I have a Sharp VCR/DVD combination model DV-NC55U and I'm now getting frequent "Wrong Disk Type" error messages when I try to load DVDs. Any suggestions how to troubleshoot this problem?

Hi,

The DVD recorder may be defective. However, before I would take it in for repair, I would clean the laser lens. A dirty lens will cause this problem and it does not take much dust, dirt, or smoke in the air to gum up the works.

I would use a wet-dry optical disk cleaner, such as the Milty LC2 CD/DVD cleaner ( http://www.milty.co.uk/.../DVD_Lens_Cleaner.htm ). I use one regularly in my optical disk players and have found it to be the best such product on the market. They are available from many internet audio dealers, if you can;t find one at a local retailer.

Note that you cannot use this product in auto CD players that have a narrow slot into which the disk is inserted. The slot is too narrow for the cleaning brushes to pass without being damaged and they will pick up dirt from the fabric around the slot and carry it into the player.

Simply follow the instructions included with the cleaner. If the lens is very dirty, you may have to clean it more than once.

Always handle the disks from the edges and NEVER touch the bottom (unlabeled side) of the disk. Your player uses a laser to read the disk. Fingerprints, smears and dirt will prevent your player from playing the disk. This will also dirty your player.
When not in use, disks should always be placed in the case in which they came. Never stack loose disks on top of each other. This will cause scratches that will also effect the way the disks play. Avoid leaving them in direct sunlight or storing them in a hot place.
If your disk becomes dirty, we recommend that you clean them with a DVD/CD cleaner. This can be found in any electronic store.
Although we will replace any disk that is defective, we will not be responsible for disks that have been subjected to misuse. Please check your disks as soon as they arrive and ensure they have arrived without scratches or mars as we cannot replace disks after 30 days that are returned with scratches or mars.
A good rule of thumb is to check other disks you have played in your player to ensure your player is not scratching disks, before playing your new Azurite Press disks. When players become dirty, they can leave scratches on disks and it may not be noticed.
Please Note:
DVD's will only play in DVD players. CD's will play in CD players and some DVD players. DVD and CD players get dirty too. Cleaners to clean them can be found in electronic stores.
Portable DVD players have come down in price a lot over the past year and are very popular now. However we have been coming across people who are having difficulty playing their AP workshop DVDs on these. Generally these portable players are no where near as reliable for playing the DVD-R type discs as proper set top boxes (that play through a TV). When they miniaturize the players the performance suffers. Portable players could be causing a lot of frustration / disappointment for a number of people.

Thanks