I have a Sony RDR-HXD860 DVD recorder and it has recently started to freeze and then switch itself off. I've tried unplugging it for a time with no success. Any suggestions?

A: Hi Gordon.

Just solved the same problem with my machine. I went to System Menu. Selected 'DTV Settings' then 'Technical Info' then 'Digital Software Upgrade' and switch this option to 'OFF'.

You should now find that after 'powering off' and then 'powering on' then the machine will go through an auto switch off and on again. It should then be fixed.

Hope it works for you! Let me know if it does.

I have a Sony Video Camera Recorder Model No. CCD-TRV68. Is there any way that I can upload my videos to the computer? It uses a Tape to record the videos.

Any Suggestions?!

A: nj_nyc made the mistake of not looking up the sony camcorder before answering, a TRV68 is a hi-8 cam and does not use firewire, that's for digital and hi8 is analog.
And Candice was correct, sort of, they do make analog to digital converters that use USB, but they record poor quality video.What you really need is a analog to digital conversion card that installs in your computer, such as a Hauppauge or All-In-Wonder card. This is really the only way to capture hi-quality video....

Retailer has refused me a refund on a brand new Sony DVD Recorder, only offering a repair.
I would be without it for week's.
Besides, I would not want to have a new machine under repair.
Offered to take a replacement, but that was refused, too.
It is known that there are problems with Sony machines but I did not realise that faults are so bad.
There is a total of 3 faults with this machine.
Can you recommend what action to take?

A: if you FIRST returned it within 28 days they HAVE to offer you a refund if not they have the right to offer only a repair or credit towards upgraded product.

John Lewis have this extended to 90 days or 6 months depending on products.

if you bought it with a credit card or loan get the them involved too as then the credit card is jointly liable!

it unusual for Sony products to develop that many faults as they are generally very reliable

Voice file player, the unavoidable integral part of medical transcription!  How many choices do you have in that?  Well, this week, I tried to do some research on the available freewares on the internet.  In the early days of my transcription career when I started with CBay Systems, I was working with Medipro, a voice file player designed exclusively for CBay Systems (not available for public download).  Out of CBay, I have also worked with the voice file players Trans-Aid and Trans-Assist for which I couldn’t find a reliable download source or any information on the internet.  Currently, I’m using the paid version of Start Stop Universal Transcription System, available for $99, which is configurable with game port (15 pins), serial port (9 pins), USB, COM port, single pedal, dual pedal or three pedal assembly foot pedals.  It can play audio file formats like .wav, .dss, .vox, .aud, gsm, mp3 etc., and it is fully configurable to automatically load the audio files on the player.  While I’m perfectly satisfied with its performance and using it for the past six years for my home transcription purposes, I thought to do some research on the internet if there are any free audio file players available for transcription which can be used as an alternative for this paid version, and I could find a few of them.  Here are they for your perusal:
Express Scribe

Express Scribe is the most popular free audio player software available on the internet for PC, Mac or Linux designed to assist the transcription of audio recordings.  I think Express Scribe has almost all the functions available with that of Start Stop Universal Transcription System and can be used without any restrictions.

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