My Sony DCR-IP7 has been a fantastic video camera. When I took it out of it's case before going on holiday this year it came up with an error. When selecting 'camera' or 'playback' modes it displays the error code C:31:40. The manual says this means it should be examined by a service engineer but as we all know this could mean an expensive repair. Can anyone help??

Steve Clarke, September 2007

needed a good slap, it worked........

Mr.singh, January 2023

Found my old Sony DCR-TVR110E which I had written off years ago. Thought I'd copy all of my old tapes over to HDD, but got the dreaded C:31-42 error.
After googling the problem, I found the recommendation of firmly slapping the side of the camera a few times. Found the advice strange and somewhat dramatic, but after I saw the same advice on multiple sites, I thought I'd give it a try as I had nothing to loose.

And Lo and Behold, it worked!!

The camera now both records and plays tapes like it's new!
Recommended to anybody who experiences the same problem.
Cheapest fix I've ever tried. :-)

SR, October 2011

Na das ist ja ein Ding, ich war kurz davor meine Sony DCR-TRV 325E wegzuschmeissen (obwohl ich sie seit vielen Jahren mein treuer Begleiter auf vielen Reisen war), weil sie seit 2 Monaten ständig diese Fehlercodes anzeigte. Durch Zufall habe ich in letzter Not den häufigsten Fehlercode C 31:41 in Google eingegeben und bin in diesem Forum gelandet. Habe den Tip mit den Klopfen auf den Boden des Camcorders ausprobiert (2 wohldosierte Schläge, keine Cassette inliegend, Ladegerät ab)...und siehe da: es funzt!!! Ich bin so happy, mein treuer Gefährte darf an meiner Seite bleiben!! Eine Reparatur wäre sowieso wegen der zu erwartenden hohen Kosten ausgefallen. Vielen, vielen Dank für diesen tollen Tip und schöne Weihnachten allen!

DocTom, December 2010

YES THIS WORKS WELL FOR ANY OTHER CODES AS WELL OR "STICKING GRINDING" SOUNDS AMAZING!

DER FOX, November 2009

Two gentle slaps and it's working...thaks bro

ravi, November 2009

Slapping it as recommended here: works like a charm! Quite extraordinary - thank you so much.

Vogel von Neustadt, April 2009

BINGO We've got a winner. Two gentle slaps and it's working as the Mfg. intended.
Thanks

joemcgreal, November 2008

Slapping it definitely works!

TRSands, October 2008

Go to the link at the end of this message; it has eight pages of people thanking them for the most simple solution ever - gently slapping the bottom of the camera.

My Sony MiniDV packed up with C:31:40 one day into our summer holiday last year. I tried everything and NOTHING worked. I've been a year with sporadic on/off use with a camera that could not be relied upon at all and worked maybe one time out of ten. However, I checked the code on the web before finding a service agent and read their advice.

I slapped it gently on the bottom of the camera five times (without the tape inserted) and it now works perfectly first time! No costly repair!

Do it with the camera empty and no tape inserted.

Good Luck.

http://www.camerahacker.com/Forums/DisplayComments.php?file=Video%20Camera/Sony/Error_Code_C.31.40

Melanie, April 2008

Just smack it with a flat hand at the bottom of the camcorder. It may sound strange, but it worked for me. And as I found out at other discussion platforms, it worked for many other people as well. I have to be honest, I had to try it many times, spread out over several days. But just tonight, it worked. Good luck!

Ronald, September 2007