When I put in a new a recordable dvd disc in my RDR GX 300 it will format & then it says this picture can not be recorded, even though I have previously recorded the program on my DVR from Directv. I don't understand whats happening because I had successfully recorded many programs like this in the past? I am now just trying to put a previous recorded program on a dvd disc for permanent storage.

Hi,

There are three things you can do that will eventually give you a working solution. Depending on the level of problem. Start with 1 progress to 3 until it works.
1. Use a cleaning disc. (one that use an alcohol based liquid)

2. If the cleaning disc does not solve it, you can use an ear bud, with some iso-propyl alcohol to clean the DVD lens on the drive directly. (you have to open the player and the drive)

3. The guaranteed working solution is to replace the DVD drive inside the player. This is quite a simple process, as most players use a standard IDE DVD-ROM or DVD writer.

You simply remove the face plate, (apply power to the drive, and press eject first) the tray will open. Unclip the tray face, and then with the tray open you can unclip the plastic face plate too.

Remove the old drive, and fit the new drive by reversing the removal procedure.

Once everything is assembled you should be able to watch DVD's again. If you can't find a cheap DVD drive locally, try ebay.

I have done this on over 50 players for my clients in the past. I use LG IDE DVD roms and IDE DVD writers for the DVD recorders, irrespective of brand.

Let me know how it goes.

I struggeld for a while with this problem and found out that the DW-U10A DVD drive inside the RDR-GX3 is not available anywhere, but can be replaced by the Sony DRU-500 DVD rewriter. Is does not fit at the front, but with a bit of work you should get it in. However, after this process I found out that the replacement drive showed identical problems (so much for compatibility). It turned out that the problem where the actual DVDs. Although I purchased the same brand and type, they just weren't the same. I went back to an old pile of DVD of at least 4 years old and they all worked liek a charm. I'm now going to purchase a series of different brands to test them all.

Sony RDR-GX300 You may well be correct by saying all you have to do is replace the drive. But in my shallow experience unless you put back the same drive as you removed, and they are like hens teeth to obtain, i.e. The Sony DW-U15a drive.
You will find the other drives do every thing you would want BUT WILL NOT FORMAT A BLANK DISC SO YOU CAN RECORD WHAT YOU HAVE SAVED ON YOU HARD DRIVE AS THIS CHIP THAT DOES THIS IS ONLY FOUND ON THE ORIGINAL SONY DRIVE AND NOT ON THE REPLACMENT ONES. If you are not interested in recording to a blank disc just do as this chap says. HOPE I HAVE THIS CORRECT PLEASE ADVISE IF NOT.
REGARDS ROGER ROSS