DVD recorder stopping during recording

td1983 · 13-02-2008, 10:18

That's what happened to my Wharfedale on Saturday night when I was using it. I had turned the recorder off when I was recoding on it the previous night, you don't think that might've corrupted the laser, do you?

John Currie · 13-02-2008, 11:05

You can't corrupt the laser...you can corrupt software.
Have you tried unplugging it from the mains supply and then plugging it back in again?

td1983 · 13-02-2008, 15:02

Yes, I always turn it off when not in use. What's the difference between corrupting the software and corrupting the laser?

John Currie · 13-02-2008, 15:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by td1983

What's the difference between corrupting the software and corrupting the laser?

You can't corrupt the laser, it's an electro-optical device...it either works or it doesn't.

chrisjr · 13-02-2008, 15:29

Might be useful to know a little bit more info.

Are you using the same disk as the one that was in the machine when you switched it off mid session? And if you are does it record for several minurtes then stop, rather than the 1 or 2 hours the disk should normally last? If so it might be the disk that is the problem. Basically the recorder may be coming to the end of the available space on the disk and simply stopping due to having nowhere left to record to. Essentially, because you switched the recorder off without stopping it in the normal manner, you may have corrupted the disk.

Simple check is to use a new blank disk straight out of the packet. If that records to the expected duration then all is well. If it is a RW disk then try a full format of the disk to try and recover the full capacity of the disk. otherwise just chuck it away - DVDs are cheap enough to not bother wasting too much time trying to recover a dud one!

One thing that is possible however is that switching off the machine mid session has damaged the laser. During recording the power output of the laser is ramped up well above the level it uses during playback. This is because it has to heat up the dye in the disk to record data onto it. So it is just possible you have caused the laser some grief switching it off incorrectly. The symtoms of that would be trouble playing back disks and probably not being able to record any disk at all, ie it would stop almost imediately.

td1983 · 14-02-2008, 10:06

Thanks for that. It did it again last night when I was using it, again after 30 minutes. Oh, no!

td1983 · 14-02-2008, 15:20

Further to the above, I am currently using Woolworths DVD-R discs and it's happened on both of these discs. Could it be the discs that are the problem?

chrisjr · 14-02-2008, 15:29

Entirely possible. The disks may well be either inherently poor quality or simply a bad batch.

You are more likely to get problems with cheap own brand disks than if you stick to more expensive branded disks. Though even there there is no guarantee that a Verbatim disk (to randomly pluck a brand out of the air) is going to be any better than a Tescos Value brand at 1/10th the price!

Certainly worth trying a different brand of disk to see if that makes the difference.

Gilson · 14-02-2008, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

Entirely possible. The disks may well be either inherently poor quality or simply a bad batch.

Though even there there is no guarantee that a Verbatim disk (to randomly pluck a brand out of the air) is going to be any better than a Tescos Value brand at 1/10th the price!
.

I regret I disagree. Verbatim disks in particular are very reliable and probably the best that you can get in a local store. Tesco value discs are usually dreadful however I had one batch that worked very well. Using VSO inspector I found that they were in fact made by Verbatim!

Verbatim disks are not 10 times the price of Tescos. I usually pay about £6 for 25 at PC World

I agree that the OP's problem is almost certainly poor disc quality and he should get some decent (Verbatim) discs.

td1983 · 20-02-2008, 10:12

Sadly, it is definitely the recorder to blame, as it stopped recording at exactly the same point-30 mins-when I used a different brand of disc, that I have used before without any problems, last night. It's going to have to be returned to Argos, I'm afraid.

John Currie · 20-02-2008, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by td1983

Sadly, it is definitely the recorder to blame, as it stopped recording at exactly the same point-30 mins-when I used a different brand of disc, that I have used before without any problems, last night. It's going to have to be returned to Argos, I'm afraid.

Are you pushing the record button twice perhaps?
Does the DVDR have a function called "One Touch Recording"?...check the user manual.
This function was common on VCRs and a lot of DVDRs have it...essentially if you push the record button once the DVDR will record until you press stop or run out of disc space...push it twice and it will record for 30mins, push it 3 times and it will record for 60mins...and so on...each push of the record button increases the recording time in increments of 30mins.

td1983 · 20-02-2008, 15:08

I doubt it'll work somehow, but I'll give it a go, thanks for your suggestion.

td1983 · 21-02-2008, 10:21

Update-I tried pressing the button into OTR mode so that it would pass 30 mins last night-and it worked! Just maybe, you've helped me solve the problem. Thanks very much, John!

13-02-2008, 10:18	#1
td1983 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,438	DVD recorder stopping during recording That's what happened to my Wharfedale on Saturday night when I was using it. I had turned the recorder off when I was recoding on it the previous night, you don't think that might've corrupted the laser, do you?

