By mistake (!) I switched on the "External Link" mode on our unit - I was fiddling around with the settings and trying to tell the unit that we had changed broadband providers so that we could watch something on youtube - anyway the unit is now on "External Link" mode and I don't want it to be, but can't exit it. The unit display says "EXT- L".

On "External Link" mode on this machine, it disables any menus on the screen, so I have no way of navigating out of it.
There is NO "external link" button on the remote control for this machine.
There is NO "external link" button on the front of the unit.

As far as I can see, the only way to exit external link is via navigating menus on the screen - but I can't do this as there is nothing on the screen, just "AV2" in the left hand corner, and the unit display just says "AV2" or "Menu" when I press the Function Menu button.

I rang Panasonic support and they just told me to check my scart cables were inserted properly, ie they though that the reason for the blank screen was disconnection, but I've read on other forums that switching on External Link stops menus from appearing on the screen.

Help please!

I can't do a factory re-set because, again, that needs me to access menus on the screen - unless anyone knows a way around this (maybe by pressing and holding a button on the remote or on the unit?)

I don't have sky or any other reason for an external link, I just use this machine (very nicely up until now) for watching DVDs, iplayer, youtube, and recording on the Hard drive and as a freeview tuner.

thanks

May I ask why your using a scart lead on a top end DMR as you will get no HD on screen or from the blue ray player.
Have you unplugged the the power cable for 5 mins and rebooted?
I have a Panasonic DMR a cheaper model, I have never had the problem your having.

Even more confused now looking at your instruction manual this DMR doesn't have
any Scart connections only HDMI and Phono Connections.

Function menu>others>ext link.OK>return. ???

Old post - and probably too late but for future ref:

Panasonic were partially correct.
Your TV is showing 'AV2' indicating the TV is showing whatever is connected to AV2 of the TV - presumably nothing.

Your machine will be connected via HDMI to one of the HDMI inputs.
You need to use the TV remote to manually select the appropriate HDMI input so that the TV can 'see' the 720' again.

Once done you will be able to navigate menus again to get out of Ext-L mode.