The Panasonic DMR-ES10 is a 2005 model. Attached below are five photos of Panasonic DVD Drive VXY1867 DVD found in a 2005 DMR-ES30V. Panasonic's 2004 model year DVD Drives are similar in appearance. Panasonic's 2006 and later model year DVD Drives have metal cases. See this thread for more information:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1082922

Digado, is that 2004-2005 burner made by Matsushita in Japan?

I don't quite see the point though, if the RD-KX50 uses the same burner as the Panasonic. What is the availability of this burner, even for Panasonic owners??? Do used Panasonic DMR-ES10 units go for cheap on Ebay?

I presume that vintage of burner is hard to find now, and has to be repaired by Panasonic, if they will do it at all. Even if the Panasonic repair center still has a stock of burners, they won't sell them to Toshiba owners, much less install it.

Another thing that doesn't add up is the burner on the RD-KX50 is quite durable, quite unlike the plethora of problems with Panasonic burners.

Digado, is that 2004-2005 burner made by Matsushita in Japan?

I don't quite see the point though, if the RD-KX50 uses the same burner as the Panasonic. What is the availability of this burner, even for Panasonic owners??? Do used Panasonic DMR-ES10 units go for cheap on Ebay?

I presume that vintage of burner is hard to find now, and has to be repaired by Panasonic, if they will do it at all. Even if the Panasonic repair center still has a stock of burners, they won't sell them to Toshiba owners, much less install it.

Another thing that doesn't add up is the burner on the RD-KX50 is quite durable, quite unlike the plethora of problems with Panasonic burners.

See the link in my earlier post for a discussion of some Panasonic DVD Drive model variations in the 2005 thru 2010 model years. Panasonic DVD Drives of a given model year, other than those from the 2008, 2009 and 2010 model year models, do not interchange across model years. It is highly unlikely that older Toshiba built-recorders use a proprietary Panasonic DVD Drive. Of course Toshiba transitioned to Funai manufacture circa 2006.

The main service issue with Panasonic DVD Drives is routine cleaning of the rubber hub atop the spindle (turntable). Laser assembly longevity is another issue. Panasonic owners wishing to extend laser assembly longevity should use 8x DVD-R media.

I own around twenty Panasonic recorders and more than a dozen recorders manufactured by Funai--two of which carry the Toshiba brand name. I've just addressed cleaning the laser lens and rubber hub in Funai DVD Drives. In the following post the first four photos depict the DVD Drive in a Toshiba D-R410 from October 2008:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=19647592#post19647592

Digado, is that 2004-2005 burner made by Matsushita in Japan?

I don't quite see the point though, if the RD-KX50 uses the same burner as the Panasonic. What is the availability of this burner, even for Panasonic owners??? Do used Panasonic DMR-ES10 units go for cheap on Ebay?

I presume that vintage of burner is hard to find now, and has to be repaired by Panasonic, if they will do it at all. Even if the Panasonic repair center still has a stock of burners, they won't sell them to Toshiba owners, much less install it.

Another thing that doesn't add up is the burner on the RD-KX50 is quite durable, quite unlike the plethora of problems with Panasonic burners.

If we could purchase a new ES-10 drive it would probably be cost prohibitive. AFA used ES-10's, I do see them occasionally pop up on Craigslist and they are generally <$50 since it's fairly old and HDD less.
As Digado said Panasonic burners are actually quite durable, IF you keep the spindle clean. If you don't, you'll be having frequent problems.
You said that the KX50 burner is quite durable, is it the same drive as in the XS-35? I have one but have read the drive is quite problematic, although mine seems to work fine(except RAM discs don't read or format at all).

If we could purchase a new ES-10 drive it would probably be cost prohibitive...

The DVD Drive for the DMR-ES10 is still listed on the Panasonic National Parts website as VXY1867 DRIVE $195.31. (Shipping and handling are extra.) This VXY1867 DVD Drive is used with non-hard drive 2005 model year Panasonic recorders. 2005 model year Panasonic hard drive models use the VXY1872 DVD Drive pictured below. The Panasonic National Parts website still lists the VXY1872 DRIVE at $225.35. (Shipping and handling are extra.)

