How to Clean a DVD Player Laser in 8 Steps

Whether your DVD player is malfunctioning or you get a no-disk error you may need to clean out the player. Inside your player is a laser pickup which reads your DVDs and allows you to access or view the content. To make your DVD player functioning again you simply need to properly wipe the laser pickup clean following these simple steps.

Before following these steps let us just look at what we are basically need to do. We need to basically remove the DVD head and electronics out of the player case to have easy access to the actual laser pickup enabling us to clean it properly. Once cleaned it is just a matter of putting everything together again.

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Before following the steps, make sure the laser pickup lens is the actual problem. Inserts a few DVD is into the DVD player to confirm the problem is actually the lens. If some DVDs work and others do not, the problem is clearly not the player. If none work, there can be a wide variety of reasons why a DVD player is not functioning properly anymore. But, it is highly likely that the laser pickup lens has simply become dirty.

What You Need to Clean the DVD Player

lens cleaner disc screwdriver cotton swab isopropyl alcohol flashlight (optional)
How to Clean DVD Player Laser

Step #1 - Lens Cleaner Disc - The first thing you need to do is to get or borrow a lens cleaner disc to try and clean the laser pickup. These lens cleaner discs usually do a terrific job cleaning the laser pickup. Next, try out a few more DVDs to see if the problem is resolved or not and if you have to take further steps to clean out to the pickup up manually or not. If the player still does not work follow step 2.

Step #2 - Removing the Outer Casting - Unplug the player from the power supply and remove the screws of the outer casting. You will now see the plastic head of the DVD player which can be actual electronics attached to it.

Step #3 - Opening the DVD - The next thing we need to do is get the plastic head with electronics out of the DVD player case. In some cases the tray of a plastic head has a tiny other casting attached to it. To remove it, simply plug in the power supply, power on the DVD player, open up the player, power off the DVD player and unplug the power supply. Now, simply detach the tiny outer casting from the tray.

Step #4 - Detaching the DVD Head - Next, we are going to unscrew the DVD head with electronics from the main board. Thanks to step 3 we can easily remove the head by unscrewing it from the main board and unplugging any and all cables going from the head to the main board.

Step #5 - Detaching Electronics from Head - Now you will have the DVD head in your hands, being the plastic mechanism, a clamp and the actual electronics. Remove the clamp. Look for the actual laser pickup which has a blue tint to it. If you have trouble finding the laser pickup, you go to shine a light to detect any reflections. If you can now see and easily access the actual laser pickup for cleaning already, there is no need to detach the electronics from the head. If not, you need to first simply detach the electronics from the head and then follow step 6 on how to properly clean the laser pickup.

Step #6 - Cleaning the Laser Pickup - Now that you have easy access to the laser pickup, use a cotton swab and some isopropyl alcohol and gently wipe the lens. Use the other end of the cotton swab to dry it. Now wait a few minutes and let it dry.

Step #7 - Putting Everything Together Again - Now that the laser pickup lens is clean again we can partially put everything together again and test the efficiency of the lens. Attached the electronics to the head again, attached the clamp, attached the head to the board again, attach all the previously detached cables onto the main board again, and plug in the power supply to test a few DVDs. Power on the DVD player, insert a DVD and test the disc reader's efficiency. If the DVD works you have effectively cleaned your DVD player. If not, follow the steps again and try to clean the laser pickup a bit more thoroughly.

Step #8 - Attach the Outer Casting - Put the power off again, unplug the power supply in screw all the outer casting parts back onto the DVD player.

You DVD player is now cleaned and ready to be used again!

How to Clean a DVD Player Laser in 8 Steps

Movies in 3D on DVD Coming to a Blu-Ray 3D DVD Player in Your Home

With the advent of the latest 3D technology leading to a customer demand for movies in 3D on DVD the Blu-ray industry, led from the front by the Blu-ray Disc Association, have been working flat out to finalize a standard for delivering stereoscopic (3D) video in high definition on a Blu-ray disc to be played on a Blu-ray 3D DVD player. This is now in place and in the hands of Blu-ray player manufacturers and DVD disc producers so everything is set for the next stage of the 3D revolution to start.

January 2010 will see DVD releases that are able to deliver a full 1080p high definition, at home, 3D experience. The technology is able to run two 1080p frames to the screen which are then transformed into a 3D image with the use of the latest LCD shutter glasses, passive filter glasses or active filter switching glasses. Another positive with the standard is the ability of a 3D disc to be played on a non-compatible player which will result in a normal 2D play back.

