Panasonic ES30V DVD/VHS recorder, problem with DVD-RWs

[KGS]

I have a brand new Panasonic ES30V DVD/VHS combo recorder and it's been having issues using DVD-RW discs.

Every so often, while recording, or changing a thumbnail, or even pressing the menu button, the machine will suddenly lock up and go into "SELF CHECK" mode for several minutes. When it finally recovers, the DVD-RW is no longer readable (usually). I thought it was bad media at first, but it's been happening on two different brands (Sony & Fuji) bought at different stores.

It has also failed while finalizing (usually destroying the data) and also has failed to format DVD-RWs that were only used once or twice.

Sometimes if I put in a half-filled DVD it will say it's unformatted, even if there were no errors associated with it before. And this morning, I put in a DVD that failed a few days ago, and it read just fine, like nothing happened!

The unit does work perfectly about 80% of the time, in fact it's only had problems with discs that require intensive erasing & re-recording (basically the VH1 stuff...it can take several attempts to get a video recorded JUST how I like it!) But I can't figure out if it's the player or the discs that are bad. Can anyone help me troubleshoot this problem? I haven't paid for it yet, but I have to decide soon if I'm gonna keep it or not.

[slacker]

I have the same dvd recorder. It has worked perfectly since day 1. Yours appears faulty and, If possible, I would recommend exchanging yours for a REPLACEMENT, or, if not available, go with a different brand with a similar setup.

[trhouse]

Does it work 100% with non -RW disks. If yes, then have you used or formated the Sony, Fuji -rw's in another device before like your computer? If no, I would try TDK, X2, dvd-rw's. I have done hundreds for burns to these without a glitch on the ES30's cousin the ES10.

[KGS]

Using RWs, I've burned about 10 feature length movies and 5 or 6 TV show discs using pause to cut out the commercials. Problems = none.

Of the 14 VH1 discs, about 1/2 had no problem at all, 1/3 had some issues (but eventually worked) and at least five blew up completely (including the one that magically came back to life this morning.) It does seem like the RWs work okay on first use, but on the 2nd or 3rd use they start throwing fits.

I tried using my computer to format the RWs but apparently my software isn't set up right...InCD took SIX HOURS to format one disc but it didn't even erase the data!!!

Oh yeah, it's also a floor model...never a good sign, I know.

[lordsmurf]

Panasonic has an issue with media. It's random. Very common in the E50/55 line.

Usually fix it by changing to new media. Japanese/Singapore stuff, Maxell, Fuji.. maybe Verbatim (Taiwan).

[KGS]

Thanks all you guys, your replies have been enormously helpful!

This morning I bought a pack of Verbatim RWs which I plan to use exclusively for the VH1 collections, and keep the discs as backup instead of re-using them. (It's prudent to keep backups, anyway.) Wish me luck. 8)

[trhouse]

Are you formating to erase? There have been comments like this below regarding this,

"The issue that Noahtuck mentioned happened to me to and it came from reformatting the disc X number of times. Better to just to a quick erase vs a format."

Computers do not format quite the same as the recorder. I would not do that.

P.S. I have a friend with a security system with a time lapse VCR which failed.. He bought a floor model ES10 ( $150 ) and has been running five TDK X2, dvd-rw's though it 24/7 for two months with no problems. He reviews and erases the -rw or if there is something of value, uses his computer to burn it to a dvd-r. He only erases the content from the Direct Naviigator screen.

P.P.S. What is VH1?

[oldfart13]

Video Hits 1...like MTV...

[ntscuser]

Panasonic has an issue with media. It's random. Very common in the E50/55 line.

Usually fix it by changing to new media. Japanese/Singapore stuff, Maxell, Fuji.. maybe Verbatim (Taiwan).

Thay won't record on Verbatim 16x, only 8x. A couple fo friends tried them.

[slacker]

trhouse,

Correct me if I'm wrong but on the ES30VS if you have finalized the disc, quick-erase is not an available option. You need to re-format.

ntscuser,

Although I strictly use -rw media in my Panny ES30VS, Verbatim dvd+r 16x MCC 004-00 has so far worked just fine as well!

[trhouse]

slacker,

That is correct. If the -rw is finalized, it must be formated for use. I asked the person using them with his security system if he finalizes. He said only for transfer to the computer and that has only been done twice in two months.

[KGS]

Well, so far I've used 2½ Verbatim discs and no problems yet, and the Verbatims do seem to be responding a little faster than the other brands I've tried. I'm not gonna say the problem is solved yet...Murphy's Law and all that...but it looks promising.

trhouse - you said your friend erases data from the Direct Navigator screen? I've done that but each time I erased something that was NOT the most recent title recorded, the disc eventually failed. (Erasing the most recent title seems to be okay.) The manual even says that you can't get the time back on an -RW unless it's the most recent title recorded -- of course, the unit itself says differently, which is how I got into trouble. And the thing about -RWs is that they can't be read by a computer until they are finalized (whereas +RWs and DVD-RAMs can be read, I think.) Is your friend using DVD-RAM discs?

[trhouse]

He is using TDK dvd-rw, X2 media. Since he is doing surveillance, there is only one title per disc. He reviews it and if there is nothing to be saved simply erases it. He finalizes and moves it to the computer to make a dvd-r copy only if there is something of concern.

He has only finalized the -rw and copied to a dvd-r twice on the computer. If my numbers are correct, it means he has burned each -rw disk 72 times.

His computer does not have a drive that can read dvd-ram. Only a few manufacturers including LG, Toshiba, and Panasonic drives support dvd-ram.

The estimated life of a -rw is about 1,000 burns. He should be good for about two years of continuous burns at this rate of 36 burns per disk per month.