VCR in DVD/VCR recorder won't record

June 1, 2006 9:42 AM

Problem with DVD/VCR recorder/player - all of a sudden, the VCR part won't record, it says "Check record safety tab" and ejects every tape I try, including the tape I had recorded on the previous night. The first tape I tried was a brand new tape, same thing. At first I thought the new tape was defective, but the problem happens on all the new tapes I just bought, and one's I've used for recording recently. Could the new tape have screwed it up somehow?

I never remove the 'safety tab', but I put tape over it anyway. no change. I've also tried that old standby, shutting off the machine for a while, and this morning a power failure shut down all functions, even the standby ones , but no change.
The machine is a Toshiba DVD recorder-VCR D-VR3SU, (if that helps at all) and it has worked perfectly for 11 months. I have a 2 year service warranty, so I can send it in for replacement/repair, but . . . I hate to do that if there is something else to try. It seems like somehow, it has a flag set that all tapes are 'write protected' as we used to say of disks.

I can't find anything in the service manual.

Any suggestions. Cosmic rays?
Judy

posted by judybxxx to Technology (7 answers total)

More likely, the switch that senses the "safety tab" is broken. I doubt that that particular tape had anything to do with it, unless it was seriously misshapen somehow.

They certainly don't make them like they used to.
posted by xil at 9:58 AM on June 1, 2006

Best answer: Well, I'm not a VCR repairman, but I have repaired a VCR. I used the VCR repair faq After reading the faq I seriously considered a side job doing VCR repair.

I'm assuming that there is something wrong with the switch that is pushed by the record tab on the tape, but I'm afraid that's all I have to offer.
posted by birchhook at 10:03 AM on June 1, 2006

I think xil is right, that was my first guess -- there is a little lever inside that presses on the safety tab location, and if the little lever is severed, it would "feel" as if all tabs have been broken out, even if they haven't.

Try putting something over the tab -- not just tape to cover over the hole, but something "taller" that might compensation for a broken lever. Like a scrabble tile or something well secured (so it doesn't fall off inside).. ?
posted by vanoakenfold at 10:31 AM on June 1, 2006

Response by poster: hmmm - I'm nervous about putting something (thicker) over the hole - could that do damage? If I have to send it in to get fixed, could I invalidate the warranty? get the tape stuck?

what do you think about a small piece of cardboard, held by duct tape?

Judy
posted by judybxxx at 12:34 PM on June 1, 2006

How handy are you? There are probably only about 6-8 screws holding the cover on. Take the cover off and see if you can see whats going on.

If you are not handy, I would NOT recommend doing more that taking the cover off, because there are about a bazzilion springs and levers that will go sproing, if you're not careful.

You will most likely end up just bringing it back in for service after all, though.
posted by DesbaratsDays at 1:11 PM on June 1, 2006

If you've got a warranty, take it to an expert.
posted by Carol Anne at 5:16 AM on June 2, 2006

Response by poster: oh yes, warranty - i just looked at it - I don't think the details were available at purchase. anyway, it is sort of an insurance policy (extended protection) from Overstock - says you can send it in and get a voucher for the amount you paid. I.e. i have to shop again. ;-( . I haven't checked to see what they are carrying at the moment. Oh well, I think I'll sit with it, use the parts that work, till I have energy to deal with it.

Thanks all for helping me diagnose and see my options.
Judy
posted by judybxxx at 9:18 AM on June 2, 2006