fenix03
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posted on May 4, 2004 11:08:04 AM
Hey - any ideas on getting a disk out of the machine when it has no desire to give it up? Hitting open locks that damn machine up with a CLOSE display (ARGH!) leaving no choice but to unplug but still won't give up the disk. There has to be a manual release but I'll be damned if I can find it.
Any imput from other with Panasonic DVD recorder experience is greatly appreciated!
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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tomwiii
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posted on May 4, 2004 11:52:35 AM
Most I've seen have a little-bitty hole in front ya stick the end of a paper-clip into & VOILA!
OTOH...
718
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fenix03
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posted on May 4, 2004 11:57:09 AM
Those are burners Tom - this is a set top stand alone recorder. No paper clip hole,
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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tnernie
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posted on May 4, 2004 12:12:57 PM
Don't know if you tried here or not, but they have most of their product manuals online...
Panasonic Manuals
Maybe it will tell you how to manually open the tray.
[ edited by tnernie on May 4, 2004 12:13 PM ]
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lindajean
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posted on May 4, 2004 02:10:44 PM
I have a Panasonic recorder. That happened to me when I bought a lot of DVD-R's from an Ebay seller which wound up being c**p.
It would record on them OK if I used the whole disk and closed it when I started out. But, if I only used one portion and tried to continue on it later, it would just hang up trying to read it and would never ever stop.
I finally determined it was the disk, trashed the rest of them and bought better ones. This was the first batch of dvd'rs I had used so I thought I had a bad recorder. Thankfully, I have not had the problem since replacing those disks.
What I had to do (after pulling out my hair, unplugging it and trying about 20 times) was as soon as you plug it back in, immediately hit the open button on front. That should (hopefully) trigger it to open without reading the disk.
Give that a try and good luck!
[ edited by lindajean on May 4, 2004 02:11 PM ]
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cblev65252
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posted on May 4, 2004 03:28:05 PM
I've had it happen. I shut down my computer and either just before the thing shuts down or right before it restarts, I hit the open button. For some reason Windows grabs onto the disk and won't let it go. It's not your computer, but Windows! What a surprise, right?
Cheryl
http://www.kcskorner.com
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lindajean
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posted on May 4, 2004 03:41:31 PM
Cheryl: I have had that happen on my computer too. I don't have a dvd recorder on mine but it does it to the CD-r all the time
This is a stand alond DVD recorder and they can be even more of a pain than the computers can be. It seems they have a mind of their own sometimes.
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fenix03
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posted on May 4, 2004 06:50:08 PM
I ended up getting on the phone with Panasonic CS who helped me get it open only to discover that it now refuses to record. Argh - this may be the death of my workhorse machine. Not sure if it was a bad disk of sheer coincidence that the first disk in a newly arrived spindle was the the one that seemed to set off the problems bbut I will not be using the rest of the spingle, at least not with a DVR.
Cheryl - this machine does not hook up to a computer. It's llike a VCR but instead of recording to tape it records to disk. I have one that is hooked up to the digitial recorder on my TV some that I can record favorite shows and make my own "full season" dvd collections for less than $60 a shot and another hooked up to a VCR that I use to achive old video tapes to disk.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on May 4, 2004 06:54 PM ]
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lindajean
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posted on May 4, 2004 09:22:23 PM
Fenix,
I have mine hooked to the TV too and I also record seasons of my favorite shows. So we have something in common
[ edited by lindajean on May 5, 2004 12:08 AM ]
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fenix03
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posted on May 4, 2004 09:33:30 PM
Some commercial video cannot be copied. They have an encoding similar to the Macrovision DVD encoding that prevents dubbing. I have not found a way around those despite trying a number of different methods. If I find one I'll let you know - if Classic ever peaks in maybe he will know one.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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lindajean
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posted on May 4, 2004 10:09:43 PM
Thanks. I know why they do it, but since I already bought all these once I really hate to have to do it again. They should have a way to protect rentals but leave purchased ones alone. Guess forcing us to buy new ones was their intention all along. They took lessons from Microsoft
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sparkz
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posted on May 4, 2004 10:38:16 PM
[ edited by sparkz on May 4, 2004 11:19 PM ]
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fenix03
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posted on May 4, 2004 11:41:13 PM
They started encoding videos long before there were DVDs in order to lessen low level piracy. There was a big uproar years ago when GoVideo introduced a dual deck machine that bypassed the copyguard but they are still on the market. Unfortunately the bypass does not remove the encoding - I already tried 
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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classicrock000
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posted on May 5, 2004 01:11:38 AM
Fenix-funny you should mention getting your dvd stuck in the machine.The same thing happened to my old panasonic dvd recorder.At the same time the newer ones came out with the 80GB hard drive on them,so I got two of them-one hookeded up to my sattelite and one to copy my old stuff on.I still have my old one with the dvd still in it-if you could email me what Panasonic told you as how to get the dvd out-would save me a trip to the repair [email protected] far as macro vision goes,I use a device called "copymaster' by sima.You can get these at Bestbuy or on ebay.It doesnt work on all tapes or dvds but a good majority of them.Its a hit and miss thing.Age of the tape has nothing to do with it.I just copied a video tape Star Trek 1V with no problem,and I couldnt copy a movie called "A Night To Remember"(The old Titanic movie)
that was made back in 1958-go figure.I have also copied dvds-but again its a hit miss thing-I can copy some but not others.
