Dvd player says preparing

On my Toshiba DVD burners, you need to first open the DVD tray, and while it is open hit the regular menu, then DVD menu, select "FORMAT" from the DVD drop down menu, then "FORMAT MODE", which leads you to the 2 CRITICAL Choices :
1) Video Mode - Which has the DVD recording in "DVD Compatibility Mode" so it is "Compatible" with most other DVD Players
OR...
2) VR Mode- Which says "Editing Possibility mode" (Note you need a "+R DVD "to be able to do editing, at least on my machines.
Obviously you'll close the DVD tray to be ready to record
Finish the DVD, @ "DVD" Menu, & Finalize, or what you need with "VR"

Hi,
Try to burn at the lowest speed possible or at one step lower speed that the one you are currently burning at.

The laser lens circuit itself is faulty if cleaning doesn't work. The capacitors and other components can wear out and overheat and burn out through time. You can get another from many suppliers including ebay. and
http://www.toocle.com
www.tradekey.com

or try to adjust the lens. See how:
www.ehow.com › ... › DVD Players & Recorders › DVD Players

Two possible scenarios: First the optical pick up assembly that read the disc has malfunctioned or the eject button is faulty. Either way it is just cheaper to replace the DVD player with a standalone dvd player connected to one the tv input(s). Too expensive to repair just the dvd player if it is tv/dvd combo. The cost for labor and parts is more expensive these days to repair tvs or dvd player. For around $30 you can just replace...much more cost effective.

Its due to faulty Laser Lens/head. Try cleaning it by cleaning CD. If still the problem persists, contact near by service center.

I had the same problem, I had to open up the covers (including the one covering the lens) and clean the lens with a soft cloth. Please be very careful while cleaning the lens since it is very delicate and any damage would permanently disable read/writes.

I don't know if this will help, but according to the operator's manual I have, on page 64, the only place it mentions "Full" or "Quick" Preparation, is when using a DVD-RW disc. Apparently, with this type of disc, you must use the Full or Quick preparation INSTEAD of Finalizing after you're thru recording onto the disc.
With the DVD-R and DVD+R, all you can do is "Finalize"; With the DVD+RW, if I'm reading this correctly, NIETHER Finalization OR Preparation is required.
But with the DVD-RW, apparently ALL you can do is a "FULL" or "QUICK Preparation.
If you're only getting "Erase or "Finalize" WITH the DVD-RW, then it appears there may be a problem with the machine.
Or, if you're attempting the "FULL or QUICK" Preparation with any disc OTHER than the DVD-RW, all you should get is "erase" or Finalize", since the QUICK or FULL Preparation is not done with discs other than DVD-RWs.

Hope this helps. I'm certainly not an expert on these things....I'm a "Vinyl" type guy.
Roy Davis

ok
Look at the door of your DVD shutter. There might be very small hole. This is an emergency Shutter open point. Make off your player, insert a long pin inside the hole, press it gently, you will notice that the shutter is openning, pull it out side, and take off your data DVD from the tray.

Thanks
Iqbal

It's obvious that the DVD is stuck in the player. There's only one way to get it out! You have to open the DVD player. If you have never done this before, I don't recommend that you do it.

you should try inspecting & servicing the tray transport mech first and then the tray sense swt.