If we could purchase a new ES-10 drive it would probably be cost prohibitive. AFA used ES-10's, I do see them occasionally pop up on Craigslist and they are generally <$50 since it's fairly old and HDD less.
As Digado said Panasonic burners are actually quite durable, IF you keep the spindle clean. If you don't, you'll be having frequent problems.
You said that the KX50 burner is quite durable, is it the same drive as in the XS-35? I have one but have read the drive is quite problematic, although mine seems to work fine(except RAM discs don't read or format at all).

The burner in the RD-XS35 is different than on the KX50, but should have no problem reading DVD-RAM, if it can read DVD-R OK, so maybe it's your disks. Taiyo Yuden DVD-RAM is the best to use in Toshiba RD-XS units. Not sure of the current state of things, but last I heard is Maxell or Victor-JVC (possibly only sold in Japan), is TY DVD-RAM.

Supposedly, the latest firmware in these units is supposed to improve compatibility with DVD-RAM, but I've never found that to be the case. On some brands of DVD-RAM, only half the disks can be initialized on an RD-XS, but 100% of TY media can.

I only have Panasonic 2-3x RAM discs and further complicate things they've all been used(formatted) in my Panasonics. I would have thought though that a Toshiba low level format would have rendered the discs usable in my Toshiba, but that is not the case.
The XS-35 will read programs recorded on my Panasonics but I don't see a thumbnail.

I only have Panasonic 2-3x RAM discs and further complicate things they've all been used(formatted) in my Panasonics. I would have thought though that a Toshiba low level format would have rendered the discs usable in my Toshiba, but that is not the case.
The XS-35 will read programs recorded on my Panasonics but I don't see a thumbnail.

Panasonic DVD-RAM is one of the worst I've tried! :p And this was stuff I bought in Japan. They were cheap so I bought them. Not so cheap when you end up throwing away most the disks.

I'm surprised the Toshiba even saw anything on your disks. Before, you could check the packaging to find DVD-RAM made in Japan, but lately, the packaging isn't marked, nor are the disks. All you can do is buy, say Maxell disks, and check all 10 to see if they initialize on the recorder. Victor-JVC (in Japan) is for sure TY, but not sure about the JVC brand alone in the U.S.

Thanks for the tips, I'll keep an eye open for some non;) Panasonic RAM discs. Truthfully it's not that big of a deal, I don't really see a need for being able to record RAM discs with my Toshiba. I mainly use it to record great looking -R DVDs:cool:
AFA where my Panny RAM discs were made, most are in Japan and a few jewel box discs were actually made in USA. All my discs are 3+ years old but haven't really been used that much.

Digado, is that 2004-2005 burner made by Matsushita in Japan?

I don't quite see the point though, if the RD-KX50 uses the same burner as the Panasonic. What is the availability of this burner, even for Panasonic owners??? Do used Panasonic DMR-ES10 units go for cheap on Ebay?


The ES10 is very well known for P/S capacitor problems so they can probably be found fairly cheap at times from people that don't know about the problem and how to repair it.

It is highly unlikely that older Toshiba built-recorders use a proprietary Panasonic DVD Drive.


The KX50 does use a Matsushita proprietary drive. It's been a while since I used one but that drive you show in the pictures may be the one it uses with a different Toshiba made circuit board if I remember right, not sure on that one. It's been 2-3 years since I used one.

I just picked up an XS54 that seems to be in great condition but the DVD drive is slow reading blank media, I haven't timed it but I'd say 30-45 seconds to read a disc when my other Toshibas take around 10 seconds. Is that normal for this recorder? When I first powered it up it had the dreaded "ERR-14" code of death before I even put a disc in it. The owner swears he never had any problems with the recorder.

I've serviced the burner and it got slightly better, the first time I tried it must have been a minute or so to read a disc, I thought it wasn't going to read it at all. The burner doesn't look like it's had much use, the spindle was clean and the dvd laser transverse motor shaft looked like it had little to no wear unlike most of them I've seen.

I only have Panasonic 2-3x RAM discs and further complicate things they've all been used(formatted) in my Panasonics. I would have thought though that a Toshiba low level format would have rendered the discs usable in my Toshiba, but that is not the case.
The XS-35 will read programs recorded on my Panasonics but I don't see a thumbnail.

