Lite-On LVW-5005

• Reviewed by: sugarx2

  Strengths: Has great features, uses most any media at first. Then it quits. I haveLVC 5005 and LVC 9016G both same problems in 2 years.

  Weaknesses: It stops reading the media, new or burned. It burns a disc halfway through, and then "INVALID DISC" +stops seeing it. It damages lots of discs. It also will not always reads its own burned discs after

  Overall: I have two LITE ON UNITS and both have the same problem in the second year of use.I have read about so many people with LITEON burners and DVD RECORDERS, and DVD/VHS recorders having the same problem with their technology. It seems this unit has memory problems, dirt getting inside and disrupting its reading ability, and INVALID DISC message to formerly functioning discs. Cleaning helps some, not others. I think a CLASS ACTION SUIT SHOULD BE DONE! There are TOO MANY ISSUES. I bought one at QVC, the other at COSTCO. I found this if you want to try to service them yourselves. I have done part of this, and it helps sometimes. I can not do it all. I have no technical experience myself......LiteOn LVC-9006 DVD/VCR Combo repair ideashttp://club.cdfreaks.com/f102/lite-lvc-9016g-problem-231591/#post2236551I found this to help, but should we have to do this.I, too, experienced the same problem(s) with my LiteOn LVC-9006 DVD/VCR Combo as I see many others on this forum have. The DVD blank media I was using would format and record just fine - then upon playback I'd get the "invalid disc" message. I changed blank media 5 times (Memorex, Sony, etc.) giving away the remainder of each spindle to a neighbor - very costly. Here's what worked for me (temporarily each time):1. DVD Cleaning Disc (the kind with brushes).2. Then, because I noticed how hot the unit always seemed to be, I'd leave it unplugged (not simply "off") for a minimum of 12 hours.3. Then I upgraded the firmware (liteonamericas.com).4. And now the latest thing I've done is to take the unit apart and clean the blue DVD lense with a q-tip and 99% alcohol (2 silver screws on each side of the silver case, then 4 black screws on the rear, then 4 silver screws on the metal sheath that holds the DVD burner in place, then 4 black screws holding the black plastic body of the DVD burner together). Since doing this, I've had no problems for the past 3 months.P.S. - the only blank media that has never failed is Memorex DVD+RW Rewritable (yellow label), but obviously too expensive to use for each and every recording.

• Reviewed by: PappyTinker

  Strengths: Haven't found any

  Weaknesses: Doesn't do what it is advertised to do, i.e., write on just about any format of blank DVD

  Overall: I own one of these units and the advertising that this unit will record on just about any DVD is a bold faced lie. When I first received this unit, I had to buy three different brands of blank DVDs before I could find one that worked. Then, when I ran out of the ones I bought, I went out and bought more of the exact same brand, capacity, speed and format. They would not work in the machine. I then contacted the manufacturers customer support and asked them what blanks I should purchase. From their suggestion of compatible blank DVDs I purchased three different brands and none worked. I talked to the customer service again to get further suggestions, bought two more different brands and they didn't work, either. By the way, I still have one of the original disks that worked and I can still record on it but I am running out of space on it. None of the other blank DVDs I have purchased will work. I have over $200 worth of blank DVD discs that will not work in that machine that claims to have "AllWrite" technology. If there were the capability to rate this item as ZERO stars, I would.

• Reviewed by: petunia7

  Strengths: It records well

  Weaknesses: Playbback is tinny.

  Overall: We have fun recording but the playback is disappointing since it is tinny and not clear despite making adjustmentsThe microphones work well and it is easy to move around in its casement.

• Reviewed by: jwinchel

  Strengths: Great recording capabilities

  Weaknesses: Not a great player.

  Overall: Great recorder, not a great player. One touch recording is very easy, and this works well with a DVR. I am a novice when it comes to electronics, but have had no problems using this product to record. However, I probably would recommend purchasing this as a complement to a regular DVD player rather than a substitute as it lacks some simple features that are nice to have on a player, e.g., the ability to forward faster than 16x. Also, it will not play some of our DVDs that play easily on a DVD player we purchased in 2001.

• Reviewed by: dlfkitty

  Strengths: unkown

  Weaknesses: never worked at all

  Overall: I purchased this unit brand new and it will not read/play anything I put in it except audio discs.I have sent several letters to Lite On IT support and all they can tell me is to upgrade the firmware which I did-to no avail. The store won't allow me to return it so I am stuck with a hunk of junk. I knew it was too good to be true. I hope the rest of you have better luck. I for one will never buy from this company again. I actually researched this unit first so I am most extremely unimpressed. As to days used-I have been trying for over a month now.