Our VCR has started intermittently not fully recording over previous recordings - symptoms are that every few seconds (but at irregular intervals) the picture will degrade to static and the sound from "beneath" can be heard, lasting for roughly 3-10 seconds. When the picture's okay, it's as good as VHS gets, so I'm thinking it's not the play head/s; bought or hired tapes play okay, which makes me think it must be the record head/s. What about iffy tapes? We usually buy Emtec or Sony.
We use our VCR almost every day and are not in a position to be able to afford DVD or HDD recording (yet), so to be able to fix this and avoid buying a new machine - while they still exist - would be a massive relief! Any help would be much appreciated. Cheers.

Martin B (Tonbridge, Kent), February 2005

I've had the 'intermittently not fully recording' problem for ages. I've repeatedly found that rubbing the erase head with a cotton wool bud seems to fix it for a few months. I've no idea why.

anon, December 2009

Can anyone help...when setting in programs to record i cant seem to cancel them once i have hit the time record button...is there any way i can cancel once this is done?? Please help as it wont even let me switch it on or off or do anything atall once this button has been pressed.. but surely there must be some way to stop it?? Any replies appreciated as its happened a few times now.

VIOLET, January 2009

You say you've used the video almost everyday...perhaps some of your tapes or getting too worn...particularly as well all tend to start at the beginning of the tape. Have you tried a new or nearly new tape. If the VCR plays rented tapes it should be OK. Alternatively ask a friend to record something on the tape you say doesn't record on your machine. This could prove your machine really is faulty.

Geoff Padmore, March 2005