Help! Pana 50 not reading discs!

Intermittent read, write and finalizing failures are common indicators that the DVD Drive's rubber hub atop the spindle (turntable) is dirty or has oily residue. With a DMR-E50H the cleaning procedure takes perhaps thirty minutes using isopropyl rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab.

Information concerning the lens and rubber hub cleaning procedures, including photos, is found in this post:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...8#post14479898

Due to the DVD Drive and case design the cleaning procedure requires somewhat more disassembly in 2005 and older Panasonics. Photos showing the black plastic DVD Drive used in 2005 and older models, including the DMR-E50H, are found in this post in the same thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...6#post15045566

It is very important to follow the instructions and heed the cautions found in those posts.

This kind of acute failure seems unlikely to be a dirty hub unless you put in a very dirty disk just before the failure. If it has been getting worse slowly, I would agree with DigaDo, as I do in most cases. The instantaneous nature of the failure (as you describe it) sounds like a drive/control board failure. Box it up and send it to Elk Grove for repair. My Eh55 took less than three weeks to get back, and they had done pretty expensive repairs for the $130 flat rate.

If the machine is important to you, this is what I recommend.

Luke,

I agree with you. I've seen so many of the "no read" posts (where the machine needs but the usual rubber hub cleaning) that I failed to read all the relevant details before posting my often-repeated advice.

If the poster's machine is also making "errp" or "clunking" or "chugging" noises as it attempts to read a disc there is a chance that lens cleaning is needed, also addressed in the links in my earlier post.

Of course, there is only a slight chance that a dirty lens is the problem with the poster's machine.

If lens and rubber hub cleaning does not resolve the problem the $130 flat-rate repair through the Panasonic Digital Service Center in Elk Grove Village Illinois is indicated. This post has more complete information:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...8#post14451738

When others have had the same concern they mentioned it in the letter describing the problems with their machine and Panasonic did not disturb hard drive contents unless it's necessary for the repair.

Since you have said that the hard drive still works fine, I wouldn't worry. As has already been said, The Elk Grove repair center does not mess with the HDD unless it needs to be replaced. I would definitely mention in your letter describing the problem with the machine, that you would very much like to keep the hard drive contents.

Just a few additional words of comfort: my EH-75 has made two trips to Elk Grove and returned with the HDD contents intact. First time, I noted my desire to preserve the data, if possible. Second time, I didn't.

In both cases, it was a problem with the DVD drive that resulted in the need for repair. I almost sent it in again for the 3rd time recently, but learned of the hub cleaning trick from Diga-Do's posts and that resolved the problem.

I wonder if Panasonic ever just cleans the drive or of they just replace it? My guess is they just replace it even though it may only need a spindle cleaning, that would be a shame if that's the case.
As others have noted the spindle should really be cleaned at a minimum of 1 year intervals, sooner in a house where someone smokes or has pets. Cleaning generally returns a machine to a almost new condition.