Hi,
My DMR-EH50 keeps showing 'Error has occurred Please press enter'.
Doing so just causes it to shut off and back on again with the exact same message as soon as the 'IN1 Hello' appears on the display. It won't respond to any other buttons on the remote (except the power - which does the same thing) or even the pressing of the channel up/down arrows. It all happened when I was dividing a title. I even tried umplugging it for 5 or 10 minutes - still no help. Any way to reset?

To do a hard reset on Panny's it has always been: on main unit hold both CH up and CH down at the same time, for 10 seconds. You could give that a try. It should set it back to factory defaults.

That still doesn't work. I even kept the both buttons pushed down while unplugging and replugging it in. I did manage to get it to accept a DVD (A major hassle just trying to get it to open the tray). Now it comes up with the message 'Please check the disc', then shuts off and comes back up with the message 'self check' on the clock display, then the same 'error has occurred' message on the TV. I noticed it always stays in HDD mode too.

Usually the CH up CH down does not have to be done while powering up, but if it did something for you I guess that's ok. Too bad it didn't fix anything. It sure sounds like you're HDD is hosed. If there was a way to switch modes to DVD you might be able to at least play a DVD.
It sounds similar to the problems I had with several EZ Panasonic DVDR's. I think they crashed during writing to a DVD. Then I got the U99 error. I would power down, try resetting, try ejecting, all to no avail. As soon as I would plug the machine in, it would try to read the DVD, then lock up with U99.
Your's sounds similar in that it keeps trying to look at the HDD, and there's a problem with it, and it is impossible to stop the unit from looking at it, which locks up the unit.
I'm guessing a new HDD in in your future.

I took out the HD last night and connected it to my old win98 computer (in place of the CD drive) and the computer's BIOS detected it (showed the correct size and everything) but I couldn't get the drive letter to display in 'My computer'. I'm wondering if it really is bad or just fragmented? I really need to get the shows off of it before replacing or reformatting it though. Is there a way to do this using a computer? I know win98 usually requires special drivers for everything, but not XP. My new Dell uses ATAPI connectors so I couldn't hook it there, but I did find a USB to IDE adapter cable on the web just for hooking up old hard drives to any USB2.0 port.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to get the shows off the hdd using your PC. The pannys use a proprietary drive format and file structure that is not recognized by common operating systems like Windows and even Linux, nobody has yet been able to crack this (many have tried to enable HDD swapping or reformatting HDDs to higher than the stock capacities). Also, since you removed the HDD you may also have bought yourself a forced reformat when you attempt to re-install the HDD when the Panny firmware detects the disk (this stupid "feature" effectively precludes intentional HDD swapping (without destroying the recorded programs on the removed HDD)). However, the reformat may revive the original HDD at the cost of losing whatever programs you had stored on the HDD. I would try re-installing the HDD and let the Panny attempt to reformat the original HDD (again you will lose your programs but I think they are effectively gone already since you removed the disc) to see if the disc recovers functionality. If that fails, purchase a replacement HDD of preferably the same make, capacity, and rotational speed and the Panny will reformat that HDD such that you can regain functionality of your recorder. If you still can't recover the Panny at that point, then you can send the unit in for factory repair at the Elgin, IL repair facility and it should be repaired for about a $134 or so flat fee (regardless of the nature of the failure) which is not a bad price if a major circuit board, power supply, or the optical disc is the culprit. (I'm assuming, of course, that your unit is out-of-warranty). If you need to use the repair facility search this forum for the 800 number of the Elgin repair facility. Don't ever use an authorized repair center (they often don't have the Panny proprietary parts in stock) and it appears that other US Panny Factory repair centers don't offer the flat repair rate on DVD recorders.

Others here may have some ideas on how to save your recorded programs but I think the chances of recovery of your recorded programs are very very slim. Also, wish I had seen your post before you yanked the HDD. If you are connected to a digital cable box via IN1, I would have suggested disconnecting all video inputs because some cable boxes have been known to lock up the Pannys following automatic cable box firmware upgrades that are sent over the cable lines. Sorry and good luck.

Hello...

I'm new here and not sure how to initiate a thread, but my question is similar to this one. I've had this machine for about two years, and I'm fairly conversant with its features. But now I have been hit by a new one: During recording from HDD to DVD, the process just quit. Everything else continues to work. Trouble is that when I try to eject the disc, I get a message on the machine readout saying "LOCK". The disc will play (but will not record) and no way can I get it to eject. I've tried everything I can figure from the manual. Even unplugging for a few hours has been fruitless. Can anyone tell me how to get the disc out?