13-02-2008, 11:05	#2
John Currie Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland Posts: 2,005	You can't corrupt the laser...you can corrupt software. Have you tried unplugging it from the mains supply and then plugging it back in again?

13-02-2008, 15:02	#3
td1983 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,438	Yes, I always turn it off when not in use. What's the difference between corrupting the software and corrupting the laser?

13-02-2008, 15:10	#4
John Currie Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland Posts: 2,005	Quote: Originally Posted by td1983 What's the difference between corrupting the software and corrupting the laser? You can't corrupt the laser, it's an electro-optical device...it either works or it doesn't.

13-02-2008, 15:29	#5
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Might be useful to know a little bit more info. Are you using the same disk as the one that was in the machine when you switched it off mid session? And if you are does it record for several minurtes then stop, rather than the 1 or 2 hours the disk should normally last? If so it might be the disk that is the problem. Basically the recorder may be coming to the end of the available space on the disk and simply stopping due to having nowhere left to record to. Essentially, because you switched the recorder off without stopping it in the normal manner, you may have corrupted the disk. Simple check is to use a new blank disk straight out of the packet. If that records to the expected duration then all is well. If it is a RW disk then try a full format of the disk to try and recover the full capacity of the disk. otherwise just chuck it away - DVDs are cheap enough to not bother wasting too much time trying to recover a dud one! One thing that is possible however is that switching off the machine mid session has damaged the laser. During recording the power output of the laser is ramped up well above the level it uses during playback. This is because it has to heat up the dye in the disk to record data onto it. So it is just possible you have caused the laser some grief switching it off incorrectly. The symtoms of that would be trouble playing back disks and probably not being able to record any disk at all, ie it would stop almost imediately.

14-02-2008, 10:06	#6
td1983 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,438	Thanks for that. It did it again last night when I was using it, again after 30 minutes. Oh, no!

14-02-2008, 15:20	#7
td1983 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,438	Further to the above, I am currently using Woolworths DVD-R discs and it's happened on both of these discs. Could it be the discs that are the problem?

14-02-2008, 15:29	#8
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Entirely possible. The disks may well be either inherently poor quality or simply a bad batch. You are more likely to get problems with cheap own brand disks than if you stick to more expensive branded disks. Though even there there is no guarantee that a Verbatim disk (to randomly pluck a brand out of the air) is going to be any better than a Tescos Value brand at 1/10th the price! Certainly worth trying a different brand of disk to see if that makes the difference.

14-02-2008, 17:19	#9
Gilson Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,145	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr Entirely possible. The disks may well be either inherently poor quality or simply a bad batch. Though even there there is no guarantee that a Verbatim disk (to randomly pluck a brand out of the air) is going to be any better than a Tescos Value brand at 1/10th the price! . I regret I disagree. Verbatim disks in particular are very reliable and probably the best that you can get in a local store. Tesco value discs are usually dreadful however I had one batch that worked very well. Using VSO inspector I found that they were in fact made by Verbatim! Verbatim disks are not 10 times the price of Tescos. I usually pay about £6 for 25 at PC World I agree that the OP's problem is almost certainly poor disc quality and he should get some decent (Verbatim) discs.

20-02-2008, 10:12	#10
td1983 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,438	Sadly, it is definitely the recorder to blame, as it stopped recording at exactly the same point-30 mins-when I used a different brand of disc, that I have used before without any problems, last night. It's going to have to be returned to Argos, I'm afraid.

20-02-2008, 10:28	#11
John Currie Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: South Lanarkshire. Scotland Posts: 2,005	Quote: Originally Posted by td1983 Sadly, it is definitely the recorder to blame, as it stopped recording at exactly the same point-30 mins-when I used a different brand of disc, that I have used before without any problems, last night. It's going to have to be returned to Argos, I'm afraid. Are you pushing the record button twice perhaps? Does the DVDR have a function called "One Touch Recording"?...check the user manual. This function was common on VCRs and a lot of DVDRs have it...essentially if you push the record button once the DVDR will record until you press stop or run out of disc space...push it twice and it will record for 30mins, push it 3 times and it will record for 60mins...and so on...each push of the record button increases the recording time in increments of 30mins.

20-02-2008, 15:08	#12
td1983 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,438	I doubt it'll work somehow, but I'll give it a go, thanks for your suggestion.

21-02-2008, 10:21	#13
td1983 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,438	Update-I tried pressing the button into OTR mode so that it would pass 30 mins last night-and it worked! Just maybe, you've helped me solve the problem. Thanks very much, John!

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DVD recorder stopping during recording