Brand New Panasonic DVD Recorder won't record to DVD.

A couple of weeks ago I posted a plea for help with a Samsung HDD
recorder. Thanks to those who replied, but I'm afraid I was not much
further forward. In the end I took the machine back to the shop and
persuaded them that the atrocious quality of the manual meant the
whole product was not fit for purpose.

So I've bought a replacement - a Panasonic DMR-EX768EB. It's a little
better, but still I am experiencing problems recording to DVD, and
would be grateful for any pointers.

I have managed to record to the hard disk, both from TV broadcasts and
from an old videotape machine connected via a SCART socket. My next
task is to transfer some of this (and especially the old and
irreplaceable videotape material) to a DVD. I am using Sony DVD-R
disks. I don't understand the differences between the various disk
types, but the manual is quite unequivocal that these disks are
suitable. But when I try to copy from the HDD (Function Menu --
Copy), I get the message "Insert valid disk to destination drive".
Except once, when I must have done something different as it worked
fine.

So it must be possible to record to DVD-R - the manual says so, and I
have achieved it once, but I have not been able to repeat this feat.
I am not in a position to ring the Panasonic Helpline, as I am at work
or otherwise away from home during their opening hours. Can anyone
help me?

Peter

A couple of weeks ago I posted a plea for help with a Samsung HDD
recorder. Thanks to those who replied, but I'm afraid I was not much
further forward. In the end I took the machine back to the shop and
persuaded them that the atrocious quality of the manual meant the
whole product was not fit for purpose.

So I've bought a replacement - a Panasonic DMR-EX768EB. It's a little
better, but still I am experiencing problems recording to DVD, and
would be grateful for any pointers.

I have managed to record to the hard disk, both from TV broadcasts and
from an old videotape machine connected via a SCART socket. My next
task is to transfer some of this (and especially the old and
irreplaceable videotape material) to a DVD. I am using Sony DVD-R
disks. I don't understand the differences between the various disk
types, but the manual is quite unequivocal that these disks are
suitable. But when I try to copy from the HDD (Function Menu --
Copy), I get the message "Insert valid disk to destination drive".
Except once, when I must have done something different as it worked
fine.

So it must be possible to record to DVD-R - the manual says so, and I
have achieved it once, but I have not been able to repeat this feat.
I am not in a position to ring the Panasonic Helpline, as I am at work
or otherwise away from home during their opening hours. Can anyone
help me?


Mine works fine with Sony DVD+RW disks so there are several possibilities.
The disks could be faulty or for some reason the machine does not like the
particular disk that is not unknown in my expereince. Have you tried another
brand of disk? There does not seem to be any obvious reason why copying
should fail due to the wrong selections being made within the menu.

Peter Crosland

"peter" wrote in message
...
A couple of weeks ago I posted a plea for help with a Samsung HDD
recorder. Thanks to those who replied, but I'm afraid I was not much
further forward. In the end I took the machine back to the shop and
persuaded them that the atrocious quality of the manual meant the
whole product was not fit for purpose.

So I've bought a replacement - a Panasonic DMR-EX768EB. It's a little
better, but still I am experiencing problems recording to DVD, and
would be grateful for any pointers.

I have managed to record to the hard disk, both from TV broadcasts and
from an old videotape machine connected via a SCART socket. My next
task is to transfer some of this (and especially the old and
irreplaceable videotape material) to a DVD. I am using Sony DVD-R
disks. I don't understand the differences between the various disk
types, but the manual is quite unequivocal that these disks are
suitable. But when I try to copy from the HDD (Function Menu --
Copy), I get the message "Insert valid disk to destination drive".
Except once, when I must have done something different as it worked
fine.

So it must be possible to record to DVD-R - the manual says so, and I
have achieved it once, but I have not been able to repeat this feat.
I am not in a position to ring the Panasonic Helpline, as I am at work
or otherwise away from home during their opening hours. Can anyone
help me?

Peter

There's not much you can get wrong with what you describe. Other than a prog
thats got some sort of built in copyright code....which I have not yet found
other than DVD to HDD and not HDD to DVD

IMHO, Sony are the worst discs I have ever used. Out of 20 DVD's I would say
1/3 have been faulty.

I switched to Philips DVD-R and have had no problems in about 70 copies.

I would suggest trying another make before pulling hair out.

In article
,
peter wrote:
So it must be possible to record to DVD-R - the manual says so, and I
have achieved it once, but I have not been able to repeat this feat.
I am not in a position to ring the Panasonic Helpline, as I am at work
or otherwise away from home during their opening hours. Can anyone
help me?

Not quite sure how print on here would be any clearer than that in the
instruction manual. ;-)

Ask next door's kid to show you how to use it?

--
*The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 3 Mar, 09:22, peter wrote:
A couple of weeks ago I posted a plea for help with a Samsung HDD
recorder. *Thanks to those who replied, but I'm afraid I was not much
further forward. *In the end I took the machine back to the shop and
persuaded them that the atrocious quality of the manual meant the
whole product was not fit for purpose.

So I've bought a replacement - a Panasonic DMR-EX768EB. *It's a little
better, but still I am experiencing problems recording to DVD, and
would be grateful for any pointers.

I have managed to record to the hard disk, both from TV broadcasts and
from an old videotape machine connected via a SCART socket. *My next
task is to transfer some of this (and especially the old and
irreplaceable videotape material) to a DVD. *I am using Sony DVD-R
disks. I don't understand the differences between the various disk
types, but the manual is quite unequivocal that these disks are
suitable. *But when I try to copy from the HDD (Function Menu --
Copy), I get the message "Insert valid disk to destination drive".
Except once, when I must have done something different as it worked
fine.

