VCR - Help

[Johnson#26]

Hi, I know that this is so, so outdated, BUT I've recorded the GF onto a standard blank video tape this afternoon while I was watching elsewhere. Put it in an hour ago, pressed play, and all I could hear was audio - no picture at all. So I tried a few other videos (some years old and worked only weeks/months ago), and the same problem arose - all sound clear as a bell, no picture. Have checked all cables and cords, all looks normal to me, nothing out of line, and no reason for them to be.

So any ideas what might be going on? The VCR was purchased in late 1999 (wow), FWIW, but has been working fine all along, and gets regular use one way or the other (yes, I do have a DVD player, btw ).

 

[Ingall]

I'm assuming it's connected to the TV with a composite cable so maybe the yellow video cable is damaged or not plugged in properly. Can you try the cable on something else (like your DVD player) or use a different cable. Or it could just be a ten year old VCR finally giving up.

 

[tandino]

The cable is the first thing to check.

 

[Kram]

From memory one my VCRs did this, it was just stuffed.

 

[The Sultan]

to safe the stress, buy the dvd you can pick it up for around $20...

 

[Johnson#26]

Thanks guys.

I left it for two weeks. Sometimes I think these things work themselves out if left alone. It's weird. The 2009 GF does not work (audio, so far, is ok). Then I chucked on a proper movie, and it didn't work immediately, but, after a bit of button-pressing, it did. Went back to the GF, no dice. Then put on a video of the Boxing Day Test 2006, it worked. The Brownlow from this year, it worked.

I'd then put this down to being the fault of the videos from GF day, however, that evening (GF evening), when I went to play it, a spare video lying around (NAB Cup 2007) would not play either.

Any further hints?

 

[old_clint]

Clean the heads, actually you shoulda cleaned them prior to any recording

 

[Johnson#26]

Meaning...(sorry, I'm no good at knowing the ins and outs of TVs/etc)? (as in the heads are...?). Thanks.

 

[CF]

Meaning...(sorry, I'm no good at knowing the ins and outs of TVs/etc)? (as in the heads are...?). Thanks.

VCR question sheesh

The heads are what reads the tape. Take the top off (unplug it first off course). You will see a couple of big shiny sliver wheels. Use some metho & cotton tips to clean them. Put the cover back on, plug it in and hopefully she will go.

Other option is you used to be able to buy head cleaning tapes.

 

[Johnson#26]

Cool, thanks for that mate. Will give it a go. It's weird, because the audio does work. :S

 

[CF]

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/165

 

[Hawk Dork]

If the other tapes work and this doesnt you could have had it near a speaker or other magnetic field and killed it.

 

[jerry springer]

whats a VCR?