[DelicGrape]

Who watches VHS anymore, right? Well I have a DVD/VHS combo and when I tried to play a VHS the entire thing would shut off and when I turned it back on it spit the VHS right back out at me...<br><br>
Does anyone know what might be the problem and if there is anything I can do to fix it?<br><br>
Thanks guys!

 

[Amy SF]

Take a look at the tape inside the cassette first. Is it broken? Is it frayed? Is it wound all to the way to the end instead of at the beginning?<br><br><br><br>
Amazingly, that kind of problem has happened to me, and it never occurred to me to check those things first. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/dunce.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":dunce:"><br><br><br><br>
If all the answers to those questions are "no", then you may have a bad/warped cassette. If not, then I'm afraid there's something wrong with the machine itself. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/undecided.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":-/">

 

[Joe]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>DelicGrape</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Who watches VHS anymore, right?</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
I do.<br><br><br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>DelicGrape</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><br>
Well I have a DVD/VHS combo and when I tried to play a VHS the entire thing would shut off and when I turned it back on it spit the VHS right back out at me...<br><br>
Does anyone know what might be the problem and if there is anything I can do to fix it?<br><br>
Thanks guys!</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
Don't know what to tell you. Amy may be right that that particular tape is defective. But VCRs are supposed to be (professionally) cleaned periodically, so there should be some repair shops in your area that clean or repair VCRs, if all else fails. You can also buy VHS head cleaners to help keep your VCR clean.

 

[berrykat]

get a cleaning tape I had that problem with my vhs and the heads needed cleaning here is an example <a href="http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=2537&FEID=340&PMNID=1033" target="_blank">http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetail...340&PMNID=1033</a> I bought one at target for about 3 bucks. The vcr worked fine....until the kids dropped it and something broke off inside <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[DelicGrape]

Thanks guys, I tried a couple different tapes and messed around with it for awhile and it continues to do the same thing, so I might pick up a VHS cleaner and see if that helps, but if the tape itself needs to be played to clean the heads then I might run into the same problem.

 

[IamJen]

If all else fails, you can buy a new VCR for like $20, and hook it up to your TV.

 

[karenlovessnow]

I totally prefer VHS to DVD...My first guess would have been defective tape, or what Amy said; Supposedly you can take a Qtip with some alcohol on it and try and wipe the inside where the tape goes (uplug unit first, please!). But it sounds more like it's a mechanical problem.

 

[deadend]

I completely prefer VHS over DVD as well. I actually prefer analog over digital in general. The big thing for me about choosing VHS over DVD is how the sound levels on DVD's are <span style="text-decoration:underline;">completely</span> out of whack. Such as when you're watching a movie, and you can't hear a word the characters are saying... so you turn the volume up way loud to understand. Then a plane comes by or a song starts or something and the sound is so loud that your eardrums begin to bleed.<br><br><br><br>
Boooooooo!

 

[remilard]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>deadend</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I completely prefer VHS over DVD as well. I actually prefer analog over digital in general. The big thing for me about choosing VHS over DVD is how the sound levels on DVD's are <span style="text-decoration:underline;">completely</span> out of whack. Such as when you're watching a movie, and you can't hear a word the characters are saying... so you turn the volume up way loud to understand. Then a plane comes by or a song starts or something and the sound is so loud that your eardrums begin to bleed.<br><br><br><br>
Boooooooo!</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
That is because you are comparing 5.1 audio on a DVD against 2.0 audio on a VHS on speakers which are configured to sound good with 2.0 audio.

 

[nowoutonvinyl]

laserdisc! thats all i have to say.

 

[Qwerks]

In 1985 my grandparents gave all 4 of their kids a new VCR. We were like "OMG we can totally rent Teen Wolf!" It has celebrated its 20th anniversary of living with me and still plays very well with the clearest picture you can get on 13" television from 1983. However, it takes an average 30 attempts to get the tape going, waiting for it to shut down after each try and then turning it back on to have another go. I consider this part of its charm.

 

[Amy SF]

/rant<br><br><br><br>
It irritates me no end to see and hear constant references to Tivo, as in "don't forget to set your Tivo" during a Good Day L.A. promo, or people on other message boards bragging about how they never miss an episode of their favorite reality show (ugh) because they have Tivo. There are lots of us out there who still use old fashioned videotape for catching programming we'd otherwise miss. Videotape can't be <i>that</i> obsolete yet, and yet the media make it sound like it is.<br><br><br><br>
/end rant

 

[kpickell]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>IamJen</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
If all else fails, you can buy a new VCR for like $20, and hook it up to your TV.</div>
</div>
<br>
Good luck finding a new VCR for $20 these days. Prices are up now that demand is down.