I have many RAM discs recorded on Panasonic recorders, they can usually be read by the Toshiba recorders though rather reluctantly. Toshiba recorders don't really like RAM discs the way Panasonics do from my experience. They don't show thumbnails but they do play. I've had no problems formatting and using the Panasonic recorded RAMs in Toshiba recorders.

Once I set one of the Panasonic recorded RAMs to copy protect in a Toshiba recorder and the contents of the disc could no longer be read by Toshiba or Panasonic recorders or in a PC.

I've never had any problems with Panasonic RAMs and I have many of them. They are the older 2x discs.

I just picked up an XS54 that seems to be in great condition but the DVD drive is slow reading blank media, I haven't timed it but I'd say 30-45 seconds to read a disc when my other Toshibas take around 10 seconds. Is that normal for this recorder? When I first powered it up it had the dreaded "ERR-14" code of death before I even put a disc in it. The owner swears he never had any problems with the recorder.

I've serviced the burner and it got slightly better, the first time I tried it must have been a minute or so to read a disc, I thought it wasn't going to read it at all. The burner doesn't look like it's had much use, the spindle was clean and the dvd laser transverse motor shaft looked like it had little to no wear unlike most of them I've seen.

The burner in the RD-XS54 is . . . . drum roll please . . . . a Panasonic burner, but it's the less durable ones with the metal case. I know the RD-XS32, even with a new burner, is slow to read discs, but I don't recall the RD-XS54 being too slow (I only use this unit once a year). I don't feel the RD-XS54 burners are very robust either. The used unit I got off Ebay lasted maybe 3 months under heavy use before giving up the ghost.

The ERR-14 message may mean a bad burner or bum Digi PC board, but most likely your burner is on it's last legs.

I'm currently using a refurbished Panasonic SW-9585-C on my RD-XS32. It's a PC-type burner with the metal case, made in China or whatever. The advantage of this burner is it will work with both DVD-R and DVD-RAM, with minor workarounds. After about a year, it would fail to dub the 2nd title to DVD-R, or it would fail to initialize a few thumbnails for finalizing. However turning the recorder off and on would cure the problem. As I had nothing to lose, I took it apart, blew it out with compressed air, and cleaned the laser with a Q-tip moistened with alcohol. So far no problems, and if I can get another year out of this refurb that's fine since it only cost $19.

I'm thinking the early 2004-2005 Panasonic burners with plastic housing were made in Japan and are very durable, but the later burners with metal housing and made in China/Thailand need to have done what DigaDo recommends. Panasonic quit making stuff in Japan like VCRs around 2002-2003 or so. In fact I still have two Panasonic VCRs made in Japan. At the time, I switched to the Toshiba 6-Head DNR units which had better image quality.

I already did the spindle, it didn't really need it but I did it anyway, the transverse motor shaft and the laser guide rails, it helped a little but I don't think it should take as long as it does to read a disc. Probably the reason the guy ebay'd it.

I already bought an LG 4167b to replace the Panasonic burner, hopefully it will work. I never use recorders for anything but recording, editing and burning to DVD so I don't care if I lose some functions as long as it will burn R and RW discs.

I'm happy to say the 4167 does work in the XS-54 but high speed dubbing is a no go. It burns at 4x no matter wheather it's set to low or high speed. I'm using Verbatim 16x discs with the latest burner firmware (DL13), so I don't think it's discs or firmware. I think it will only high speed dub with the original burner.

If anyone has been able to get high speed dubbing to work with a burner other than the original one I'd love to hear how.

Well, after half a dozen burns the LG no longer works. It starts to burn in the wrong place on the disc, burns at 2x, then fails to finalize. I've tried everything I can to get it to work again with no success. The original drive still works.

Well, after half a dozen burns the LG no longer works. It starts to burn in the wrong place on the disc, burns at 2x, then fails to finalize. I've tried everything I can to get it to work again with no success. The original drive still works.

