That's funny. My otherwise pretty reliable DVDR70 has just started to do the exact same thing.
Last week, for the first time, started to get a problem wherein a +R disc would record fine, and then expire in the postformatting stage, juts as you describe. Using same disc brand (Ritek Datasafe 4X) as I always have. Still records +RWs fine.
One thing I have noticed is that the problem seems limited to using the "One Touch Record" mode. When I record on +Rs with the timer, no problem at all.
Will do some more experimenting tonight.
Pity, as the machine has worked well. Had it for 18 months, no complaints. Have backed up ~500 video tapes and it gets very heavy use as a player too. It has suffered the notorious "red light of death" during recording maybe a dozen times, which is a pretty low error rate. Can't understand why this problem has only just surfaced....
Hmmm! In actual fact my machine has become stable so long as I avoid using the brand "PC line". 50% of discs display disc error during post formatting stage. One thing I have noted is that I began to get these problems after trying to copy a DVD created on a friend's DVD recorded (I think make was ASURE) He made this DVD from a digital video camera. I then tried to copy it using a AKURA DVD player connected to my DVDR 70 via scart cables.
Perhaps, because DVD formats do not neccessarily meet exact standards, I may have been introducing formatting signals from the "home made" DVD I was copying from. These signals may have corrupted the firmware in my recorded which may make some disc malfunction.
I have reset the factory setting since making these copies. I also use my favorite brand "Mr DVD". I have had no problems in the last 3 weeks. The machine may be designed only to record video signals which have not had other formatting type information added!
As a desperate measure,I did download the Philips "updates" from the internet onto a disc, but I have not a scooby how to load the updates onto the machine. The procedure as advertised did not work for me. I have abandoned trying, on the principle that if it's not bust, don't fix it...... Good luck.
After nearly two years I suddendly have the same problem:
Record > stop > Init menu > postformatting > DISC ERROR.
Re-insert disk and display says "empty disc".
This happens with all empty +RW discs I tried.
I reset the factory settings and that didn't help. Should it helpfull to install the last firmware. My last upgrade was 1 year while my DVDR70 was in for repair.
Andogol
Last weekend I tried one of my "dodgy" PC Line DVD +RW to record a movie. After several minutes, the Machine displayed "Disc Error" but it appeared to be still recording. I allowed it to continue and it sucessfully recorded the whole movie. However, this disc had already been formatted. If I try to record something on one of the 50% "dodgy", "PC Line" Brand, Discs, I get what you describe - "formatting error" and then "Disc Empty"
I continue to have success with my Mr DVD brand of +RW discs. AS I mentioned, I am no familiar with the uploading technique for updates, downloaded from the web. The DVDR 70 did not respond to a disc placed in its drive with the updated file on it. So I am not sure how to access the firmware. If you you are aware of the uploading technique I would be interested to know.
I performed a factory reset three times (holding the standby switch on power up) before my machine went stable. I would have thought that this may "reset" the update done at repair....not sure.
Good luck and if you do a successfull update, please let me know how you did it.
Donald Budge
