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How can I fix my Panasonic DMR-E55 - Multi Region ?

I have a DMR-E55 DVD Recorder that has been 'chipped' by the store I bought it from to be multi-region.

About a month after the 3 yr extended warranty cover elapsed, the DVD player stopped being able to record / format disks. If you try to record or to format disks the machine reboots itself. Using it as just a player machine works fine.

Any advice appreciated.
Terry Durrant, January 2008
Hi Terry

This is almost certainly a power board fault. There is a regulator on the board that gets very hot during normal operation because it is on a totally inadequate heatsink. A common problem with this particular unit is the rebooting syndrome you describe. If you are technically minded you can replace the regulator and put it on a better heatsink. Replacement regulators can be obtained online. However, it is a tricky process unless you are experienced in the use of a soldering iron. Your DMR E55 will not actually have been chipped for multi region. In fact a region locked DMR E55 can be unlocked for multi region by using a specially adapted remote controller. In any case, the fact that yours is multi region has no relevance to the fault you have described. Hope you can sort it out as it is a good unit which would be a shame to throw out for such an easily repairable fault.

Cornish Tekbabe, February 2008
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