know how that goes, I've gone thru 3 Ilo's and 2 of my friends are still on their 1st and one of them uses it more than I did