That is not good news. I don't have the exact Toshiba you have (I have an XS34) but per the advice in this forum I purchased the same DVD drive (LG 4167B) as a replacement when the burner in mine fails. I'm assuming I will have the same problem in mine as you did in your XS54 :(

EDIT: Just for yucks I tried to find the AV thread that listed potential DVD drive replacements for the various Toshiba XS Models. I didn't find it but I did find a vendor that apparently has parts for my model, including a DVD drive. I think the price is more than I paid for my unit....

http://www.partstore.com/Part/Toshiba/Toshiba/RDXS34SU/Toshiba/Toshiba/P000432490/New.aspx

I've seen other people here say that LG drive works fine so it may just be something with my particular burner.

I'm thinking there may be nothing wrong with the original drive. Is your XS-34 slow reading recordable discs? It takes about 40 seconds to read discs. The XS-32 was slower than that so I wonder if that's just normal.

The drive looks like it's had little or no use and the guy I got the recorder from said he never used the burner. With what I saw on the HDD I tend to believe him, it was mostly Frontline with a few awards shows or something like that. Probably not stuff most people burn to DVD.

I've seen other people here say that LG drive works fine so it may just be something with my particular burner.

I'm thinking there may be nothing wrong with the original drive. Is your XS-34 slow reading recordable discs? It takes about 40 seconds to read discs. The XS-32 was slower than that so I wonder if that's just normal.

The drive looks like it's had little or no use and the guy I got the recorder from said he never used the burner. With what I saw on the HDD I tend to believe him, it was mostly Frontline with a few awards shows or something like that. Probably not stuff most people burn to DVD.



I'm not sure what is meant be "reading recordable disks" but I rarely use the DVD drive in my unit for anything other than burning new DVD-R discs. I almost never use it for playback.


When I do, for finalized or commercial DVD disks, the burner is fairly quick, for others I think it takes a while longer (and makes more noises than it use to :().

Just reading blank RAM/RW/R discs. It takes the XS-54 about 40 seconds to read recordable discs. The XS-35 only takes about 15 seconds. The XS-32 was even slower than the XS-54 so I don't know if that 40 seconds is normal or if the burner has problems.

When I do, for finalized or commercial DVD disks, the burner is fairly quick, for others I think it takes a while longer (and makes more noises than it use to :().

That's a classic sign of the spindle needing cleaned. I always get the old grease off the laser guide rails and tranverse motor shaft and regrease them too but that's a little more involved than just cleaning the spindle which is easy. If you do do it the metal top goes on with the disc tray open so the RAM flap opener seats right.

After trying the 4167 in an XS34 and it not working I decided to try playing with discs and firmware. DL12 and DL13 firmwares don't work, only DL11 does and only with 8x and probably lower speed discs, 16x discs don't work, at least not 16x Verbatims.

Hi Everyone,
I used to have Bright House cable, a flat tube TV and my RD-XS35 hooked up with no issues. I could even record my PS3 games with a simple switch.

Well, after joining the new HD Age and switching cable providers I'm finding it harder to get things right this time.

I now have the Toshiba DVR, DirecTV+HD DVR (HR24-100) and a Samsung LN52B630. The TV has 4 HDMI ports which normally is all I have to do with the other components I have (i.e. PS3, Satellite box) but of course the Tosh doesn't have this. There are two sets of A/V ports on the back of the TV but I can't get the Tosh menu to display over any of them. I'm not sure if I need the XS35 connected to both the Satellite box AND the television.

Does anyone have any ideas? My main goal is to see the recordings on my DTV box and record clips from that onto the Toshiba.

TiA,
-Echo1125

What modern DVD media burns in the XS32 these days?

BTW, I think one of the best DVD drive replacements is the Memorex because it also works for most of the CD functions. (Only problem now is that it seems that the drive no longer recognizes CD's???? Its been at least a year since I tried a CD in it.)

I also seem to remember that once you use a replacement DVD drive, you no longer should attempt a firmware upgrade? Is that right?

Thanks
Tom

I don't know why my Memorex DVD drive quit recognizing CD's.

I reconnected the OE drive and it reads CD's just fine.

I have firmware 1314 and have found the Japanese 1315 DVD Iso and am trying to find out if this is the correct firmware upgrade.

What is interesting is that with the Memorex drive installed, the characters "1314" do not appear. They only appear with the OE drive.

So I'm searching about the 1314 upgrade....

Thanks
Tom

What modern DVD media burns in the XS32 these days?

