Just wish to echo Alan's thanks to Bam. I'm lucky Google displayed this thread in the search results. My DR175 decided to constantly go down in any menu, and whilst playing a DVD there would be a constant red no entry type sign flickering away in the top right corner of the TV.
Just to be a little more specific (I don't mind tinkering away when I've no idea what I'm doing, it's kinda fun) and may save some time/damaging your DVD recorder, you need to unscrew the main cover first, 2 screws on each side plus 5 on the back I think then slide/lift it off.
On the front right corner you will see a thin tape coming out of the main section and attaching to the front panel section. Gently pull this out tape out of the connector on the main section, not the connector itself - you'll see the contact strips on the tape.
Then unclip the front panel from the main section - 3 clips on the bottom, 1 on each side, and two/four on top (there seem to be 4 but two of mine don't actually clip in!) so you need loads of hands to be able to do it at once, fiddly but doable!
Now you've got the front panel in your hands you'll see two wires running together connecting the power button to the rest of the buttons at the other end. At the power button end, the two wires end in a small plug, pull this plug out - I couldn't get enough purchase on the plug to pull or wiggle it out so I had to gently but firmly (hehe) pull the wires and the plug came with it. I taped the plug up just in case and reattached the panels and screws.
It works just fine now. Great thread and helpful answers, thanks very much guys and gals
Chris Blackmun (krayzeekris), March 2010