How can I fix it?

Dave G, February 2006

Simeon Webber was right, it is about bad solder connections. I fixed my 210 as Simeon adviced and it works great. Thank you, Simeon Webber

H, April 2008

Steevie ive had the Same Problem...
did u have any luck getting it sorted,mine is exact same as yours will not read dvd,just audio discs.

Big Lee, August 2007

I also have this problem, although interestingly the player WILL play CD's, anyone else tried this?
As it appears to be a single laser (cheapo) implementation, I find this odd!

It is obviously a batch of dodgy lasers, too many reports of problems with this model, although no help from Sony.

I will try the solder solution suggested here, see if it fixes the problem.

Steve V, July 2007

you can fix this by using a pc to finalise the disk

open likes of nero and tools and disk info and close disk

the problem can also be mechanical

i repair stuff like this
i have one here
it seeked and found either bad info or not the right loader info

i suspected a bad batch of laser diodes
as the head output is low
but it was the fet amp on the head was the problem or the solder connections to the leds
due to bad solder type {its a old style lead free build}
or mechanical wear thru vibrations

so a very quick 12watt solder iron very fine tip {antex type}
to the pins {slowly}
fixed its output and it now reads any disk

the original symptoms were not reading any but recorded disks

then after 6 months no disks at all

this would ring true as a recorder recorded disk
is known to give higher mechanical clarity than a bought disk
but not nessisary better quality this depends on the recorder bits rate etc... but a higher output level of transistions as it reads the dots

so check the head and resolder the 8 pin chip and all led connections on it

and it will work i think !!!

simeon webber, July 2007

Sadly I have exactly the same problem - with no resolution

PG, May 2007

mine too - cant read new discs (cant be scratches) reads written discs ok - country setting at zero (reccomend 'scarlet' download takes only seconds..on a medieval site) It sounds like a manufacturing fault to me and I always thought sony were sound....silly me
Trying to find a decent VTR far less hassle !!!

johnny nonuts, January 2007

I am having the same problem. Have tried unplugging for 1 Hour and rebooting but still having the same outcome.
I notice from the dates this is quite old has anybody come up with an answer yet?

Paul, November 2006

Yup, all this is familiar. Had trouble writing a disc after recording a programme, in the end had to 'reboot' - since then this morning in fact, for any disc, whether it be pre - recorded or onr of my own from the TV, the default message is 'can
play this disc'

Mark Yeates, June 2006

....sounds like a common fault - mine does exactly the same. after months of working ok it now won't play any disc at all....buyers beware!!

TBBD, June 2006

I have exactly the same problem > sony helpline says they have no record of this as a problem. Did you ever get a resolve ??

Lorne Christie, March 2006

Apparently it cant be fixed. If the disc has not been finalized and cannot read or find the disc data on the disc, it can’t play it back. This may have occurred after a failed attempt to write the disc data to disc after a recording session.

nathan, March 2006

Check to see if the disk is compatible. Check to see if it is scratched.

Terry, February 2006