Unplayable vhs tape

PowerJC · 24-09-2007, 19:03

Me and my dad are in the process of converting old home movies to dvd. We are on to our second tape and it won't play back. He taped it on a cheap alba tape back in 1997 odds and when we put it in it was just static. Tryed forwarding back and forth and got us nothing. Then it took ages to clean the heads.
Anyway the big problem is how do we get this tape to play back. We can't risk putting it back in the video player, so is there any companies that can restore tapes and back them up? I remember reading somewhere about an old tape being baked to make it play back ok. I tried a google search but it returned nothing. Anyway anyone know any companies? or anything we can do to get it playable?

Jimmy Riddle · 24-09-2007, 19:51

http://www.goodheartmedia.com/videotodvd.htm

An American company, but I'm sure there must be UK companies who can offer the service?

Quote:

Do you have a broken or damaged videotape? In most cases we can repair and transfer your tape to either a replacement VHS tape or to long-lasting DVD. When necessary, we can also transfer your tape to a new cassette shell to remedy tape transport problems.

oldie · 25-09-2007, 13:58

Is there no sound either? Don't want to be a pessimist but if the oxide is coming off and clogging the heads then it seems like the tape is a write-off. If the oxide is coming off the base material in any quantity, no video to DVD copying facility will want to touch it or is unlikely to give any sort of guarantee of success. They won't want to clog their heads up either. Although it seems unlikely, you might like to check that the tape is not twisted. The dull side should be facing away from the cassette. Has the tape been stored next to something magnetic like a loudspeaker. That will erase the tape in patches and leave intermittent or no playback, just noise. From what you say there is no playback at all apart from noise. Could be that the head alignment between the recording and playback machines is way out. This can also cause noise. Have you tried making a very short test recording? That will prove if the tape is twisted. Make sure the safety tabs are intact or it won't record at all.

PowerJC · 25-09-2007, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldie

Is there no sound either? Don't want to be a pessimist but if the oxide is coming off and clogging the heads then it seems like the tape is a write-off. If the oxide is coming off the base material in any quantity, no video to DVD copying facility will want to touch it or is unlikely to give any sort of guarantee of success. They won't want to clog their heads up either. Although it seems unlikely, you might like to check that the tape is not twisted. The dull side should be facing away from the cassette. Has the tape been stored next to something magnetic like a loudspeaker. That will erase the tape in patches and leave intermittent or no playback, just noise. From what you say there is no playback at all apart from noise. Could be that the head alignment between the recording and playback machines is way out. This can also cause noise. Have you tried making a very short test recording? That will prove if the tape is twisted. Make sure the safety tabs are intact or it won't record at all.

The tape definately shed oxide on the heads as it took ages to clean the heads. Video player is fine, taped heroes at the weekend and when we cleaned the heads we watched it back and it was fine. We also got another tape to work in perfect condition that had been stored with it. I think the problem is the brand, I think it was a cheap nasty tape that has just degraded. And I'm not going to try recording onto the tape, as it clogged the heads, and don't want to put it back in. The sound did work, but there was no picture.

24-09-2007, 19:03	#1
PowerJC Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,025	Unplayable vhs tape Me and my dad are in the process of converting old home movies to dvd. We are on to our second tape and it won't play back. He taped it on a cheap alba tape back in 1997 odds and when we put it in it was just static. Tryed forwarding back and forth and got us nothing. Then it took ages to clean the heads. Anyway the big problem is how do we get this tape to play back. We can't risk putting it back in the video player, so is there any companies that can restore tapes and back them up? I remember reading somewhere about an old tape being baked to make it play back ok. I tried a google search but it returned nothing. Anyway anyone know any companies? or anything we can do to get it playable?

24-09-2007, 19:51	#2
Jimmy Riddle Banned User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,447	http://www.goodheartmedia.com/videotodvd.htm An American company, but I'm sure there must be UK companies who can offer the service? Quote: Do you have a broken or damaged videotape? In most cases we can repair and transfer your tape to either a replacement VHS tape or to long-lasting DVD. When necessary, we can also transfer your tape to a new cassette shell to remedy tape transport problems.

25-09-2007, 13:58	#3
oldie Forum Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Harrow, North London Posts: 168	Is there no sound either? Don't want to be a pessimist but if the oxide is coming off and clogging the heads then it seems like the tape is a write-off. If the oxide is coming off the base material in any quantity, no video to DVD copying facility will want to touch it or is unlikely to give any sort of guarantee of success. They won't want to clog their heads up either. Although it seems unlikely, you might like to check that the tape is not twisted. The dull side should be facing away from the cassette. Has the tape been stored next to something magnetic like a loudspeaker. That will erase the tape in patches and leave intermittent or no playback, just noise. From what you say there is no playback at all apart from noise. Could be that the head alignment between the recording and playback machines is way out. This can also cause noise. Have you tried making a very short test recording? That will prove if the tape is twisted. Make sure the safety tabs are intact or it won't record at all.

25-09-2007, 17:19	#4
PowerJC Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,025	Quote: Originally Posted by oldie Is there no sound either? Don't want to be a pessimist but if the oxide is coming off and clogging the heads then it seems like the tape is a write-off. If the oxide is coming off the base material in any quantity, no video to DVD copying facility will want to touch it or is unlikely to give any sort of guarantee of success. They won't want to clog their heads up either. Although it seems unlikely, you might like to check that the tape is not twisted. The dull side should be facing away from the cassette. Has the tape been stored next to something magnetic like a loudspeaker. That will erase the tape in patches and leave intermittent or no playback, just noise. From what you say there is no playback at all apart from noise. Could be that the head alignment between the recording and playback machines is way out. This can also cause noise. Have you tried making a very short test recording? That will prove if the tape is twisted. Make sure the safety tabs are intact or it won't record at all. The tape definately shed oxide on the heads as it took ages to clean the heads. Video player is fine, taped heroes at the weekend and when we cleaned the heads we watched it back and it was fine. We also got another tape to work in perfect condition that had been stored with it. I think the problem is the brand, I think it was a cheap nasty tape that has just degraded. And I'm not going to try recording onto the tape, as it clogged the heads, and don't want to put it back in. The sound did work, but there was no picture.

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Unplayable vhs tape