Shall I throw away my new video player or what?

[yogabird]

Our video stopped showing pictures but would do sound. It was old and so we got a new one. Fine for about 2 weeks then it went the same way. Was it the old videos we were playing? Got a head cleaning tape added juice to it and whizzed, bit better, but now out of action again. Can it really be that we've buggered the machine so simply? Do we have to throw all of the old and well loved videos? Do we get rid of the machine itself? Or can we be greener and solve it?

bump

bin then?

More likely to be the tapes.

Over time, the tape moves within the case and no longer lies completely straight, so it is not making correct contact with the part of the heads in the machine that reads the audio track.

You can try adjusting the heads on the machine so that they pick up more of the sound, but not an ideal solution.

Not sure, could you get hold of a new video and see if it plays that ok?

Ooh, also old tapes can put dirt onto the heads of the machine - hence cleaning the heads worked for a short time.

Again, it is a sign of the age/usage of the tapes, not the machine.

ahh thanks Ruby, you sweetie

i'm actually feeling quite jolly and positive since i managed to jump start the car myself at the piano teachers when it wouldn't start. Had to ask her if i could use her car to do it and she admitted that she didn't know how to lift the bonnet! But... the new jump leads i purchased, (dh says 'we don't need a new battery' but he doesn't have to deal with the non starting) came into their own and i did it and so feel a bit smug. DD's are now dressed up as a cat and a witch and i am going to make bacon sarnies for tea. All is well apart from the teeny decision to be made over the video (won't be sorry to get rid of all the old casettes but then have the landfill vs can i be bothered to offer them to anyone thing going on. MAybe freecycle, but i'm getting ahead of myself cos maybe someone out there knows the answer?

oooh replies

the tapes go then?

You could try the tapes in another machine, but be wary in case they bugger that one up too .

What is the machine like if you use a blank tape, record and then playback? If it is still faulty you could try a brand new tape. If that fails then take the machine back to the shop and complain (don't mention the old tapes though )

Personally though I would chuck the old videos and just replace any true favourites with dvd versions.

thanks, will try the recording something idea and see what happens, then it's declutter the lot no looking back although my particular favourite Gone With THe Wind 4 hour epic i shall be sad to see go... but then, wince having kids who has the time to spend 4 hours (mutter...except dads dh on golf course ... mutter!)

dh taped our videos onto dvd with dvd recorder

gosh! that opens up a whole new lot of possibilities...assuming we can get it going of course. Thanks