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fenix03
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posted on May 5, 2004 02:15:54 AM
I can post the fix here since it was pretty quick and simple . the system was locking up the CLOSE message when I tried to eject. They told me to just press the power buttom until it recycled and went into recovery mode then hold the open/close button until it ejected. Seems so damned obvious but something in those hold sequences was doing the trick because just trying to eject it after plugging it back in and letting it recover was not doing the trick.
As for copying DVDs - I have found that foreign releases are almost never copy guarded - thanks to Netflix and my dubbing deck I have a great selection of Spanish movies to watch when I want to work on my skills.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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classicrock000
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posted on May 5, 2004 03:35:00 AM
Thanks Fenix-will give it a try
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lindajean
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posted on May 5, 2004 10:07:14 AM
Classic: Have you used it to copy your vhs tapes to DVD?
This has to be legal. I own the VHS just don't want to watch them in that format.
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ihula
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posted on May 5, 2004 02:26:35 PM
Hey Fenix - can I ask which brand gave you the trouble? My first Panasonic 80 GB (I think it's the DMR E-80H model) worked great for about a month, then it kept erroring out Fuji DVDs. It would say disc error, go into recovery mode and then stop. So, I tried Memorex. About 100 of them worked great, so I bought 250 more when they went on sale at best buy. All of a sudden they did the same thing, and best buy won't take them back (2 of the 50 packs are still sealed). So, I took it into the repair shop since it was still under warrenty and they gave me a new machine. Panasonic told me I should only use Panasonic discs or TDK. I bought TDK since they were cheaper, and all went well, except yesterday 1 out of 3 started erroring again. Anyone have this model and know of a good DVD-R to use? Or maybe my recorder is going. I bought the 3 year extended warrenty since I use it so much. Tomorrow I will be done putting all my Hawaiian videos onto DVD (I'm so excited) then it's time to move on to Home movies. I can't believe the space it saves to put everything on DVD. Not to mention a lot of my old videos are already showing a lot of wear (some I couldn't even copy because they were so snowy).
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fenix03
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posted on May 5, 2004 04:02:51 PM
iHula - I usually use Princo DVD-Rs that I get from ebay seller SandyYang78. They have a 50 disk bulk pack for $35.00 and I have never had a problem with them (have used well over 500 of them). The ones that I used that caused all the problem were not my regular brand and after talking to them about the problem I gotta say the customer service is the best. No arguement, no discussion just an immediate agreement to take back the bad ones and exchange for the brand I should have bought to begin with.
The other advantage is that they are flat white topped disks that are perfect for printing on.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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classicrock000
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posted on May 5, 2004 05:23:27 PM
LindaJean-I used the recorder to copy most of my vhs tapes on.Some I cant because of the macro-vision coding on it.So I do one of 2 things.If its a new released movie, and have to have it right away,I will order it from PPV and copy it that way-or just wait until it comes HBO or one of the movie channels and copy from them.
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lindajean
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posted on May 5, 2004 10:06:48 PM
My problem is a lot of mine are older movies. The Way We Were, Best Friends, etc. They don't even show them on Starz. Only on Turner Classics and they letter box them until you can barely see them. Same with some older Elvis movies. Some they show all the time and others they never do.