BTW, I think one of the best DVD drive replacements is the Memorex because it also works for most of the CD functions. (Only problem now is that it seems that the drive no longer recognizes CD's???? Its been at least a year since I tried a CD in it.)

I also seem to remember that once you use a replacement DVD drive, you no longer should attempt a firmware upgrade? Is that right?

Thanks
Tom

It's best to use 8X Taiyo Yuden DVD-R and DVD-RAM, which the RD-XS units were designed to work with. Both are made in Japan.

I've haven't heard of a Memorex burner working on the RD-XS32. Which model is this?

Does the Memorex recognize unfinalized DVD-R from the OEM burner, e.g. unfinalized disks from another RD-XS unit? Or only it's own unfinalized disks?

Does the Memorex work with DVD-RAM?

I've found that sometimes a substitute burner won't recognize the firmware update CDs, which is why it's good to have the original burner working, or at least being able to read disks. Of course once you got the latest firmware update, it's a moot point.

For me, it's not important if the substitute burner won't play audio CDs. Most of the prospects won't, except the Panasonic SW-9585-C.

Clevor,

First there are 2 threads on this forum which are relevant to the XS32: the primary user thread and the optical drive thread.

The first CD replacements like the 4167 and the H10_ had no CD functionality, however, the later models like the H54_ and the Memorex MRX-525G (3202-3294) did.

I had a H10_, tried it and then sold it. I got the 525G and was happy since it did most of the CD functions. However, now, after not that much time and use (in my book) the drive will no longer recognize CDs. I don't know if it is able to burn at this point - I will be trying something soon with some 8x Playo's (the only discs I have that work in it) and will report my pass/fail...

Someone needs to call Tops Electronics to see what they are currently doing to service these units these days. I suspect that somewhere, maybe in Asia, they can actually repair the OEM drive. Replacing the laser assembly is a trivial task if you have access to the replacement part. They are performing this laser replacement on the game consoles, just check youtube or search.

If someone had a PC repair shop with 100's of old DVD drives laying around, I would bet if they started opening them up they would find a laser assembly they could cannibalize. My guess is that any DVD drive made when the OEM drive was made would be a good candidate. Most of these drives, when you open them up, look identical and fall into just a few variations. Usually there are only 1,2, or 3 manufacturers that make a particular type of hardware.

Oh, and regarding the RAM discs with the case, I would think that if you took the OE drive apart, the bracketry that opens the RAM case could be transferred to a replacement drive provided that drive had RAM disc capability (but not the cased RAM capability). You might end up using the OE case too since there may be anchor points for the bracketry. I haven't proven this, but there is a good chance it would work.

I don't know why my Memorex DVD drive quit recognizing CD's.

I reconnected the OE drive and it reads CD's just fine.

I have firmware 1314 and have found the Japanese 1315 DVD Iso and am trying to find out if this is the correct firmware upgrade.

What is interesting is that with the Memorex drive installed, the characters "1314" do not appear. They only appear with the OE drive.

So I'm searching about the 1314 upgrade....

Thanks
Tom

DVD drives use two different wavelengths, one for CDs and one for DVDs. It's not uncommon for one to go out and the other still work. The way to test the drive would be to install it in a PC and see if it reads CDs.

Going back through burned discs I found out why the 4167 burned a few discs then wouldn't work, the DVDs that burned were Riteks on a Verbatim spindle, when I got to the real Verbs they didn't burn.

After giving up on the 4167 and 16x Verbatims, I decided to try the H10N and am very happy to say it works fine in the XS34 with 16x Verbs and the latest burner firnmware.

There was a guy selling new H10Ns on ebay 3 for $40 shipped. I don't know if he still has any left or if I bought them all. They were listed as H10As but were H10Ns.

After giving up on the 4167 and 16x Verbatims, I decided to try the H10N and am very happy to say it works fine in the XS34 with 16x Verbs and the latest burner firnmware.

I presume that on that RD-XS34, the H10N with latest firmware still won't recognize unfinalized DVD-R. That is, if you burn a few titles to the disk, eject it, and reload it, it won't initialize the disk anymore.

