Dead Panasonic DMR-ES10

Yes, any Panasonic dvd recorder will finalize a disc made on an older model. Check over at ebay for a working Panasonic recorder (read the descriptions carefully), you may find good unit in order to avoid paying full price for an EZ series model. The EZs, while producing great recordings, is full of design flaws and bugs that often drive even the most dedicated Panny users up the wall.

The only thing I'm not sure if it would work, would be a pre '04 Panasonic, since prior to '04 Panasonic didn't have the thumbnail view option but rather just a line with info to click on.
Same thing would hold true if you had a pre '04 Panasonic, I'm not sure how finalizing would work on the thumbnail view Panasonics of '04 and beyond.
Check my sig link for a listing of what year models are.

I prefer watching our metro area Craig's List for possibilities. Once there has been two way contact it's simple enough to take a quick drive over to check out the merchandise. Sometimes I'll check the Craig's Lists serving the several other areas within 50-150 miles. Responding to such listings would require a little longer road trip. If the seller is located some distance away don't tell them how far you have to come. That's a sure tip-off that the seller has got a sure sale so it isn't necessary to negotiate from the asking price.

With a Panasonic recorder one can usually determine on the phone if the seller's recorder is worth considering. A few well chosen questions will help weed out a bad recorder from a good recorder.

Ask "Does it reliably play DVDs?" "Does it reliably record and finalize DVDs? " Yes answers indicates a functional recorder. Ask "Does the recorder sometimes fail to play DVDS?" "Does the recorder sometimes fail to record or finalize DVDs?" "Does the DVD Drive make grinding noises when finalizing DVDs?" Yes answers indicates that the recorder needs a routine lens and rubber hub cleaning. See this post for that procedure:

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

Ask "Does the DVD Drive no longer play, record or finalize DVDs?" "Does the DVD Drive make 'clunking,' 'chugging' or 'errrp' noises with or without a DVD in the DVD Drive?" "Does the recorder's front panel show "U" or "F" messages or does the front panel message hang up at "Hello" or "Please Wait?" Yes answers usually indicates more serious problems, the most common of which is a failed laser assembly. Ask "If there are "U" or "F" messages what are those messages?" See the attached pages to identify problems associated with the various front panel messages. Such a problematic recorder is not usually worth further consideration.

Visiting the seller and trying out the recorder is the best way to determine if the recorder will meet one's needs. Take an unfinalized DVD to find out if the seller's recorder will read it, write to it, or finalize it.