Thanks

I think?? your machine might be in DEMO mode. Panny's have a feature for stores to use that want to play a DVD over and over. I believe it also disables other features as well as well as the ability for someone to eject(and maybe steal) the DVD.
I'm not positive on the sequence to disable this feature, I accidentally got my Panny into this mode but pushing too many buttons once. I would think holding both the CH up and CH down buttons on the main unit for 10 seconds(while the unit is on) should clear it. Note doing this will reset your unit back to factory defaults, so be forewarned. Note you could also search for the key sequence to get it out of this mode, or maybe someone else will remember. Note I'm just guessing this might be your problem, if not the reset would also be a good thing to try to clear any other potential problems. Other than those 2 suggestions, I'm stumped. Good luck!

Note searched my old posts and found was I was looking for. Courtesy of Kelson "To toggle the disk eject from "LOCK" to "UNLOCK": With the unit ON, press and hold "Power" and "Stop" for 5 seconds." This is the sequence to get the unit in/out of what I referred to as Demo mode. Try it first before the reset to potentially save yourself reprogramming your unit.

The posting from Jazzguy1233 on another forum may have some relevance to this discussion:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=204006

try looking at your EH50 manual, pages 28 and 63 especially.

Thank you, JJEFF. It was in "Demo" mode. Probably got that way because I pressed some wrong combination of buttons. In any event, the use of "Power" and "Stop" for 5 seconds did the trick; it immediately read "Unlock," and I was able to eject the disc. Thanks also to other posters who tried to help.

"Los bastardos non carborundum!"

Worley45,
I just had the EXACT same thing happen to me.. keeps saying Hello to me also..
Did you ever resolve the issue? What happened to your DVD?

Worley45,
I just had the EXACT same thing happen to me.. keeps saying Hello to me also..
Did you ever resolve the issue? What happened to your DVD?

He hasn't posted since March so you are unlikely to get a reply from him, but this is how he resolved his issue: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13442894#post13442894 if you are brave enough to try. Basically, it was not good as he had to remove his HDD.

(BTW the search feature or clicking on his user name and selecting show all posts by [username] can help you research the resolution of older threads/problems as people sometimes start multiple threads on the same issue, especially if some time has elapsed between postings).

You might also want to search this forum for the various Panny DVD recorder reset key sequences see if you can revive your machine. Others may post them here as well or you could start your own thread with a complete statement of the problem including the make/model of your DVD recorder. Also, if it comes down to repairing your machine, Panny has a flat rate repair service (search under Pansonic flat rate repair or Elk Grove Village to get the contact info) for $130 - which is a pretty good deal to keep older Panny HDD units alive especially since they are no longer being sold. Good luck.

Hi,
I didn't mean to stay off the group for so long, It's just that after I transferred 36 gigs of the HD data into my PC the hard drive got too full to do any more work so I haven't done anything more in the past few months. I also had posted instructions in the after dawn forum. It was under the very popular thread about "U99 error". I never put it back in the unit again, as I need to get EVERYTHING transferred off and recovered first. ( A re-format may erase the data ). So far all the data I have looked at seems perfectly intact ( I succesfully removed and saved several 60 min and 30 min shows and quite a few short segments and commercials already ). I think it is some sort of software corruption in the data indexing since it crashed on a "divide title" operation ( I had problems with the divide before - often losing the program I was dividing ). I will be glad to answer any more questions. As soon as I get my computer HD cleaned up I plan to finish what I started. I do a lot of binary newsgroup downloading also, so I need to get some of that off onto CDs or DVDs to make room.

Wade

(((My DMR-EH50 keeps showing 'Error has occurred Please press enter'.
Doing so just causes it to shut off and back on again with the exact same message as soon as the 'IN1 Hello' appears on the display. It won't respond to any other buttons on the remote (except the power - which does the same thing) or even the pressing of the channel up/down arrows. I even tried umplugging it for 5 or 10 minutes and overnight- still no help. Any way to reset?))))

I'm new here.....and I have the same question as someone posted earlier. this is driving me INSANE!!!! Did anyone ever figure out how to fix this???? I really don't want to buy another new one, but I will because it's crucial for me to be able to record some of my tv shows and old shows that I have on VHS. I need the HDD so I can edit out commericals before transferring to DVD. I'm bummed Panasonic doesn't seem to make these recorders anymore and I guess I will have to change brands.

