Hi, all. I've gotten good advice here in the past, so am hoping I will again this time.

I've got an LG DR787T DVD Recorder that was purchased a few months ago (May). It's gotten a little use, but not a lot, and certainly not what I'd call heavy use, in that time. We've been perfectly happy with it, until now.

In the past week, however, a problem has cropped up and I'm not sure why, or what to do about it. What will happen is this -- when turning on the machine, and a disc is in the tray already, a message will come up on the TV saying "No disc", so it's not recognizing the disc is in there. If I try to open the tray to take the disc out, the display on the front panel will say "Open" but nothing happens...then it will say "Close" and "Reading", then the "No disc" error comes up on the TV again. Trying to open the tray with either the remote or the front panel will have the same result as described.

If I unplug the unit and plug it back in it seems to reset itself, and then it's fine. BUT the next time I tried to use it, the same problem happened all over again.

I don't want to have to reset the thing every time I use it just to get it to work properly, and I shouldn't have to!

Anyone have any idea what could be wrong with this? Has anyone else had this problem with this model of recorder? We've got the BBuy protection plan on it if it's needed, in case it has to be fixed, and it's certainly under warranty still so it most likely won't cost us anything to get it repaired. But why is this happening after only a few months? It's a huge disappointment to say the least! :(

Any replies would be very appreciated. TIA.

DK

Get it back to Best Buy right away. It is broken and I doubt there is anything you can do to fix it. It is possible that the laser lens is dirty and needs cleaning but since you bought the extended warranty, that is what it is for. It might be beyond fixing and in that case they should give you a new one.

Dave

Thanks for the advice Dave...it's going back tomorrow. Will see what they have to say, I guess. I can't figure how the lens would be that dirty yet...I haven't used it all that much in just over 3 months of ownership.

I'll say this much...if they can fix it, fine. But if not, I'll be getting a different brand of recorder to replace it. This is the SECOND LG DVD recorder that is less than 6 months old to need repairs. We have another one hooked up upstairs, very similar to this model but slightly older. (Actually I think it's the older version of the one I'm having trouble with, just a different model #.) That one ate DVDs -- DVDs were getting stuck inside the machine. We'd brought it to Best Buy the first time it happened, and the nice Geek Squad fellow there opened up the recorder and got the DVD out...we brought it home, hoping it would be OK, but of course it did it again the next day. We brought it back in and BBuy sent it out for repair (it also has a Protection Plan on it, thank goodness). It took a couple of weeks to fix. They ended up replacing the motherboard, supposedly, and it's been fine since. But after having that happen, and now this...

I'm greatly disappointed in LG's recorders, needless to say. I've got one of their upconverting DVD players that's been OK...so far.

DK

I have had great luck with Panasonic DVD recorders BUT my first one listed for $1200 and I got a close-out price of $850 for it. My other 2 are also Panasonics but again they sold for well over $500 each. I have no experience with the recent CHEAP models. I didn't buy extended warranties on my Panasonics and I haven't needed them. It does sound like one should buy an extended warranty with the off-brand Chinese models or just figure you are buying a disposable unit good for about a year or less.

Dave

Thanks for the help.

Unfortunately I just cannot afford any of the higher end models... :( So if I do have to replace the LG, I'll end up getting one of the cheaper ones (my limit is about $200, or around there) and then get that extended warranty.

DK