I can live with wide screen, but that letter box thing Turner does is ridiculous. Best Friends and some of my others are not even out on DVD so I can't even buy them.
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whatnot3
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posted on May 5, 2004 10:28:35 PM
When they letterbox it, they just show everything. You could run it through a computer and cut the edges off if you want it bigger or just get a decent size TV.
(I could sell you a nice broken 80" rear projection if you know anyone that can fix it. 
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lindajean
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posted on May 5, 2004 11:08:25 PM
I have a "decent" size TV. It is 60". But, the portion blacked out for letterbox is far greater than the portion left in and I absolutely refuse to watch it.
Widescreen with the small blacked out area is OK. But letterbox is ridiculous.
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throughhiker
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posted on May 6, 2004 03:01:48 AM
Lindajean,
The reason that the letterbox of older movies is longer and narrower has to do with it’s aspect ratio, not Turner Broadcasting. The older movies were filmed in a ratio of something like 2.35:1 or 2.66:1 which results it a longer rectangle so you can view the entire movie, thus a wider “black line” . Most movies filmed in the past fifteen years or so are done in a shorter ration of 185:1 and some even 166:1, which is not much different than TV, and this results in “thinner black lines”. TV is 133:1. which is essentially square. This debate goes on all the time and many people who have been “raised” on TV formatted movies have the mistaken idea that the black lines are cutting something out. Of course a 13 inch TV gives you a difficult viewing experience in wide screen format but any TV over 20 inches should be large enough to enjoy the entire visual experience. Get over the black lines and enjoy the entire visual experience the cinematographer created.
It’s simple, TV is square, Movies are filmed in a long rectangle to get more action/scenery/characters into the picture. When they are “formatted for TV they cut out up to 40% of the original film to fill the entire square TV screen and thus providing you with a chopped up version of the visual image and in my opinion a very poor visual experience. As an artist I prefer the original visual creation of the cinematographer. It’s like someone taking one of my paintings that say measures 18 x 24 and framing only the center in a 16 x 20 frame.
I used to go to the theater four to six times a week because I refused to miss out on the full Cinematography experience. I have never owned a VHS movie. I love DVDs and the wide screen format. I haven’t been to the movies in about five years. NETFLIX RULES. And the biggest TV I have ever owned is a 27 inch. (it’s a long story)
Bear in mind that in about six years or so the TV format is going to change to an aspect ratio of somewhere around 166:1. Most of the new TVs for sale now already have this ratio. Then, all those folks that have 133:1 formatted VHS collections or bought the “full” version DVD will be viewing their collections with “black lines” on the sides of the film.
Please see this URL for detailed explanation of aspect ratios and many examples of what you are missing if you only view a movie formatted to television.
http://www.widescreen.org/aspect_ratios.shtml
happy viewing,
Don
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classicrock000
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posted on May 6, 2004 04:32:22 AM
whatnot3--I was shopping for a big screen tv
a number of years ago.One store had one of those "monster" 80 inch tv screens.I sat down to watch Jurrasic Park with the surround sound and it was AWESOME! The problem was it was $8,000 and I wasnt even in the ballpark-I finally ended up getting a 56 inch widescreen tv by toshiba.It was a floor model and at the time it was going for $3995 but I got it for $2500 which I could afford.
LindaJean-if your really unhappy with those black lines your going to have to invest in a "widescreen" tv-there's no getting around it.Back when I was shopping for a widescreen tv they reffered to it as a 16X9 ratio.Don seems to have more information then I do.Hes correct in your missing part of the film by watching "formatted for your tv" movies.
However I would go with a tv alot bigger then a 20 inch-if you like your 60 screen I dont think you would be happy with a 20 inch screen-go for at least a 27 inch screen,bigger if you can afford it.I still get the black lines,but on a 56 widescreen I hardly notice it.If you go into Bestbuy or any electronics store you can see the widescreen tv's are a rectangular shape instead of the square shape regular tvs are.
