Cleaning Issues

[Skylark157]

Thanks to the assistance you provided to me a little while ago I am trying to transfer a bunch of family videos that are on Mini DV to my computer via firewire cable with Win DV. My camcorder was stolen years ago so I borrowed a friend's camcorder to do this but I kept getting an "cleaning error." I purchased a cleaning tape and I also followed some clearing tips I found online. Nothing I did would get it work so I purchased a slightly used camcorder and tried that but I am getting a very similar error message. Every time I try to play a tape, I get a cleaning error message.

I am now trying to figure out what the issue is and what I can do. Is it possible two camcorders, even after multiple cleanings are still too dirty to play the tapes? Is there a place I could send it to to be professionally cleaned? I understand the camcorders get dirty from playing the tapes but can old tapes get a freshly cleaned camcorder that dirty that quick? Could the problem be with the tapes and if so, what can I do. It it possible both camcorders are no good which means I should return the one I just purchased and purchase another one?

I am divorced and my kids and I would really like to see some videos from they were kids but I have about 30 tapes and simple don't have a grand $$ to drop at Legacy box to have these videos transferred by them. ANY help, input or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[JVRaines]

Your tapes are shedding and clogging the video heads. This is a problem with the metal formulas of that era. It may help to wind the tapes end-to-end a few times to shake out the loose bits. It that doesn't work, they need to be cleaned in a special machine, provided they can be saved at all.

[Skylark157]

Your tapes are shedding and clogging the video heads. This is a problem with the metal formulas of that era. It may help to wind the tapes end-to-end a few times to shake out the loose bits. It that doesn't work, they need to be cleaned in a special machine, provided they can be saved at all.

Thanks for the info, I think. LOL. Where can I get these tapes cleaned if the FF/RW doesn't do it? And, any idea on the cost per tape?

Thanks again

[JVRaines]

Yeah, sorry to be the bearer of potentially bad news. I don't know who cleans MiniDV these days. Perhaps someone else will chime in.

Problem with dry cleaning tapes is that they leave a lot of junk in the machine. You can often clean the heads just by playing a stretch of good tape. Otherwise, the tape path should be swabbed with alcohol to remove debris.

[Skylark157]

Thanks again!

Side question, does anyone know of another service, one that is more reasonable with the costs, than legacy box? I am thinking they might be better equipped to handle this.