We inherited this machine, sad story, and it is set to a lower rating to view DVDs. I have no idea what to use for a pass number to change the setting. Search of the forum and Google has got a "try 0000". That didn't work. Page 41 of the manual has a reset procedure, but it doesn't clear the passnumber. What am I doing wrong?

We inherited this machine, sad story, and it is set to a lower rating to view DVDs. I have no idea what to use for a pass number to change the setting. Search of the forum and Google has got a "try 0000". That didn't work. Page 41 of the manual has a reset procedure, but it doesn't clear the passnumber. What am I doing wrong?

In early 2006 my DMR-ES40V changed it's viewer ratings on its own, locking up the machine so that it would not play any DVD. It gave an error message.

The DMR-ES40V had reset the "rating" by itself to a low number (1 or 2) that is very restrictive. When I attempted to change the "rating" back to the "8" default (in the FUNCTIONS, OTHER FUNCTIONS, SETUP, DISC, SETTINGS FOR PLAYBACK, RATINGS) I was asked for my password. I was the only user of this machine and I had never set a password. Nothing I tried would allow me to use the machine.

Here is the workaround provided by Panasonic: Power unit on. Open DVD tray. Press and hold REC and PLAY on the machine itself for over 5 seconds. If done correctly the DVD tray will remain open. The ratings password setting will return to the default (no password). The rating will return to the "8" default.

DigaDo, you are a stockpile of unusual information. How do you know, and where do you come up with all this stuff? I am amazed!

Thank you very much DigaDo. I'll try it tonight!
By the way, how were you able to communicate with Panasonic to get that kind of info.?

DigaDo, you are a stockpile of unusual information. How do you know, and where do you come up with all this stuff? I am amazed!

On February 23, 2006 I sent this email (here slightly edited) to Panasonic Customer Support:

"To My Friends at Panasonic,

On December 14 2005 I purchased Panasonic DMR ES40V Serial Number LK5B012690 at a local Costco store here in Portland Oregon . . .

On February 21 2006 a very brief power interruption caused household lights to flicker twice within a fifteen minute period. Following that the DMR ES40V will no longer play any of its own DVDs (finalized or not) nor any DVDs (finalized or not) from my other DVD Recorder, a Panasonic DMR ES30V Serial Number LJ5GD007086, purchased September 1 2005 at a local Wal Mart store.

The very brief power flicker did not affect alarm clocks, microwave oven clocks, or other devices displaying the time, nor did it affect computers that usually reboot after a momentary power interruption. There appear to be no problems with the DMR ES30V on the same circuit-protected power strip as the DMR ES40V.

Following this very brief power interruption the DMR ES40V has somehow changed the Rating and set a Password unknown to me! Before this problem arose I never entered a Password and never set a Rating as I am the only person having access to either of the Panasonic DVD Recorders.

The following message now appears when attempting to play DVDs on the DMR ES40V, "Your selection exceeds the rating you have set. Change the rating to allow playback."

I have read over and attempted to follow the instructions regarding Password and Ratings found on pages 40-41 of the DMR ES40V Operating Instructions. The DMR ES40V will not accept anything I do once I have attempted to set a Password to gain access to the Ratings settings.

I am unable to set or change a Password, or set or unlock the Ratings in order to regain control of the PLAYBACK function. THE DMR ES40V HAS ME LOCKED OUT.

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE ME SO I MAY OVERCOME BEING LOCKED OUT?

Additional circumstances of operation that may be relevant to the above problem:

Following the brief power interruption the DMR ES40V Remote Code changed back to #1 from the #2 I had previously set. I reprogramed the Remote Code to regain control. Before this reprograming I pressed the Restore Defaults command. I also had to reprogram the DMR ES40V clock, as it had lost its settings.

The DMR ES40V maintained its scheduled programs list but has since failed to record some program from that list.

The DMR ES40V receives its signal directly from Comcast cable. The DMR ES40V is a time shifter, recording a few shows . . . The DMR ES40V is left off so that it will record on its own as the scheduled recordings come up. The DMR ES40V is used eleven to sixteen hours per week, all pre-scheduled recordings.

The DMR ES30V functions normally as before. The DMR ES30V is used regularly to record programming from a Comcast digital cable box . . . The DMR ES30V use varies greatly, but it is certainly used much more frequently than the DMR ES40V.

The DVD Recorders are interconnected with RCA cables in order to dub or edit DVD to DVD. This is an infrequent use.

Thank you for your help."

This is Panasonic's reply:

"Thank you for your inquiry. Please follow the steps below to fix the
ratings password issue you are having.

1. Unit power must be on.

2. Press [OPEN/CLOSE] to open tray.

3. Press and hold [REC] & [> (PLAY/x1.3)] ON THE UNIT for over 5 seconds,
if done correctly the disc tray will remain open.

4. The ratings password setting will return to default setting ("8").

Thank You,
Panasonic Consumer Support"

Subsequently, Panasonic incorporated this workaround into the Operating Instructions for the bug-laden EZ series machines.

I understand that if the procedure for bypassing/resetting the rating level and password were well known, it would circumvent the entire ratings level control system. Panasonic wanting to not make it openly public makes some sense in that regard. But, you knew the process! It's just amazing the depth of information represented on this forum.:D

DigaDo you put together a fine e-mail, and they get results!