I have an RCA VCR/DVD Recorder DRC8300N and it wont finalize

[daj]

I have an RCA VCR/DVD Recorder DRC8300N. Up until about 2 months ago everything would record, but now when I place a disk into the DVD Recorder it gives me an error and won't finalize the disk. I have tried new disk and get the same message. It will still play DVD's but will not record. What could be wrong?

[lordsmurf]

The DVD laser/pickup may have died in the burner drive.

[usually_quiet]

The lasers in DVD burners do eventually wear out as LS said. Five years is actually a very good run if the DVD recorder was used on a regular basis. If the drive is making a lot of noise, you might try taking the DVD drive apart and cleaning the spindle as well as the lens. (Sometimes if the disc is slipping, it interferes with finalization.) Here's a link describing the process for a Panasonic recorder http://club.cdfreaks.com/f106/fixing-your-panny-when-theres-fault-lens-cleaning-doesnt-help-210507/

If that doesn't help it probably is the laser. In that case, I think it's probably time to think about getting yourself a new DVD recorder. Unfortunately it's almost always difficult to obtain a replacement DVD drive for DVD recorders from the maker or have the drive repaired, and I don't recall seeing your model mentioned as one of those that can accept an off-the-shelf PC DVD drive as a replacement.