Probably, clogged or worn video heads, which will require cleaning or replacement. Replacement of video heads has become uneconomical due to the low cost of new video recorders. Cleaning them is the only option worth considering.
You could try a video head cleaning cassette yourself (maybe £5-10) or ask a dealer to clean the heads & mechanism for a more reliable result but ask for a quote as that may not be worth it.
A blue screen is displayed on some equipment if the signal drops too low (rather than showing a snowy picture).
Usually, the feature can be switched on or off in the menu.
The tape counter uses the recorded info. on the tape to operate, if it can't read the tape due to poor video heads, or if the tape blank, the counter will not run.
Cobweb, December 2004