I always figured installing the latest firmware on these burners would not help this a bit; if anything, it would make them more incompatible with a HDD recorder that was discontinued in 2004-2006.

I have two RD-XS32SU DVRs, one I bought in 2004 and the other in 2005. The one from 2004 is working perfectly, however, recently I did some rearranging of my video equipment in the cellar and when I plugged the 2005 back in the DVD burner no longer works.

When I put a DVD (DVD-R, DVD-RW or Video DVD) the machine does not see the DVD. When I click on the DVD button on the remote the machine tells me that the DVD burner is empty, even though there is a DVD in the burner.

When the machine boots up it cycles through the HDD, but does not display the DVD. The 2004 machine cycles through both the HDD and the DVD.

I have opened the machine up and everything looks like it is connected, no loose wires or loose connections. I have not opened up the DVD burner.

Anyone have any suggestions?:(

I have two RD-XS32SU DVRs, one I bought in 2004 and the other in 2005. The one from 2004 is working perfectly, however, recently I did some rearranging of my video equipment in the cellar and when I plugged the 2005 back in the DVD burner no longer works.

When I put a DVD (DVD-R, DVD-RW or Video DVD) the machine does not see the DVD. When I click on the DVD button on the remote the machine tells me that the DVD burner is empty, even though there is a DVD in the burner.

When the machine boots up it cycles through the HDD, but does not display the DVD. The 2004 machine cycles through both the HDD and the DVD.

I have opened the machine up and everything looks like it is connected, no loose wires or loose connections. I have not opened up the DVD burner.

Anyone have any suggestions?:(

I have no personal experience with recorders (other than VCRs) manufactured by Toshiba. I own two Funai-manufactured "Toshiba" branded DVD recorders of 2006 and 2008 vintage, both of which are in current use in our household. (The 2006 model is scheduled to record from a FM radio for 18 hours per week and the 2008 model is used occasionally as the DVD recorder/player for the family viewing TV.)

I offer the following observations based upon my personal experience with Panasonic and Funai-manufactured DVD Drives:

Perhaps the DVD Drive's rubber hub is soiled leading to read, write, and finalizing problems. Or, perhaps, the lazer assembly has failed. If the lazer assembly has failed parts replacement is/are indicated.

I've described rubber hub cleaning for Panasonic DVD Drives in this post:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14479898#post14479898

I've mentioned and described rubber hub cleaning for Funai-manufactured DVD Drives in the following posts:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=19642776#post19642776

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=19647592#post19647592

These tips might also be helpful for use with a "genuine" Toshiba DVD Drive.

Thank you,

I will try this after I get some cleaning supplies. The drive in my RD-XS32SU is the original that came with it in 2005, Model # SD-W3002.

I imagine that it is just reached the end of its life cycle (6 + years), as when I power on the DVR does not seem to cycle through the DVD Burner. The Display Window shows HDD and than shows it is ready for commands.

My other RD-XS32SU displays HDD and than Displays DVD and than goes to the ready mode.

Oh well, the HDD still works fine.

Did you ever find a replacement IR Blaster ? Comcast has forced us to go Digital in Colorado so I need the IR control cable to control the Digital converter they supplied with basic cable.

I presume that on that RD-XS34, the H10N with latest firmware still won't recognize unfinalized DVD-R. That is, if you burn a few titles to the disk, eject it, and reload it, it won't initialize the disk anymore.

I always figured installing the latest firmware on these burners would not help this a bit; if anything, it would make them more incompatible with a HDD recorder that was discontinued in 2004-2006.

I never eject discs without finalizing them first so I can't really say but I did have the power go out while burning a disc once and got a 7000 error code, I ended up having to open the recorder and manually eject the disc.

I don't think burner firmware makes any difference on what the recorder will or won't do, just what discs it will burn and the quality of the burns.

I have had a similar problem with my XS35. I had it unplugged for a long time since the hdd was full. Recently I plugged it back in to start cleaning up the hdd.
I got a large amount cleaned off -- the hard way -- line out to another recorder since I couldn't copy to the dvd.
When it was more than 50% cleaned up, I tried recording to the hdd again. Then I got a new problem -- the hdd wouldn't record. Some generic error message like "An internal error has occurred" (can't remember the exact words).
I tried the HDD format but that did not fix the hdd record problem.
I then tried the factory reset listed on this board (THANKS EVERYBODY!!!) (ZOOM button, 701, ZOOM button). This has fixed the hdd record problem!!!!
In the next few days I'll try the DVD copy (nothing on the hdd to copy now and I have to get to work). I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the dvd copy problem is fixed too.

