Menu Button not working, can't record

There must be some keys active after you press Menu. Like you said, it must be waiting for you. After you hit Menu have you tried all the numbers and arrows?

If you can't get any of them to respond (except hitting Menu again to exit the menu) perhaps you need to try a different manufacturer code for your device. For example, if you have Brand ABC Model XYZ, perhaps the valid remote codes are 012, 013, and 014. Even if you have found that 012 works for most things but you can't record, you should try programming the remote to codes 013 and 014 and see what happens. There could be slight differences between the codes that allow most features to work, but not ALL features, just as you are experienceing. Good luck.