Hello all,

On the back of some good reviews we bought a Sony RDRHXD890. Seems like a good buy except that we're getting the message 'Cannot play this disc' an annoying number of times when trying to play DVDs.

For example, I created a DVD on my PC (NB: personal video - non-copyrighted material!) using Pinnacle Studio 9 and rendered it to an ISO file. I then burnt 50 copies of this disc onto 16-speed -R discs.

I tested each disk on the Sony and most played ok, but in a number of cases I got the message 'Cannot play this disc'.

I am more than happy to accept that these were duff burns, *but* they *all* play happily on my faithful old (Aldi) Tevion DVD player (what *great* buy that was), and on the PC.

So, my question is: why does the Sony have a problem with these discs that other machines do not? What is it looking for when it reads the disc?

I have also noted the problem when backing up DVDs using DVD-Shrink (which I do very occasionally). Same symptoms - only this time with 4x DVD+RWs - brand new Phillips, never used before.

I have tried formatting the +RW disc on the Sony before writing files to it on the PC but to no avial. And as before, the discs work on the older machine.

Anybody any ideas?
I am slightly concerned if the advice is 'live with it' as the machine is brand new and I note from other threads that 'Cannot play this disc' has been reported as problem on other Sonys (a problem which only gets worse).

All information gratefully received. I am gonig to contact Sony (!) and will post their response. I am not holding my breath, though...

...

Hello,

I have a number of prerecorded identical DVDs: some of which do play on our brand new RDR-HXD890 and some which give the message 'Cannot play this disc'.

*All* of the discs play on a different DVD player and also on the PC.

Given that the discs play on other machines (which would seem to disprove that the discs are marked, damaged or substandard), is the
RDR-HXD890 broken? If it is not broken, why does it not play discs that other machines do?

We look forward to your input.

Thank you for your recent e-mail received on 27/08/2009 02.12 PM.

Please check to see if the discs that you are currently trying to play are compatible with your Sony DVD recorder. Please refer to page 153 in the recorder's manual for a list of playable disc types.

If, after confirming that the discs you are trying are compatible, then I would advise either having the unit exchanged at your retailer or having it looked at by a Sony Authorised Service Centre. To locate your nearest Authorised Service Centre, please go to www.sony.co.uk.

Click on Support
Select Repair Service
Select Getting Your Product Repaired
Select Product Group
Scroll down to Service Centres

This will take you to the Service Centre Locator where you can search via postcode or town and the type of product.


I hope this information is of some assistance. Thank you for your enquiry.

Interesting that Sony should suggest getting your retailer to replace it, as Sony's dealer warranty terms specifically disallow the dealer to return it to Sony.

However, these machines have been incredibly releiable, we've sold hundreds and only ever seen one faulty one - and that was just a duff HDD.

I've got the same model, and I find it behaves brilliantly, no matter what discs I play on it.

I also find the "A-B erase" a far easier editing system than the "Divide and Merge" system on the Liteon HDD recorder I had previously.