See above post #9 and click the link. Then see the jazzguy1233 post where the power supply capacitors were the cause of the problem with his hard drive Panasonic. Jazzguy1233 repaired his own Panasonic.

Thanks DigaDo. I'm going to ask my brother if maybe he can do this. I don't know anything about capacitors or soldering. He's in to that stuff so maybe he will be my savior! If he can't, then I will buy a new one. I would send it to IL, but after their price and shipping, that would almost equal a new one.

Thanks DigaDo. I'm going to ask my brother if maybe he can do this. I don't know anything about capacitors or soldering. He's in to that stuff so maybe he will be my savior! If he can't, then I will buy a new one. I would send it to IL, but after their price and shipping, that would almost equal a new one.

The $130 flat rate at the corporate Panasonic Service Center in Elk Grove Village Illinois includes parts, labor and return shipping. For a Panasonic with a hard drive this is good value as these machines are no longer on sale in the USA.

Panasonic may try to talk you into an estimate and the actual cost rate for parts and labor. This type of repair will be very much more expensive and not a good value.

For more information see this post:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14198066#post14198066

I finally succeeded in copying the entire contents of my HD onto my computer ( after I bought a 2nd HD to make the room for it ) and recovered all of my shows. The HD must be OK since I was able to copy all the data. I put it back in the DMR last night, but I still get the same old error sequence.
Are there any other options? It's not a power supply issue, I get the 5 and 12volts fine. And the unit did not try and reformat the drive. I am wondering now if I am going to have to manually fill the drive with zeroes with my Hex editor to cure this. I also read a lot of posts about TV guide problems, but I never connect a cable directly to the unit, always to a vcr first and A-V cables to the DMR. I use the vcr remote to cange channels. A few times when I hit the TV guide button by accident it didn't work since the cable wasn't directly connected.

Wade

It's not a power supply issue, I get the 5 and 12volts fine.

Have you visually examined the power supply capacitors for bulging or splitting tops?

Here is a recent post with a photo showing the problematic capacitors:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16064363#post16064363

How recently have you cleaned the rubber hub atop the DVD Drive spindle?

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

I have looked at the power supply board and all the caps look fine. My unit locked up at the exact instant I was dividing a title ( and would never completely boot up again ), so I am sure it is a software problem, not hardware. I have had problems with the divide operation before ( just losing the title I was dividing ) but never completely stuck in the endless loop.
It's as if it is reading the HD and getting corrupt data.

wade

I have looked at the power supply board and all the caps look fine. My unit locked up at the exact instant I was dividing a title ( and would never completely boot up again ), so I am sure it is a software problem, not hardware. I have had problems with the divide operation before ( just losing the title I was dividing ) but never completely stuck in the endless loop.
It's as if it is reading the HD and getting corrupt data.

wade

While I own many Panasonics none of them are HDD/DVD models. I own three Philips and Magnavox HDD/DVD models.

For what it's worth, in the thread where Philips and Magnavox HDD/DVD machines are discussed, Wajo has cautioned that, with those machines, one must take care to complete all other editing functions before dividing titles. Perhaps this might be a similar (or potential) problem with the Panasonic "software."

I also had posted instructions in the after dawn forum. It was under the very popular thread about "U99 error".

These excellent instructions can be found here (http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/72/143317#3885923).

After succesfully recovering everything to my computer, my unit was still in the endless error loop when I reinstalled the HD, so this time I tried filling the entire HD with zeroes ( every single byte ) and that did the trick. I read in another forum where people had some success doing this, but they used a DOS command on the PC and I kind of question that as it might leave PC type formatting data on the disk. I used the same HEX editor program for recovering the video to write 00 into all 93 GB of the drive. It's a bit tedious, but it's the only way to totally eliminate any pesky corrupted data the DMR may detect on boot-up. here are the instructions: (again, using the HxD hex editor program). You may get away with clearing just the first few GB, but I took no chances and did the whole thing.

