WILL NOT READ DISC IN DVD MODE. HARD DRIVE OK ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Wiliam Sands, August 2009

If the machine seems to be OK and only the DVD drive is faulty then there is a cheaper way to fix this than shelling out what is practically the cost of a new machine for only the drive. It seems that many of Panasonic's machines made at the same time use an identical disc drive so if you are handy with a small screwdriver you can fix it yourself.

I had a faulty drive on my EX-75 and bought a hardly used DMR-EZ25 on eBay (I found from another thread that this machine was a good one to use as a "donor"). The drives are identical and it is an easy job to switch them. Just be very careful with the four thin cables that connect the drive to the main board. These must be pulled out and replaced VERY carefully. They simply slot in so there is no soldering to do.

I now have a fully working DMR-EX75! And it really is a simple job.

You also have the bonus of a very good DVB tuner and other spare parts you may be able to use from the cheap machine!

John Bingham, January 2012

I am having the same problem, only 3 years old and i am told that the laser assembly needs to be replaced at a cost of £265!

michael sitton, January 2010

I had the fault with the DMR EX75 failing to record DVD's. It would make clunking & loud whirring noise & fail at about 50%

However it would read & play any disc just fine, so I figured the laser must be OK.

Its an easy fix. 5 screws to get the case off, then 6 screws on the lid of the DVD drive (these where tight so use a good quality larger handled driver to avoid damaging the screw heads).

Once the DVD unit lid is off, gently clean the laser & the rubber pinch wheel (mine was quite contaminated) with head cleaner fluid using a cotton bud.

Dry it off with a clean cotton bud & re-assemble.

Hopefully the DVD burn should now work fine, I just burnt 5 discs one after the other , after creating about 10 coasters before it was cleaned !

Good Luck

John Hemming, December 2009

HI its probably a fault with the laser on the dvd ram drive they are prone to failing after heavy use as dvd ram uses more power to burn than other formats ie lots of chase and play and lots of recording they also get slippage on the rubber pinch wheel that can be cleaned

jeff, November 2009

Hi William - no answer I'm afraid but my Panasonic EX75 developed exactly the same fault last month as well - have you had any joy in getting yours fixed?

Cheers

Stephen Partridge, September 2009