Vcr works but dvd player reads "bad disk"

either a dirty or bad optical pickup in the player.

Try some other discs if you have not----If all show the same or similar error you have either a dirty or bad optical pickup in the player (it reads the discs).

Unplug the DVD player and disconnect all other attachments, press and hold power for 2 minutes to remove all residual voltage in hopes of a microprocessor reset. If this works the DVD should work normally.

Take a cotton swab and very gently rub it on the laser head. It is is the red eye like device that is inside the door of the DVD player. This should be done with a very small amount of WATER. This will clean the laser and probably enable the head to read again.

If all DVD's you try act the same, I would clean the read head. If that doesn't work, then drive needs to be serviced. Hopefully nobody smked cigarettes near the unit as that coats the optics. Clean the read head VERY carefully with a Q tip and 99% isoprophyl alcohol. Ensure that no fibers get stuck around the read head... it is VERY fragile.

If only one disk won't finish loading, then the disk itself is probably bad and the drive is OK.

turn off and, unplug your DVD recorder remove the six screws holding on the top tilt the back of the top up disengage the front of the top and set it aside look for a small laser tag this will point to a 1/4 inch glass lense this is the laser taking rubbing alcohol on a q-tip gently clean the lense with a twirling circular motion

you need to go to a walmart or radioshack store and buy a cd head cleaning disk. then just follow the instructioins and you will be back in business

Hey you can try takin the top off and blowin it out ,,thats worked for a few of mine ,, also you can use a air compresser ,,,,hope to help

Did you finalize the DVD?

does it have a adhesive label attached to it.... I peeled the label off my disk and the darn this worked fine... go figure