TRV285E Quite frequently, my camcorder refuses to record or play back, but just exhibits a "reinsert the cassette" notice on the screen. Three months ago, I did some videoing in driving rain leaning out of the window on a steam train excursion. Could it be that condensation is contributing to the problem and if so, should I attempt to thoroughly dry out the recorder. If so again, how should I do this?. If this isn't the cause, have you any idea what it might be?

I wasn't quite used to this site, so I accepted the kind hint about cassettes, when in fact it happened whatever cassette was in. I left it on a radiator (upside down and open, to let the condensation exit) for an hour or two yesterday, and it now seems to be working perfectly. The problem remains that I could be on holiday and in the middle of a 'shoot' when the fault might re-emerge. If it really is condensation, then I have cured the problem, but if is something else, the problem remains!. I wasn't quite used to this site, so I accepted the kind hint about cassettes, when in fact it happened whatever cassette was in. I left it on a radiator (upside down and open, to let the condensation exit) for an hour or two yesterday, and it now seems to be working perfectly. The problem remains that I could be on holiday and in the middle of a 'shoot' when the fault might re-emerge. If it really is condensation, then I have cured the problem, but if is something else, the problem remains!.