To erase ( fill with zeroes ):
In HxD, first, open up the last physical drive under the "extras" tab and uncheck the box that says "open as read only". Next look at the hex contents of the drive to be sure you have selected the right drive. Scroll down to the bottom to see what the last hex address is and be sure it agrees with the drive size. Move the scroll bar to variouus locations ( near the top, middle, bottom ) and do a hex search for "00 00 01 BA", then hold down the F3 key to make absolutely sure it is the right drive. The last 3 digits of the hex address should alternate between 800 and 000 as it finds the codes. Try it in several different places. Now move the scroll bar to the very top and set the cursor to the left of the first byte on the drive. Click the edit tab, and "select block" and type in a 2 and seven zeroes into the block length space and hit OK ( be sure the "hex" is checked ). The cursor will move to the end of the block and the data will be in blue. Click edit tab again, only this time click "fill selection" and click on the zerobytes and then the OK button. (This function will be grayed out if you didn't uncheck the "open as read only" box at the start). After a few seconds red zeroes will replace the selected data. Click the file tab and the save button, and the "yes" on the warning screen, then wait for the drive to be written into (it will take about a minute). When done, the zeroes will turn black and the cursor will sit at the start of the unchanged data. Now go back to the edit tab, and select another block of length 20000000 and repeat the above steps. Note this is 512 MB of data each time, so it will take about 186 repetitions to finish a 100 GB drive ( which is really only 93 GB in actual capacity ). Selecting larger data blocks only results in "out of memory" errors when you try to save. I did get it to work with 1 GB blocks, but it becomes sluggish and takes more than twice as long as 512 MB blocks.

Once I put the drive back into the DMR-EH50, this time it booted up without a hitch, then asked for a reformat (which only took a few seconds since there was nothing on the drive to erase).

BTW: I also bought a box of DVD-RAMs from Amazon last year after my unit went down, so now I'm going to learn how to do all my recording and editing on the RAMS ( and only use the HD to move data from the RAM and then burn to a DVD-R ).

If anyone else needs to recover data I'll post the whole instructions again, with some updates.

Wade

If anyone else needs to recover data I'll post the whole instructions again, with some updates.

Although I do not have a hard disk problem yet, I am sure given time I will. It would be great to have your revised/updated complete instructions listed again. Thanks!

I have two of these that both failed within onths of each other being 3 years old. I first contacted Panasonic and was told there was a $134 exchange program. After waiting a couple of months, I was ready to send them in, and was now told it's time and material.

So I took one to Skokie (IL) TV, and excellent repair facility on Milwaukee Rd just South of Dundee Rd. Got the call today that the needed part is no longer available. They didn't tell me what the part was but will give me the part number when I pick it up.

I bought a DMR-EA28 and returned it for the cheaper DMR-EA18 as a replacement and they're both junk. Poor editing, software freezes, ground loops. The DMR-EA18 now stopped accepting video in on the composite (yellow) front plug. The S-Video puts herringbone patterns in the video. Why would they remove software editing capabilities when they're already paid for? The new ones are definitely a disappointment.

I have two of these that both failed within onths of each other being 3 years old. I first contacted Panasonic and was told there was a $134 exchange program. After waiting a couple of months, I was ready to send them in, and was now told it's time and material.

So I took one to Skokie (IL) TV, and excellent repair facility on Milwaukee Rd just South of Dundee Rd. Got the call today that the needed part is no longer available. They didn't tell me what the part was but will give me the part number when I pick it up.

I bought a DMR-EA28 and returned it for the cheaper DMR-EA18 as a replacement and they're both junk. Poor editing, software freezes, ground loops. The DMR-EA18 now stopped accepting video in on the composite (yellow) front plug. The S-Video puts herringbone patterns in the video. Why would they remove software editing capabilities when they're already paid for? The new ones are definitely a disappointment.

If you called Panasonic Customer Service no wonder you got a run-around. The exchange program through Customer Service in McAllen Texas is for current or recent models, not older models like the EH50.

When a local repair shop reports that parts are no longer available that means that the parts are no longer available to them or the general public through the Panasonic National Parts Center in Kent WA. "Obsoleted" parts are stocked only at the two corporate Panasonic Service Centers in Illinois, Elk Grove Village repairs recent models and Elgin repairs older models and hard drive models.

With hard drive models like the EH50 one must contact the Panasonic Service Center in Elgin Illinois, 847-468-5543. There is a $130 flat-repair that includes return shipping. (If you're in Skokie it's just a short road trip to Elgin in order to save the $30 shipping portion of the flat-rate fee.)

See the first post in this thread for the most current and complete repair information:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1056657

As to problems/limitations with EZ series models, this recent post may provide some answers:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17577863#post17577863

With hard drive models like the EH50 one must contact the Panasonic Service Center in Elgin Illinois, 847-468-5543. There is a $130 flat-repair that includes return shipping. (If you're in Skokie it's just a short road trip to Elgin in order to save the $30 shipping portion of the flat-rate fee.)

See the first post in this thread for the most current and complete repair information:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1056657


And if you go to the end of that thread, you can see my post with a photo of the place, so you know what to look for.

I wasy ***very*** impressed with their speedy service.