DVD-Software.info

[MaryL]

I used VCR player/recorders for many years without any problems. One of them
was a GoVideo dual deck recorder that I used to edit some tapes to play in
class and others that were camcorder tapes that I had recorded. Several
months ago, I decided to convert to DVD, both for the type of uses I just
mentioned and also so I could play movies on the equipment. I bought a
Panasonic DVD video player/recorder, model #DMR-E55P9-S to attach to one TV
and a Panasonic DVD/VHS dual deck player recorder, model #DMR-E75V for
another TV (this one to permit editing as I did with the dual deck VCR and
also to copy my old VCR tapes to DVD). I had no problems using VCRs in the
past, but I am useless when it comes to setting up hardware, so I hired a
technician from Circuit City (where I bought the players) to do my setups.
Even they had some problems because I have cable, and there were some
complications. I have the type of cable where I do not need a separate cable
box, but I think there may be a splitter of some sort for the DVD
attachment. However, they eventually got everything set up so I could use
it. Ironically, I did not make much use of it for awhile and have now
forgotten much of what they told me.

Here's the big problem: Now I cannot even get either machine even to *play*
a DVD, let alone start learning how to edit! I'm not even sure if *I* am the
problem or if the cause was the power outage that I just went through. I
live in the area hit by Hurricane Rita, and I was without power for 7 days.
I know the equipment was not destroyed because the TVs works fine. When I
try to power on the attached DVD players, the light comes on and the "read"
message is clear. If I press "play," the DVD button lights up, and the DVD
shows numbers counting up as if it is reading a track. However, only the TV
channel continues to play (and I did set the TV channel to 3, which is used
when playing the DVD).

Does anyone have a suggestion before I have hire another technician? Is
there something obvious that I am forgetting to do, or would the power
outage have reset something? I will even have some difficulty finding a
technician because the Circuit City where I bought the equipment has closed
down and the nearest one is 75 miles away. Incidentally, the equipment
remained plugged into the wall outlet throughout this time. If unplugging
and replugging is a likely solution, I will do it - but I don't want to have
to do that if it is not reasonable for this problem because I would have to
move *very* heavy equipment to do so (and have no one to help).

Thanks for any help you can give me. As you can see, I'm virtually helpless
with this - and reading the manual is like reading it in a foreign language
(largely incomprehensible).

MaryL

[Gene E. Bloch]

"MaryL" <carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in
news:vLJ1f.2662$xE1.2302@okepread07:

[Gene E. Bloch]

"MaryL" <carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote in
news:rjF2f.2805$xE1.2083@okepread07:

[MaryL]

"Gene E. Bloch" <hamburger@NOT_SPAM.invalid> wrote in message
news:Xns96EBA59B1675BAstrolabe@216.196.97.136...

[Guest]

In Message-ID:<rjF2f.2805$xE1.2083@okepread07>,
"MaryL" <carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote:

[quote]Here's the big problem: Now I cannot even get either machine even
to *play* a DVD, let alone start learning how to edit! I'm not
even sure if *I* am the problem or if the cause was the power
outage that I just went through. I live in the area hit by
Hurricane Rita, and I was without power for 7 days. I know the
equipment was not destroyed because the TVs works fine. When I try
to power on the attached DVD players, the light comes on and the
"read" message is clear. If I press "play," the DVD button lights
up, and the DVD shows numbers counting up as if it is reading a
track. However, only the TV channel continues to play (and I did
set the TV channel to 3, which is used when playing the DVD).
[/quote]
Please forgive an uninformed and elementary possible
explanation. My guess is that losing power sent your sets back to
default settings and some setting you (or the installer) made
once, and never unmade, has to be made again.

I don't have a DVD player, but I wonder if they have a switch
similar to one on VCRs. On a VCR it's the TV/VTR button. Set one
say, the VCR doesn't send its signal to the TV; set the other way,
it does. (I'm calling it a switch, but it's usually a button that
turns on or off a light.)

Do you really set the TV to channel 3 to play the DVD? Most
are set up to play DVDs from the AUX VIDEO (or VIDEO IN) because
the quality is much higher.

Rather than playing around with the hardware, I'd spend some
time looking at the manuals. I see you have problems
understanding them, so get a local geek (who you can probably get
for free or, at most, a pizza) to look over the situation.
Certainly cheaper and faster than trying Circuit City, and (IMO)
at least as likely to produce the results you want.

