Ancient machine - PLEASE HELP - Samsung DVD-VR330 won't play DVDs any more

[scarletmummy]

Hi - I know I am nursing an old machine, which doesn't have many admirers BUT I bought it a while back to transfer precious old videos of my children to DVD for posterity. Of course, I haven't got around to doing that yet, so there is now a new impetus! HOWEVER, the annoying/perplexing problem at the moment is that it will no longer play commercially bought DVDs - it says it can't read them. I did get it to play a programme that I had recorded on a cheap DVD-RW, so the lenses must be working etc. I put a cleaning disk in anyway, and have tried everything else I can think of. It seems as though the machine no longer recognises Region 2 DVDs but I can't find the relevant menu to check this. Have read through all the threads about 'hacking region codes' but, like some of the people who tried the advice, I can't get the right screen to try any of this, I just get taken to SETUP. I have looked through the INSTALL menu and re-done an Automatic scan, which got me nowhere - the list of so-called countries makes no sense at all and doesn't include GB. The unit doesn't work for recording TV programmes now that we've gone digital, but I just wanted to watch 'The Killing' which was a Xmas present, and finish the task I bought the machine for in the first place (although this may still work)...................so, I'm all out of ideas and would really appreciate some more! Thanks.

[hech54]

I don't understand. Are you trying to RECORD with this machine.....or.....are you trying to watch store-bought DVDs with this machine?

[scarletmummy]

I am trying to watch store-bought DVDs. Even ones that used to work will no longer play. (I also would like to record from the TV, but that won't work now we have gone digital..........). I will replace this machine with a hard drive once I have transferred all my precious old videos - I imagine that will still work.

[hech54]

I'd skip the "no longer viewing" problem with the machine are get your necessary recordings done SOON. The first thing to go on a DVD recorder is it's ability to read one type of disc. And when you do record your stuff....don't waste time and/or money on "RW" discs. Just buy quality Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden -R (or +R if your machine only accepts +R) discs.

[jman98]

You're at the point where it's going to need a repair to fix your problems if the cleaning disc didn't fix it. You might as well buy an new recorder as the cost of a repair is likely to be very close to what a new one would cost. DVD recorders don't last forever although many owners apparently think that they do.

[themaster1]

There are softwares to recover videos from dvd's, i have tried one once (can't remember the name tho) worked ok i have recovered 90% from the dvd

Try This one perhaps

[scarletmummy]

Thanks both, for your advice - recording programme re-started in earnest!