So it must be possible to record to DVD-R - the manual says so, and I
have achieved it once, but I have not been able to repeat this feat.
I am not in a position to ring the Panasonic Helpline, as I am at work
or otherwise away from home during their opening hours. Can anyone
help me?

Peter

When you say repeat this feat are you attempting to write to the same
disk as before? This could have been 'finaliased' which won't allow
any further writing to it. Have you tried with a brand new empty disk?
Also for compatibilities sake try a panasonic DVD-R.
Perhaps this will help explain the differences in DVD type for you
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD-R#Competing_formats

What you need is a seven year old child. I've always found this to be a
great solution to impenetrable technology. Sadly we have none left around
here these days, they have all grown up and found girls.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email:
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________


"peter" wrote in message
...
A couple of weeks ago I posted a plea for help with a Samsung HDD
recorder. Thanks to those who replied, but I'm afraid I was not much
further forward. In the end I took the machine back to the shop and
persuaded them that the atrocious quality of the manual meant the
whole product was not fit for purpose.

So I've bought a replacement - a Panasonic DMR-EX768EB. It's a little
better, but still I am experiencing problems recording to DVD, and
would be grateful for any pointers.

I have managed to record to the hard disk, both from TV broadcasts and
from an old videotape machine connected via a SCART socket. My next
task is to transfer some of this (and especially the old and
irreplaceable videotape material) to a DVD. I am using Sony DVD-R
disks. I don't understand the differences between the various disk
types, but the manual is quite unequivocal that these disks are
suitable. But when I try to copy from the HDD (Function Menu --
Copy), I get the message "Insert valid disk to destination drive".
Except once, when I must have done something different as it worked
fine.

So it must be possible to record to DVD-R - the manual says so, and I
have achieved it once, but I have not been able to repeat this feat.
I am not in a position to ring the Panasonic Helpline, as I am at work
or otherwise away from home during their opening hours. Can anyone
help me?

Peter

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
...
What you need is a seven year old child. I've always found this to be a
great solution to impenetrable technology. Sadly we have none left around
here these days, they have all grown up and found girls.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email:
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________


"peter" wrote in message
...
A couple of weeks ago I posted a plea for help with a Samsung HDD
recorder. Thanks to those who replied, but I'm afraid I was not much
further forward. In the end I took the machine back to the shop and
persuaded them that the atrocious quality of the manual meant the
whole product was not fit for purpose.

So I've bought a replacement - a Panasonic DMR-EX768EB. It's a little
better, but still I am experiencing problems recording to DVD, and
would be grateful for any pointers.

I have managed to record to the hard disk, both from TV broadcasts and
from an old videotape machine connected via a SCART socket. My next
task is to transfer some of this (and especially the old and
irreplaceable videotape material) to a DVD. I am using Sony DVD-R
disks. I don't understand the differences between the various disk
types, but the manual is quite unequivocal that these disks are
suitable. But when I try to copy from the HDD (Function Menu --
Copy), I get the message "Insert valid disk to destination drive".
Except once, when I must have done something different as it worked
fine.

So it must be possible to record to DVD-R - the manual says so, and I
have achieved it once, but I have not been able to repeat this feat.
I am not in a position to ring the Panasonic Helpline, as I am at work
or otherwise away from home during their opening hours. Can anyone
help me?

Peter




and moved to VD players I suppose...................

On Tue, 3 Mar 2009 01:22:46 -0800 (PST), peter
wrote:

So I've bought a replacement - a Panasonic DMR-EX768EB. It's a little
better, but still I am experiencing problems recording to DVD, and
would be grateful for any pointers.

I have an older model, a DMR-E100H, and I've written up some web-pages
to help others with what I've discovered about it, and some of the
content may also be relevant to you ...
http://tinyurl.com/94ogut
.... standing in for ...
http://www.macfh.co.uk/JavaJive/Audi...cDMRE100H.html

So it must be possible to record to DVD-R - the manual says so, and I
have achieved it once, but I have not been able to repeat this feat.
I am not in a position to ring the Panasonic Helpline, as I am at work
or otherwise away from home during their opening hours. Can anyone
help me?

Older models like mine could only record to DVD-R or DVD-RAM, but I
believe most recent model support the + formats as well. As has been
mentioned, you can't dub from DVD to HD, but you can dub from DVD-RAM
to HD, as well as what you're trying to do, HD to DVD.

Does the DVD+-R(W) require formatting before use? I know that DVD-RAM
does. Perhaps you formatted it on the one occasion it worked?

I have created one DVD by direct dubbing from HD to DVD-R, but, and
this is mentioned in the manual, the original aspect ratio was
ignored, the result being 4:3, though the original programme was
widescreen.

For this and other reasons, such as being able to edit out adverts
more cleanly, and create menus, and so on, I don't use the above
method any more. If I absolutely must use the Panasonic, say when
like you I was converting those VHS that I wanted to keep, I transfer
the programmes to my PC using DVD-RAM, and author them there, and this
process is outlined on my website.

Nowadays I use a Dreambox FTA satellite receiver based on the Linux
OS, which records onto HD, and allows me to transfer the files to my
PC directly via its network connection. Though not without its own
hassles, Dreamboxes are not for the technologically challenged, the
transfer process is so much simpler!

HTHs

To copy from hard drive to DVD you may have to format the blank disc first.

/\BratMan/\ wrote:
To copy from hard drive to DVD you may have to format the blank disc
first.

Not if it is a DVD-R which the OP was using.
--
There is no god, so stop worrying and enjoy your life.