[MaryL]

<DVDless@example.com> wrote in message
news:k3gmk1hdanrljbmksgdgje1gg9vchefv8d@4ax.com...
[quote]In Message-ID:<rjF2f.2805$xE1.2083@okepread07>,
"MaryL" <carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote:

Here's the big problem: Now I cannot even get either machine even
to *play* a DVD, let alone start learning how to edit! I'm not
even sure if *I* am the problem or if the cause was the power
outage that I just went through. I live in the area hit by
Hurricane Rita, and I was without power for 7 days. I know the
equipment was not destroyed because the TVs works fine. When I try
to power on the attached DVD players, the light comes on and the
"read" message is clear. If I press "play," the DVD button lights
up, and the DVD shows numbers counting up as if it is reading a
track. However, only the TV channel continues to play (and I did
set the TV channel to 3, which is used when playing the DVD).

Please forgive an uninformed and elementary possible
explanation. My guess is that losing power sent your sets back to
default settings and some setting you (or the installer) made
once, and never unmade, has to be made again.

I don't have a DVD player, but I wonder if they have a switch
similar to one on VCRs. On a VCR it's the TV/VTR button. Set one
say, the VCR doesn't send its signal to the TV; set the other way,
it does. (I'm calling it a switch, but it's usually a button that
turns on or off a light.)

Do you really set the TV to channel 3 to play the DVD? Most
are set up to play DVDs from the AUX VIDEO (or VIDEO IN) because
the quality is much higher.

Rather than playing around with the hardware, I'd spend some
time looking at the manuals. I see you have problems
understanding them, so get a local geek (who you can probably get
for free or, at most, a pizza) to look over the situation.
Certainly cheaper and faster than trying Circuit City, and (IMO)
at least as likely to produce the results you want.
[/quote]
You're right about channel 3 (I was reverting to VCR there). I use Video 1
with my setup. I'd like to find a local geek but so far haven't found any
among my friends! The irony is, I'm usually the person who wants to read
manuals -- but I haven't found a solution to this one.

MaryL

[Bill G]

On Tue, 11 Oct 2005 05:32:40 -0500, "MaryL"
<carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote:

[quote]
DVDless@example.com> wrote in message
news:k3gmk1hdanrljbmksgdgje1gg9vchefv8d@4ax.com...
In Message-ID:<rjF2f.2805$xE1.2083@okepread07>,
"MaryL" <carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote:

Here's the big problem: Now I cannot even get either machine even
to *play* a DVD, let alone start learning how to edit! I'm not
even sure if *I* am the problem or if the cause was the power
outage that I just went through. I live in the area hit by
Hurricane Rita, and I was without power for 7 days. I know the
equipment was not destroyed because the TVs works fine. When I try
to power on the attached DVD players, the light comes on and the
"read" message is clear. If I press "play," the DVD button lights
up, and the DVD shows numbers counting up as if it is reading a
track. However, only the TV channel continues to play (and I did
set the TV channel to 3, which is used when playing the DVD).

Please forgive an uninformed and elementary possible
explanation. My guess is that losing power sent your sets back to
default settings and some setting you (or the installer) made
once, and never unmade, has to be made again.

I don't have a DVD player, but I wonder if they have a switch
similar to one on VCRs. On a VCR it's the TV/VTR button. Set one
say, the VCR doesn't send its signal to the TV; set the other way,
it does. (I'm calling it a switch, but it's usually a button that
turns on or off a light.)

Do you really set the TV to channel 3 to play the DVD? Most
are set up to play DVDs from the AUX VIDEO (or VIDEO IN) because
the quality is much higher.

Rather than playing around with the hardware, I'd spend some
time looking at the manuals. I see you have problems
understanding them, so get a local geek (who you can probably get
for free or, at most, a pizza) to look over the situation.
Certainly cheaper and faster than trying Circuit City, and (IMO)
at least as likely to produce the results you want.

You're right about channel 3 (I was reverting to VCR there). I use Video 1
with my setup. I'd like to find a local geek but so far haven't found any
among my friends! The irony is, I'm usually the person who wants to read
manuals -- but I haven't found a solution to this one.
[/quote]
What part of the world do you live in? If you turn out to be one of my
neighbors, I'll be happy to walk over and take a look at it.

--
Bill

[Marty]

Somewhere around Tue, 11 Oct 2005 05:32:40 -0500, while reading
rec.video.dvd.players, I think I thought I saw this post from "MaryL"
<carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER>:

It sounds to me like you are simply not getting the various switches in the
right position. It's hard to tell you exactly what the settings should be
without knowing how it's set up. If it were me, I would systematically
reverse engineer the setup to figure it out, but then, I used to repair and
evaluate stereo equipment professionally.

When the DVD player is playing, if you see the TV, then the TV is not set to
the right input. If it was a bad cable, you would see nothing. So, you
need to find out how to switch your TV input from antenna/cable to whatever
input the DVD is in - either a "line" in, S-Video, component, or alternate
antenna input (unlikely).

Does the sound come from the TV or the stereo? If it's from the stereo,
then you will need to also find the correct input for the stereo (aux, tape,
vcr, dvd, cd, ...??).

