Can't view video on VHS-C

[jbailey227]

I've just started backing up some of my VHS-C tapes to DVD. Some of the tapes go back to 1998. I have successfully transferred 26 tapes using my setup with no issues, till now. My setup is a VHS-C adapter into a Sanyo VCR/DVD player with S-Video out to Sony HC85 and then into my computer.

I'm trying to transfer and the video goes blank (blue) but the audio plays fine. When I "search" fast forward or rewind the tape I can see the video fine. When I try and play those areas they are blank again. I've cleaned the read head and it doesn't seem to make a difference. I could understand if I couldn't see the video when I search or played normally. But why can I see the video in FF and RW search?

Hopefully someone else has seen this and knows what I'm talking about.

EDIT:
This discusses a similar problem, with the exception that it is not the entire tape, but only certain sections.
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/vhs-tape-wont-play-picture-t359779.html

[jbailey227]

Upon further investigating, with a different VCR, I found that it's not a prob with the VCR. I watched the same areas that would be "blued" out with just the VCR hooked up to a TV. The video jumps around in those sections. But somehow the area that jumps around is not coming out of my HC85. The HC85 just "blues" those areas out.

If I can't fix the tape, I would rather see the bad sections than just a blue screen.

[lordsmurf]

Your problem is probably still the VCR. Sometimes older tapes need special restoration. I deal with this daily, from customers. Lots of bad tapes out there.

[jbailey227]

I've decided it's most likely the tape. Thankfully, the portion that has a problem is of no real memory making. I remedied some of the problem by putting the VHS-C onto VHS, and then to the computer. I'm just glad the section with my lil girl coming home from the hospital didn't have a problem.

I might check into special restoration when I get a chance.

Thanks