My Toshiba XS 35 now can copy to -RW discs after the factory reset.
It would not recognize the disc that worked fine in a panasonic or philips dvr.
and it didn't give any kind of error message, just wouldn't show the disc menu or allow a copy to the -rw disc.
So it seems like the factory reset fixed both the hdd record problem and the dvd-rw copy problem.

Heh, I haven't been here since June 2010, and am asking almost the same question as I did before.. My remote has started acting flaky again (but just like before, it seems like most of the buttons started working again -- and no, it wasn't right after putting in newly charged batteries).

I have searched online and checked some of the old sites for a replacement remote. It looks like a replacement is around $40+shipping. Even though I'm not much of a fan of universal remotes, I could get a Logitech Harmony 650 for about $58..

I'm wondering if anybody has used a Harmony with a XS32. Can you *customize* the buttons? (It supposedly does already support this device.)

Mostly, all I really need for most use is quick menu, navigation, and enter.
Important but slightly less so is the free space button (unless there's another way to get to this -- I could get to some places, like deleting an item, with the EasyNav interface which I otherwise never use).

Chapter add, the two colored buttons, and SETUP are about the only other ones I ever routinely use. (I could live with number buttons not even working.)

But I'm curious if I can customize WHICH remote on the Harmony was for these other purposes.. and/or maybe I could use the screen buttons for these slightly less common purposes.

I'm wondering if anybody has used a Harmony with a XS32. Can you *customize* the buttons? (It supposedly does already support this device.)

Sorry, I can't help with Harmony info, but by chance do you own any of the URC OneForAll universal remotes?

If you had a URC remote that operates the XS32 (using setup code: 1510), then I could give you the 'Extended' (aka Magic) function codes for all of the buttons on the original remote.

[Important: Some URC OFA remotes had a Toshiba DVR setup code included, but MOST did not. I say this to keep you from wasting your money on the majority of non-compatible remotes.]

The great thing about this setup is that... Once you have a URC remote that has general functionality over any given device (TV, DVR, VCR), you can have it send a raw IR signal to that device and, eventually, guess all the original remote codes/buttons.

(This guy explains it nicely, http://xi6.com/remotes/ )

And then, use the URC to teach your favorite learning remote all of the original remote buttons/functions that you need, all without the need for the original remote.

Some years ago, when I bought my XS32 I had an URC remote that did *not* work with the XS32, but I sent that OFA remote in to URC and they added/programmed the XS32 device code into the remote and sent it back. All I had to pay was shipping to them.

Unfortunately, I think that great service has long since been discontinued.

I have searched online and checked some of the old sites for a replacement remote. It looks like a replacement is around $40+shipping. Even though I'm not much of a fan of universal remotes, I could get a Logitech Harmony 650 for about $58.

Hey Mattack, this is not cheap enough for you? :p

http://www.ebay.com/itm/130369410870?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Before all you RD-XS users fall over yourself ordering one, keep in mind that is an RD-XS32 specific remote. It won't work with the TVGOS models in that one important feature can't be done: you cannot schedule any recordings.

Also I don't like where the Chapter Divide button is located. On the front cover, the button tends to feel mushy when you press it. But it is an OEM RD-XS32 remote. Conversely, all the TVGOS RD-XS remotes will work fine with the RD-XS32 albeit with a few workarounds.

What irks me is I picked up an RD-XS54 on Ebay, and the seller is a well known HDD recorder specialist. He included an RD-XS32 remote, not the correct one for an RD-XS54! Would have been no use if I was using TVGuide :mad:.

I would not bother with a universal remote. It's so easy finding some RD-XS remote somewhere, or on spare or dead units picked up on Ebay. And these Toshiba remotes are bulletproof: I am still using the one from my original RD-XS52 that I bought in 2003 or so even though I have several spares.