I can try to help, and if you really get stuck, post the brand/model number
of the TV and stereo, and maybe someone can find a manual online).


--
Marty - public.forums (at) gmail (dot) com
"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them...
well, I have others." - Groucho Marx

[chicagofan]

DVDless@example.com wrote:
[quote]
"MaryL" <carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote:

Here's the big problem: Now I cannot even get either machine even
to *play* a DVD, let alone start learning how to edit! When I try
to power on the attached DVD players, the light comes on and the
"read" message is clear. If I press "play," the DVD button lights
up, and the DVD shows numbers counting up as if it is reading a
track. However, only the TV channel continues to play (and I did
set the TV channel to 3, which is used when playing the DVD).


Please forgive an uninformed and elementary possible
explanation. My guess is that losing power sent your sets back to
default settings and some setting you (or the installer) made
once, and never unmade, has to be made again.
[/quote]
That's my guess as well... :)


[quote]I don't have a DVD player, but I wonder if they have a switch
similar to one on VCRs. On a VCR it's the TV/VTR button. Set one
way, the VCR doesn't send its signal to the TV; set the other way,
it does. (I'm calling it a switch, but it's usually a button that
turns on or off a light.)

Do you really set the TV to channel 3 to play the DVD? Most
are set up to play DVDs from the AUX VIDEO (or VIDEO IN) because
the quality is much higher.
[/quote]
That's the way it is with my Panasonic VCR/DVD combo player. However, with
my setup, the controlling Aux button is on my TV remote. Using my Panasonic
remote often gets me nothing. [This may be my fault because I set up *both*
of my remotes to communicate, trying to get *one* to do everything. [Haven't
succeeded yet.] She would just have to experiment with hers to find out
what is controlling.


[quote]Rather than playing around with the hardware, I'd spend some
time looking at the manuals. I see you have problems
understanding them, so get a local geek (who you can probably get
for free or, at most, a pizza) to look over the situation.
Certainly cheaper and faster than trying Circuit City, and (IMO)
at least as likely to produce the results you want.
[/quote]

I agree; but know EXACTLY what she means about manuals, and in my experience
Panasonic's is the absolute worst in logic and organization. :) However, I
persevered and managed to install my player by myself, with the help of my
*very good* Mitsubishi TV manual, and instructions that came with my cable
splitter. I have the same set up she has without a cable box, but I don't
have a recorder.

As mentioned by others, unplugging should (?) cause them to re-program, but
having the same problem you have about heavy furniture... I think you should
invest the time in *deciphering* that manual. ;) My Panasonic did not
completely program itself initially [probably because of something I did],
so that's why I would worry about you relying on that to solve *all* your
problems.

There should be a instructions in your manual on resetting your decks, so if
you're willing to read them and share it with us here, or post your
questions, I'm sure someone can probably help you figure out if you really
need to pay someone to come in, or you can do it yourself. Are you game? :)

Barbara

[Guest]

In Message-ID:<fbX2f.635$f83.308@fe06.lga>,
chicagofan <me7@privacy.net> wrote:

[quote]As mentioned by others, unplugging should (?) cause them to re-program, but
having the same problem you have about heavy furniture... I think you should
invest the time in *deciphering* that manual. ;) My Panasonic did not
completely program itself initially [probably because of something I did],
so that's why I would worry about you relying on that to solve *all* your
problems.

There should be a instructions in your manual on resetting your decks, so if
you're willing to read them and share it with us here, or post your
questions, I'm sure someone can probably help you figure out if you really
need to pay someone to come in, or you can do it yourself. Are you game? :)
[/quote]
She lost power for 7 days. The sets are already probably
reset. My guess is that the original installer set something to
non-default that never changed since, until the power failure.

If the manuals are as bad as you say, it could be very
difficult to find that option. Especially since the OP said she
was "useless when it comes to setting up hardware".

I suspect that most of the people on this group could help
out Mary, if we could get our hands on her setup.

[Guest]

In Message-ID:<8xM2f.2812$xE1.1813@okepread07>,
"MaryL" <carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote:

[quote]I'd like to find a local geek but so far haven't found any
among my friends!
[/quote]
I'd suggest asking around at a local college (or, if
necessary, high school). Anyone in the A/V labs and many in the
computer labs should be able to help you. As I said, before, most
probably will for a pizza. (You might want to ask someone
reasonably official in the school before you invite a stranger
into your house.)

The other option is to tell us approximately where you live.
There's a good chance someone here lives reasonably close and
would be willing to attempt help.

[GMAN]

In article <rjF2f.2805$xE1.2083@okepread07>, "MaryL" <carstan101@yahoo.comTAKE-OUT-THE-LITTER> wrote: