Old Tapes work new ones don't

If the tape have the overwrite protection tabs broken out or removed, there is nothing you can do.

goggle micro cassette tapes overwrite protection tabs and select images for clarity. As cheap as new ones are why would you want to use old ones

Ideally, you'll get a high-powered bulk tape eraser that is designed for video tapes and will work perfectly for audio tapes, as well. An audio tape eraser will work to a point, but usually won't blank them out completely since it doesn't put out a strong enough electromagnetic field to erase videotapes completely. I personally own an old Radio Shack high powered eraser and it works to erase both video and audio, as well as a demagnetizer for old color tv screens (when used at a distance...a bit too strong up close), and demagnetizing screwdrivers (the ones I don't want magnetized, that is). Hope that helps.

8 mm and the newer super 8 mm video tapes are different. You can't use super 8 mm in old player. And old tapes won't play well in new super 8 mm players. Like Sony!

I have the same problem. I just bought a sony handyman and tried to play my old tapes and nothing, not even sound. But I just recorded something using an old tape and it records and I can play that back. I'm thinking maybe over time, somehow all the data on there got erased. Which is really a bummer.

Hello,

This unit does not have erase. You can use a microcassette tape eraser which you slide the tape thru.

Hello unfortunately this unit don't have a erase function the only thing you can get a Microcassette eraser this eraser will help even if you decide to buy any micro or mini cassette transcriber when you used the erase function on the unit the life on the head, rewind, gears and motors get reduced by using this method if you used and eraser it erase the tape Magnets are on top and bottom eliminating the need to flip the tape allowing complete erasure on one second heare is a eraser you can buy and it is cheaper than buying other unit. http://www.tvps.com/Products/ECS-ME20-Mini--Micro-Cassette-Eraser---New__VE-ME-20.aspx

I have successfully dubbed tapes at least as old as this, probably older by a margin. If the tape plays, no problem. Just make sure that the machine heads are clean before you transfer each one.

Throw a new tape in, record then playback right away, then you'll know for sure if it's the camcorder or tapes for erased.

I have the same problems. Makes me mad. I have a years worth of tapes that I can no longer view. My dog at peed on my old camera which was a digital one.

Fidus, I am not sure where you are located but the camcorder you're trying to use now is a PAL version of Sony's 8mm camcorder. If the tapes you recorded earlier were recorded in D8 (digital 8) or 8mm/Hi8 format NTSC, they will not play correctly in this unit. The NTSC and PAL formats are different and not compatible. Hope this helps you. Joe Weibel customelectronics.org