DVD Recoerder: disk initialisation fails

Enigmaman

I am having trouble with my Samsung DVD-Recorder. It plays disks but does not record.

The problem is that it cannot successfully initialise disks. I have checked that I am using the correct disks (DVD-R or DVD-RW). The bar showing progress of initialisation gets nearly to the end but then an error message appears saying "Initialisation failed: cannot play or record disks".

I have tried different brands of disks, all with the same result.

Samsung technical support weren't very helpful, telling me that there could be a firmware issue but adding that because the machine was over three years old there was no patch available.

Can anyone suggest a way forard with this issue, please?

WhiteChristmas

I'm afraid it's dying. In my experience, three years isn't bad for a frequently-used DVD recorder.

Test_Card

Enigmaman wrote: »

I am having trouble with my Samsung DVD-Recorder. It plays disks but does not record.

The problem is that it cannot successfully initialise disks. I have checked that I am using the correct disks (DVD-R or DVD-RW). The bar showing progress of initialisation gets nearly to the end but then an error message appears saying "Initialisation failed: cannot play or record disks".

I have tried different brands of disks, all with the same result.

Samsung technical support weren't very helpful, telling me that there could be a firmware issue but adding that because the machine was over three years old there was no patch available.

Can anyone suggest a way forard with this issue, please?

It's not a firmware issue, it's more likely the drive.
Hav you tried cleaning the laser lens?
Is there any loud noises coming from the drive when you are formatting a disc?

Enigmaman

Thansk for these replies.

I tried used a cleaning disk, but to no use.

I guess I need a new DVD-Recoeder.

Test_Card

Enigmaman wrote: »

Thansk for these replies.

I tried used a cleaning disk, but to no use.

I guess I need a new DVD-Recoeder.

I have found on a number of occasions in my profession that the grip ring located on the drive disc spindle becomes contaminated by picking up greasy substance from the discs put in the recorder (fingerprints near the centre of the disc). When the ring becomes contaminated the disc slips when the drive is writing to the disc (the ring is like a clutch).
You can try and clean it by wiping with isopropol alcohol (tape head cleaner). That should remove the contamination....and may fix the problem.:)