DVD problem I have a problem when I select DVD and insert a disk, or try dubbing to/from a disk. The machine seems to reset and goes into 'Self Test' mode for several minutes, then settles down. I can then watch a disk but if I am dubbing this occurs over and over. The material is my own i.e. not copyright. Has anyone got any suggestions for a quick fix or will I have to send it away for repair?

I have discovered my E85 to have an inadequate power supply. I took the lid off, and used an ancient computer power supply to power the HDD. Since then I have not had a problem with it cutting out dead and self checking on startup whenever I tried to hi-speed access (including dubbing, finalizing, viewing Navigator etc on the DVD.) It does not have enough power to supply every component during peak actions, and just cuts itself out. But not now!

I've had the same problem. Are you using x8 DVD-R? I had no problems with the old x4 discs, but had the (long) Self Check process and a failed dubbing occur between 1/100 and 2/100 in the dubbing process with the x8 discs. I've found two workarounds: 1) The problem doesn't seem to occur if the recordings are made with hi-speed dubbing enabled. I do this now as a default, but the loss of the ws tag is a pain . If I still get a dubbing failure with hi-speed dubbing, a quick power down/power on of the unit seems to rectify the situation. 2) If you record a "leader" in hi-speed dub mode of a minute or two, and dub it onto a x8 DVD-R first, you can then copy non-hi-speed dub recordings onto the disc. Not quite sure why this works, but it does - it's like the first minute or two being dubbed over needs to be hi-speed enabled to be written from the memory of the E-85 to the disc, but once that's done it dubs as it should. btw, another process that crashes the unit is if you try an change the thumbnails on a x8 DVD-R. Not the end of the world but again annoying on expensive equipment less than two years' old. DVD-RAMs are not affected by the problem in my experience. Apparently there's some firmware in the US that addresses the problem with x8 discs - http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vDownloads?storeId=15001&langId=-1&page=DVDFirmware , but Panasonic UK don't distribute it. I think the E-85 is a good box but it has proven too buggy and I'm thinking of upgrading it, possibly when the new 85 is released by Panasonic in a few weeks. Good luck