I might add I use a Maggie 2160A also, and I hate how dead and unresponsive the buttons are compared to the exquisite tactile sensitivity of the Toshiba remotes. When editing on the Toshiba remote, you can create chapter divides in a rhythmic fashion with the FORWARD and REVERSE buttons, inserting chapter divides a split second before where you want them. Editing is such a bear anyway on the Maggie, regardless of the remote.

I finally hit the "library full" situation.. so every time a recording ends, it complains about not being able to "register" the recording.

Does anybody ever actually USE that functionality?

Is there any danger/reason to not simply erase the LIBRARY info? Obviously, I presume this means that my existing hard drive recordings still stay around.

Hey Mattack, this is not cheap enough for you? :p

http://www.ebay.com/itm/130369410870?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
...
Also I don't like where the Chapter Divide button is located. On the front cover, the button tends to feel mushy when you press it.

Thanks!! I finally came back here (argh) to comment about the other issue.

I LOVE that the chapter divide button is in the top cover, but it, and several other buttons (such as the time remaining button) end up "missing" because after a long time (like when my remote starts going flaky like it is), I have to HOLD DOWN the top cover to make sure the little peg properly pushes the "the cover is closed" button. That is a bad design, but the remote design ITSELF is better than the later version ones __FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN_.. (I do not own anything but the XS32).

(I would oh so love a XS32 "replacement" to show up. Even if it was only ATSC & clear-QAM recording, as well as even only _low resolution_ inputs -- i.e. I wouldn't need HDMI inputs since that would probably preclude a lot of recordings anyway.. Plus of course FASTER THAN REALTIME playing. Even with HD tivos [one of my S3s is dead], I still dub most NON-scripted shows to my XS32 to play faster than realtime with sound.)

I was working on my xs32, left it for a couple weeks and some how misplaced the connector PC (40 pin DIN to ribbon) for the DVD drive. Toshiba doesn't seem to know much about this unit. The parts place that they send me to has about 5 or 6 boards not what I need. I am new to this forum stuff so please excuse me if I'm in the wrong place. I think I have attached a pic. I am open to purchasing a junk xs32 if I have no other options.

I was wondering if someone could tell me how the RD-XS24 unit should operate if it has a bad or missing hard drive, or how it compares to how mine behaves, before I go looking for a hard drive...

On mine, when the unit is powered up, the clock just flashes "0:00".

When I press the standby button (or eject), the unit will either display:

- E7061 when no hard drive is attached, or
- E7034 when an 80GB hard drive is attached (I don't have any bigger PATA drive to try, atm)

When I press any remote button at this stage, I get "dR-1" on the unit's display for a few seconds, then it reverts to the error number.

On the TV, when starting up, it shows the Toshiba splash screen, then quickly goes to one of the tuned analogue channels. No pressing of remote or unit buttons will change this, unless the standby button on the unit is pressed for a few seconds, after which it goes into standby.

Does this sound like how you'd expect with a missing or incorrect hard drive? Worth seeing if I can get a 160GB hard drive?

I can't say about the missing hard drive, but I believe that DR-1 error code means your remote is not synced with the one of three machines you can use it for, depending on the code you use. Change it according to the instructions on pages 50-51 of your Installation Guide.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=240816&stc=1&d=1332084327

It's as plplplpl says, one of your major problems is your remote isn't set up properly to operate the machine.

Also you can't just hook up any 80 GB HDD; refer to the massive RD-XS32-Replacement-HDD thread for models that would work.

I believe the clock should be counting down, but maybe you need to set it first. At least you can get into the splash screen.

I presume you know how to enter the SETUP menu. If not, you need to get an operating manual. The Toshiba RD-XSs are pretty complicated machines and not for the feint-of-heart. Your model is an UK model and I think is similar to the RD-XS35.

Thanks for the info.

Unfortunately, I don't have the original remote, I have a few universal remotes, but not sure that even if I could get the correct buttons programmed with them, that I could do a two-button press. Best remote I have is a URC 9990. I'll look into it.

Have downloaded a copy of the user manual, looks manageable enough; I have a DMR-EX85 as well, so know how complex these units can be. I'll also have a look as to what hard drive I might be needing. If I thought I might be able to get it functional without much investment, I'd look at getting a suitable remote.