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To take full advantage of the imminent influx of 3D enabled TV, consumers will need to invest in the compatible hardware such as 3D enabled TV systems, the new generation of Blu-ray players and a few pairs of the latest LCD shutter 3D glasses. All the components are in place with major consumer electronics manufacturers like Panasonic, LG, Philips and Sony ready to launch their latest TV ranges utilizing the HDMI 1.4 standard. Samsung have already pushed their 240HZ LCD 3D TV systems into mass production in what seems like an attempt to get a jump on the competition.

The Samsung Blu-ray 3D DVD player BD-C6900 became the first of the new breed of Blu-ray DVD player to make it onto the shelves and can in fact be purchased right now on Amazon, or perhaps the few that surfaced have already gone, in what I see as a price testing exercise on Samsung's part. By the way the launch price was 9. Amazon have also been selling movies in 3D on DVD format for a couple of weeks or so now along with the latest 3D glasses which all points to the start of the new 3D TV revolution.

Movies in 3D on DVD Coming to a Blu-Ray 3D DVD Player in Your Home

Do You Really Need A Portable DVD Player?

Have you ever been on a long boring bus or train raid just looking out through the window with out anything to do? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to watch your favourite's movies on your way to your destination instead? A portable DVD player allows you do just that. A portable DVD player is a small DVD player with a small screen attached to it allowing you to watch movies where ever you. Now you might be thinking so what, Portable DVD players are nothing new. That's true but it's only in recent time that they have become inexpensive. Today almost everyone can afford a portable DVD player.

A portable DVD player plays regular DVD discs or "Digital Video Discs". A DVD disc is 4.72 inches (120 mm) in diameter and can store 4.7 GB of data. They work in the same way as CD discs but utilize a shorter wavelength laser and can therefore store a lot more information on a disc than your standard CD.

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Most Portable DVD players can read regular CDs as well but is still not suitable to replace your portable CD player. This is due to the fact that even if DVD players can read CDs they are specialised to handle video media and will as such not handle music as well as a unit specialised for musics. This does not need to be a problem and you might very well feel that the sound quality in a portable DVD player is good enough to use it as a CD player. You will however feel differently if you are a "Sound snob". CD players can't play DVD discs since reading a DVD requires more advanced and sophisticated technique than the technique in a CD player.

One my wonder why portable DVD players hasn't been available at low prices for a long time when the technique used is similar to the technique used in CD players and portable CD players have been around forever. The answer is simple. A portable DVD player requires a large amount of miniaturization of technology to make it possible to fit so much into a small container. A portable DVD player does after all not only contain a DVD player but also a flat screen, all of which should fit into something that you can easily hold in one hand.

I mentioned earlier that portable DVD players today have become cheap enough to allow the average Joe to get one but does one actually need one. The simple answer is no. You could just bring a book or a deck of cards along with you on your trips which both would give you something to do on your trip and are considerable cheaper than a portable DVD player. A portable DVD player could however give you a lot of fun and a cheaper model could very well be worth considering since they can bring you some fun even though you don't actually need one. And sometimes one just feels like spoiling oneself with something one don't actually need. I know I do.

Do You Really Need A Portable DVD Player?

Help! My Newly Made DVD Won't Play in My DVD Player!

As more and more users are making their own DVD's, they are discovering something new. Their home made DVD's, called "one-offs", will not play on their DVD player, even though store bought pre-recorded disks play properly. It is not unusual that a home made DVD may play on some DVD players and not others. Typically, newer DVD players can read these disks more reliably, but not always. The brand isn't such a determining factor either, as two models from the same manufacturer can have different playback capabilities. Sometimes a 40 dollar player works fine, and a 200 dollar player will not read the DVD at all. It can be hit or miss trying to match the player to the most compatible brand of blank disk.

The entire DVD recording and playing process is based on light, just like a camera lens. Get your camera lens a little dirty or covered with dust, and it does not stop working. It still takes pictures, but they may have a slight haze if the lens isn't clean. In a DVD recorder, the cleaner the lens, the better the burn and the more tolerant the playback.

DVD

Use a soft cotton swab and a touch of household rubbing alcohol. You want it moist, not soaking wet. Be careful not to press too hard when cleaning. The lenses are cheap plastic and can scratch, creating more of a problem than the dust on the lens. Those scratches can not be cleaned.

Cleaning the laser lens might help somewhat, but it does not change the sensitivity of the laser sensor or the electronics. Newer players are built to be more tolerant of the process because manufacturers know people are burning DVD's on a regular basis. No DVD player manufacturer wants their machine to get a reputation for not playing home made DVD's, so they do all they can to make them work with greater playback tolerance.

If the disk itself becomes scratched, this can reduce the playback efficiency. If the scratch is deep, it can render a portion of a disk unplayable. The disk will usually play part way, then stop and lock up when the laser gets to the part with the scratch. That's an indication of a disk problem more than a player problem. In rare cases, I've seen blank disks with an air bubble or separation between the layers. Don't even bother recording on a disk like this if you see such a problem.

