Panasonic E55 "Self Check" Problem

[HatchetMan]

My first problem with a DVD Recorder, but terribly frustrating none the less. I'm pretty certain it's outta warranty, I never even mailed in the stupid little card. Figured it's too late to take it back to Best Buy, so here goes.

My Panasonic is constantly going into self check mode. It used to happen about 30 seconds after I pressed record (did NOT record those 30 seconds by the way). Whether it be regular TV, the STARS channel, or home (non copyrighted) vhs tapes. But, now it has even started to do it immediately after inserting a blank disc. This has happend with TDK TTG02 and Taiyo Yuden TYG02. BUT, it does not happen every time. It will on average do it to me 3 times in a row, then work 3 times in a row, then go into self check mode again. Same with both discs, sometimes work, sometimes don't, very aggrovating.

What it does: displays "SELF CHECK" on the display for a little while, shuts down, starts back up, goes through self check yet again, then says to remove disc. Disc is still good. I can usually reinsert it and it will work the second time around, sometimes not. Sometimes I switch media and it does the same thing, sometimes not.

This sucks - please help!

[HatchetMan]

ok, time to bump this thread b4 I throw this sucker out the window

[trhouse]

These units are operated by a dedicated microprocessor much like your computer. The "self check" routine runs when the processor thinks it has lost power similar to what Windows does if you pull the plug out when the computer is on. Is it possiible you are in a place that is experiencing "brown out" or line problems?

[HatchetMan]

"brown out" or line problems?
I doubt it. I took it to a firends house that lives 45 miles away to try to figure it out and it was the same story.

[trhouse]

Too bad then. It sounds like an internal intermittent problem. Might even be just a loose connection. I would recommend if it is out of warranty, to open it, clean it with a good aerosol TV tuner cleaner. Pull any accessible connectors and clean them with the same cleaner. If the problem is still there, decide whether it is worth the price of a repair or scrap it. Recorders are dropping in price enough they will soon be disposable.

[HatchetMan]

I thought about taking it apart, but I had recently disected a Panasonic player that crapped out on me. It was a pain, broke almost every tiny piece holding it together. I wanted to try to replace the loader with a DVD ROM drive like my Apex, but no such luck, none at all. I really don't want to break this one apart since it still works some of the time. Maybe I'll gently start unscrewing and prying, I don't know...

[HatchetMan]

Update:

Instead of taking it apart, I called the Panasonic hotline because the sticker w/ the # was right on the unit. I got a recording saying that if your error is "this" (my problem) then it is usually a result of incompatible media. The recorder is shutting down to protect itself.

I said ok, I'll go look for different media. I'll use this other stuff on my other writer. My 8X TY's and my 8X TDK's did not work. My 4X TDK's did not work either and say compatible only in 4X machines. Since I am recording at 1X, I looked for something that specifically said that it was compatible down to 1X.

The only kind of -R media that I could find that specifically said right on the package that it was compatible all the way down to 1X was the 8X Verbatim, NOT the 16X. So I bought a pack.

I have never again seen the error message and the unit is once again fully functional. Could not be happier with the 8X Verbatim media. I thought I would share because I know there are a lot of you out there with this or a similar DVD Recorder.

The End