Not recording when my camera is recording properly,a red REC shows up in the top corner and it records two hours straight but now when i record a red dot(circle) appears in the corner and it will not record all the way most of the time. if anyone has any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance.

Look on the shell of the cassette, you will see a sliding panel about 3mm square. With the clear window at the top and the Rec/Save slider facing you, Move the slider to the right to the Rec (record) position. The left position is Save (cannot record) and should expose a hole. This mode is probably where the cassette is currently set.

you are prohibited from recording on thips tape. This is because the red tab on the side of the tape that faces you when you are inserting the tape inside the camera has been put in 'SAVE' position . to be able to record o the tape you need to use your fingernail to slide the red tab to the 'REC' position.

to help you understand this issue:
Tape and recording protection
The write-protect switch (right) prevents accidental erasure. .
To prevent the recording on the tape from being erased, there is a small write-protect tab that can be moved to one of two positions, labeled "REC" and "SAVE". Comparing the sliding tab to a door, the tape is in the "REC" position is when the "door" is open and the "SAVE" position when it is closed. (Not all tape cases have markings for this information!) The tape can only be recorded on (or recorded over) when this tab is in the "REC" position. This is an improved version of the VHS write-protect tab, which prevents erasure after it has been (permanently) broken off.

A nice easy one. Eject your tape and look for the record lock on the cassette. It's usually a small plastic red tab which you slide to one side. The record will then work.

It's put there to stop you mistakingly record over the top of something you want to keep. Just make sure it's nor something you want to keep before recording over it :-)

you are prohibited from recording on thips tape. This is because the red tab on the side of the tape that faces you when you are inserting the tape inside the camera has been put in 'SAVE' position . to be able to record o the tape you need to use your fingernail to slide the red tab to the 'REC' position.

Ive extracted the following article for you from wilkepedia to help you understand this issue:
Tape and recording protection
The write-protect switch (right) prevents accidental erasure. .
To prevent the recording on the tape from being erased, there is a small write-protect tab that can be moved to one of two positions, labeled "REC" and "SAVE". Comparing the sliding tab to a door, the tape is in the "REC" position is when the "door" is open and the "SAVE" position when it is closed. (Not all tape cases have markings for this information!) The tape can only be recorded on (or recorded over) when this tab is in the "REC" position. This is an improved version of the VHS write-protect tab, which prevents erasure after it has been (permanently) broken off.

At bottom of video-8 tape there is red tab that should set on Rec position.
Below image shows recording Tab ..

Ok, I've had this issue for some time now ... and just figured it out, hopefully your issue will be the same.

If you pop out the tape you are trying to record to. Look at the top, there is a small tab on one of the corners that will allow or prevent recording on the tape depending on which way it is positioned. If you slide it open the tape is locked for recording, if you close it, you can record. Try that and see if the problem goes away.....

How to Record:
1. Make sure HOLD switch (on side of unit with pocket clip) is set to off position (slide to right is off - to left would be hold)
2. For best results set unit with mic(rophone) which is on top of unit toward sound source and press REC/STOP button (Top button on front of unit just below LCD display). Recording will begin and will be indicated on LCD display.
> Red Record LED will be on and the message number, recording time will be displayed on the LCD.
3. To stop recording, press REC/STOP button one time.
* If no other buttons are pressed within 1 minute at stop position, it will power off automatically.
4. Pause during recording by simply pressing MODE/PAUSE button- press button again to resume.

There is a Voice Operated System (VOS) Recording button on left side also. You can record with voice activation to conserve recording space but I have found that you lose a portion of the recorded sound as it activates and if there is no sound for a very few minutes the unit powers off and you will get nothing further recorded. I recomend just keeping VOS in off position.

5. To erase a recording: Select the message number you want to erase and while it is stopped (the message number will appear in LCD with the length of recording showing also)
Press and hold the ERASE button until the LCD begins blinking "ERASE" then, while it's blinking simply press the erase button again and the recording will be erased.

6. To play back a recorded message find your message by "toggling" the switch on the right side of the unit that says INDEX. That switch is the fast forward/reverse play etc. To Play simply push the switch in. This button/switch takes a little practice to use but the Play portion is straight forward. Use the front buttons to pause and stop during playback.

Hope this helps.

Hi,

If you are trying to record to a tape and the display shows "Protection", you must slide the protection tab at the top of the tape to the "Rec" position.

press rec button again,sometimes certain cameras have built in or auto mechanism that keeps the user from leaving camera record on.

can't record on the my Olympus VN-1000
+ I press rec button and it just shows rec in display (no recording time is shown ONLY rec)
+ there is no play back  or stop function

+ i can only stop  rec by removing batteries (stop or play will stop rec only ONCE - but there is no  useful function - such as play or stop or rec.)
+ I tried all trouble shooting tips in manual  with no effect 
+  i cleaned the spring contacts inside battery compartment that interface with the  batteries
+ it was barely used - and has not been used for a 1 year ( no batteries were inside it )     it was inside a drawer
THANK YOU