Of course the ultimate tv expierence is the hi-defination plasma tv's.A 40 inch widescreen plasma tv will cost you around $10,000 however since you are a ebay power seller, Im sure you can well afford this- LOL
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ihula
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posted on May 6, 2004 04:39:28 AM
Actually IMHO I think the LCD TV's are better than plasma. Unfortunately they don't make them very large yet (I think 27" is the largest I've seen). I think they are more expensive than plasma too, so maybe in about 10 years I can afford one
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ihula
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posted on May 6, 2004 05:31:47 AM
For those of you that make your own DVDs, do you store them in those large black plastic cases - you know, the ones that regular DVDs from the store come in? I buy them really cheap on ebay (they measure about 9" tall). The problem is that I can't get a good insert to put in them. I have a printer that will print up to 13X11 inch paper, but you can't find photo paper that big (or even over 8X11) so there's always a white boarder around the design I create. Anyone know where I can find photo type paper that's larger than the standard size so I can create some decent inserts?
(I hope that made sense - it's kind of early in the morning)
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on May 6, 2004 06:39:29 AM
iHula,
Not sure if this is what you're looking for:
http://www.meritline.com/merdvdcasinp.html
This product lets you print your insert on a perforated piece of glossy photo paper. Hope that helps!
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lindajean
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posted on May 6, 2004 08:25:57 AM
OK everyone. You are not reading my post.
I have accepted Widescreen. NO I will not buy a widescreen TV. I hate it and my dvd player will zoom to eliminate the black lines from widescreen aspect. I bought a high definition TV for the bedroom, but I bought the square one. I don't like the new ones and if you go to the movie theatre you will notice you see ALL of a person, and not have their heads cut off like they are doing on the widescreen just to make it fit the new tv's, and sell America another great invention they don't need.
I have a house filled with electronics. I bought the first VCR's when they came out in the 70's, the first DVD recorder when it came out and the first digital camera when they came out. I also have bought many many replacements. I make my own recordings from my old vinyl, etc. I bought a CD recorder in a Fisher Sterio system in the 80s so I could convert my records. (Now they say the CD-r and DVD-r may have a shorter life than the VHS tape though )
I do understand about letterbox. And, I do understand about widescreen. And, I do understand why some like getting ALL the picture.
Now, with that said. What I detest about Turner classic is the fact they insist on buying up and hoarding all the old movies. You will not see most of what they show on any pay channel. And then, they ruin it by showing it only on letterbox.
I know you can see the same movie in the TV full size version because I used to watch them all the time on HBO, etc. But, that was in the 70s and 80s. I am a huge Natalie Wood fan. I bought all her movies and now cannot find many of them on DVD. The only station showing them: Penelope, Inside Daisy Clover, etc. is Turner. They letterbox them (weren't shown that way back when but now they are). My VHS copy isn't that way so they could be shown in normal if anyone wanted to.
But, i cannot make a DVD of my movies. They say "Copy protect" as soon as I hit record. And, I cannot tape them from TV because Turner only shows the letterbox version.
See my problem! So, all I asked was if anyone knew a way to make a DVD from a VHS tape. Not to pirate it, but because I want them on DVD. And, I own the original. And, they don't make these on DVD even if I wanted to buy them. And, they do not show anywhere but Turner. And, I hate the way Turner shows the movies.
I will not buy a widescreen tv. I don't watch anything but law and order and CSI. I hate the new shows. Think the new movies are really really stupid and only want my old ones along with my DVD copies of old series and I will live the rest of my life in peace with the old movies and TV and music I grew up with and love. At least until some semblance of normalcy and decency returns to tv and movies.
I'm a high-tech redneck as George Jones sang, and I do understand all the above. But, I also know what I want to do and all I want is the answer to the question:
Has anyone figured out a way to make a DVD from a VHS they own?
And, if you are making home movie DVD's remember you might need to make copies of them every 10 years. There really is proof they do not last as long as everyone thought. There was a large article on Yahoo news yesterday about them.
Gee, I really got on my soapbox this morning. I think I need a cup of coffee or something before reading the boards
Edited to add:
Besides, with Ebay who has time for TV or movies? But, I figure it won't last forever and I want to preserve those I do want to someday watch again
[ edited by lindajean on May 6, 2004 08:30 AM ]
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sparkz
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posted on May 6, 2004 11:16:40 AM
Lindajean...put the copyguarded tape in vcr#1 and attach a 900 mhz video transmitter to that vcr. Attach the companion 900mhz receiver to vcr#2 and put a blank tape in that one. Transmit the movie from vcr1 and record the received signal on vcr#2. It works on most of the older copyguard schemes and in theory it should work on the newer ones.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
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