Panasonic DMR-E55 and DVD RAM

[AlfKing]

I have a Panasonic DMR-E55 which I've had for almost three years It has developed a fault whereby it will not recognise DVD RAM discs which have been previously used in the machine stating that they are unformatted. It will not reformat these discs either. A separate machine used by my wife happily accepts these discs so there is nothing wrong with them per se. The really odd thing is that my machine will record onto DVD + discs still.

I am a primitive as far as technology is concerned and am baffled by this. Is my machine simply screwed?

[Dubber]

Dusty or foggy lens may be?

[classfour]

DVD-RAM uses a different wavelength laser than -R or +R.

It may be a fogged or dirty lens - or a faulty laser.

[DereX888]

99% for a dead laser...
I had same problem year ago.

[handyguy]

Happened to me with a panny, just clean its lens. Its very easy to open it & clean it.

Wish I kept those disks though. sigh.

[DereX888]

Happened to me with a panny, just clean its lens. Its very easy to open it & clean it.

Wish I kept those disks though. sigh.

It could be just a dirty lens as well... I assumed that the OP did try to clean the lens before posting here, but after re-reading the thread somehow I doubt it...

[handyguy]

3 years is a long time to not clean your lens.

[xtian]

what's the best way to clean the lens on a e55?

I have, and have used a Maxell DVD lens Cleaner Disc, after experiencing the Unformat message on some Panasonic Ram Discs. Funny, 90% of the discs that had problems were gold in color and have 2x-3x speed printed on the disc ( made in the US if I remember correctly). The white colored discs with no speed rating printed on the disc, but are stamped Made in Japan, have given me almost no problems at all.

Cleaning the Lens with the Maxell Disc, and wiping clean the discs themselves worked on the made in japan Ram, and did not work on the made in US Ram discs.

I think I just got my answer. I have burned maybe 2000 discs in the past 4 years, in PC burners, and Panny e10, e20, and e55 recorders. I almost never have a problem with any made in japan discs. Probably 800 - 4x-8x Taiyo Yuden, 4x Sony, 4x Maxell, and 1200 made in taiwan Verbatim 4x MovieReel discs. I will not use anything else. I guess made in japan is still worth something after all.

Oh well, so I'll stick to made in japan Ram from now on. AND, maybe Handyguy can tell me how to manually clean the Lens ( unless using a DVD Disc Cleaner is ok)

[handyguy]

I don't use dvd cleaners. But Dry ones only get dust. Wet ones get oils.

I unplug it & unscrew the top, then take off the top of the dvd player part & clean it with a qtip dipped in alcohol.

[DereX888]

I don't use dvd cleaners. But Dry ones only get dust. Wet ones get oils.

I unplug it & unscrew the top, then take off the top of the dvd player part & clean it with a qtip dipped in alcohol.

Nothing beats 'manual cleaning' (remove the cover case + your hand equipped with qtips )