I have used a Philips DVDR3576H for less than a year to regularly record programs off the air. ...
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I have used a Philips DVDR3576H for less than a year to regularly record programs off the air. About one out of ten recordings cannot be played back without sticking at some point and these programs also cannot be dubbed to a DVD. Some recordings play OK the first time but then develop a sticking point. I have found that I can remove the sticking point by using the editing feature to divide the title ten seconds before and after the sticking point but that is an awkward workaround and loses twenty seconds of the recording. This problem has occurred more frequently over time so it seems that maybe the hard drive has become fragmented and needs to be cleaned but I am not aware of a process for doing that unless erasing all program recordings will allow the hard drive to start on a clean slate so to speak. I plan to do that after I have watched or transferred to DVD all of the current recordings. Philips' only suggestion was that a proprietary signal in the program may be causing the problem but I don't buy it since I have downloaded digital video from my camcorder and have experienced the same problem. I have seen many complaints about similar problems with other hard drive recorders as well so I assume it must be an inherent problem with the current level of technology. This technology is great when it works but extremely frustrating when there is a glitch like this. Hopefully, some day, the manufacturers will acknowledge this problem and implement appropriate corrective action. Until then, I will continue to deal with this shortfall and be thankful for the ~90% successful recordings.
Once in a while, something I have recorded on the hard drive will freeze when I try to play it back....
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Once in a while, something I have recorded on the hard drive will freeze when I try to play it back. It appears that the file (show) has become corrupt. Once it hits a certain spot it freezes and you cannot go back or skip ahead. If the problem happens at the end of a show, you can edit (split) it before it hits the problem area and delete the affected portion. However, if it's in the beginning, then you cannot edit the file at all. Although I have found a way to jump past a problem area, I am unable to burn a show onto a DVD that has this problem. It's like a sector of the hard-drive has gone bad and it cannot read that portion while it's burning to DVD. Does anyone know why this problem occurs sometimes - any fixes?