Hi, I have a Panasonic minidisc recorder/player SJ MR-220 model, I have had it for 20 years but haven't uesed it in about ten years and today I charged it up and inserted a disc and every time it it took awhile to 'TOC Reading' and then came up with 'disc error'. I can hear the disc moving inside when it does 'TOC Reading' bit but once it stops it gives me the 'disc error' message. What is causing this issue and is it something I can fix? Thank you.
Charged the old NiMh gumstick? If you have the external AA case, try that, with a fresh alkaline or new Eneloop AA. If the SJ MR-220 was working fine when last used I would be thinking of hardened grease or a frozen gear from grease / polymer gear breakdown. By your description the main disc rotating motor is OK. Is sounds like the other small motor that turns the worm gear for sled movement. This where it may be necessary to take apart the player, just enough to observe some gears, and try turning them manually with a toothpick. See if they turn freely and can make the optical sled move. Check carefully for availability of a service manual first and take time to study the basic disassembly instructions and diagrams. Send for a proper fine philips screwdriver if necessary. In other words, patience, persistence and practice are the signposts along the road to success etc.,
Hi, I don't have the ext5ernal AA case. I never came with it. I have purchased a replacement battery (rechargable) already. So possibly your advice about frozen gear, might be worth pursuing though have never taken something like this apart, the manual doesn't have instructions on how to service it or take it apart. Thank you.
Google "Panasonic SJ-MR220 Service Manual" and it will come up on the first hit. This is a special separate manual. It will show how to open the player. The fix may be as simple as exercising a stiff and frozen gear. Though maybe not. Repair of these devices is a time consuming task. Having experience in model building or other fine "jewelers" type work really helps. Just go slowly and document with pics every step of the way. Don't lose screws. But most of the time it is best to throw these devices away and buy a new modern DAP player
If he hasn't used it for ten years the chances are he already has one . In fact he might have had several. To my annoyance I found about a year ago that my iPod touch 6th generation no longer works on streaming sites like the BBCs because its software is deemed to be too old and the device too old to merit an update. In case you weren't being sarcastic I also disagree with the comment about throwing things away. Next thing someone will be asking where they can get a battery door for a Panasonic MiniDisc player (something I actually need for my recently purchased Sony). I do agree that these newer devices take significantly more skill and luck to repair than something like a boombox. At least they aren't glued together and have service manuals available.
I confess to being quite a bit sarcastic there... because I know very few users are going to have what it takes to sit down and spend hours of patient detective work on such a device. It's almost hopeless really. Sigh. The landfills seethe with millions of such discarded items.