Not all blank DVD disks are created equal. They can vary in quality and color from batch to batch from the same manufacturer. The biggest difference is the color of the recording side of the DVD. It's purple. The color purple was chosen since it's the most efficient compromise between absorption of red laser light for the burning process and laser reflectivity for the playback process. Purple disks reflect between 60 and 75 percent of the laser light, depending on the darkness of the purple. Conventional store bought movies on DVD's are silver, and reflect about 95 percent of the light from the laser in your player. Silver disks are pressed in a factory from a glass master, not burned like in your recorder. You can't burn a silver disk because the silver reflects too much light to absorb the burning energy of the laser. Your recorder has a laser that actually melts tiny pits in the plastic layer of the disk underneath the outer clear layer. The darker the purple, the better the burn. The lighter the purple, the better the playback. Every DVD manufacturer strives to find the best balance between the two. Usually, the lighter color is more compatible in more players.

If lens cleaning and changing disk manufacturers does not help, try to find a player that can read your disk, then copy it onto a new blank from a manufacturer that you know plays well in your machine. Unlike copying tapes, there is no generation loss of quality copying a DVD unless you re-compress the video files, but that's another story. Your best bet is to find a friend or a video duplication company that can make a bit by bit copy on a stand-alone duplicator, not a computer. If that disk still won't play, you need a new DVD player. Bring your DVD to a store and try it on several players until you find one that works reliably, then buy that player.

Rick Bennette

Help! My Newly Made DVD Won't Play in My DVD Player!

How to Transfer DVD Movies to a Zune Media Player - Convert DVD to Zune

If you own a Microsoft Zune Media Player then you probably want to know how you can watch all your favorite DVD Movies On Your Zune. The idea of being able to watch a movie while you're sitting on the train, riding on the bus, or maybe waiting for doctors appointment just seems too good to resist. However transferring DVD's and other video files onto the Zune is no easy task and you are going to need some help as Microsoft doesn't provide any utilities to transfer movies onto the Zune. So in this article I am going to quickly show you how you can Convert DVD to Zune using a common 3 step process, or if you aren't that tech savvy, then I will also show you an easy one step process where you can put DVD's onto your Zune at the click of a button.

I've had A Zune player for a fair while now and whenever I'm out watching a Movie on my Zune, someone always seems to come up to me and ask "How do you Put Movies on the Zune". Well here it is for everyone out there who wishes to convert "DVD to Zune". Because Microsoft doesn't provide any programs or utilities to rip DVD's onto your Zune you have to do it yourself. So in order to transfer DVDs to Zune you will have to convert the DVD into the Zune Video format, which is either the mpeg-4 or WMV Video Format. There are many programs available these days that can get the job done quickly and efficiently, all at the click of a button and they are very easy to use. On the other hand if you have a fair bit of computer knowledge you can attempt the infamous 3-step conversion process yourself, however I must warn you it can become quite tedious and time consuming to upload multiple videos using the method.

DVD

To convert DVDs to Zune by yourself you would first have to decrypt your DVD onto your hard drive. You will have to obtain a program that allows you to perform this activity; some are free while others cost a fair bit. Once you have decrypted the DVD onto your hard drive you will then have to convert it into the AVI video format. To do this you will have to obtain another program that can convert files into AVI format. When you have the DVD converted into AVI format your job is almost done, all you gotta do next is convert the AVI file into MP4 Format (again you need a program to do this) and then you can upload it onto your Zune Player.

That is the 3-step process and if you are looking for a way to transfer DVDs to your Zune by yourself then that is the way to go, however as I told you before it is quite a lengthy procedure and it can get quite annoying if you have to transfer a lot of Movies onto Your Zune. To make things easier and quicker you could obtain a good DVD to Zune Converter program and complete the whole process in one single easy step.

These programs are able to convert almost any type of movie file into to Zune Video Format, so no matter where you downloaded your video from ( YouTube, Lime Wire etc.) it will be able to put it on your Zune. The best part is that most programs offer a free download, so you are able to transfer DVDs onto your Zune easily using one program, rather than having to obtain 3 different programs if you are attempting the 3-step process.

Once you have converted the DVD to Zune Format using a DVD converter, all you have to do next is upload the video onto your Zune and you're ready to go. So if you were wondering How to Convert DVD movies to Zune then all you need to do is attempt the 3-step conversion process or obtain a good DVD to Zune Video Converter program and you should be able to transfer DVD's to Zune in a matter of minutes.

How to Transfer DVD Movies to a Zune Media Player - Convert DVD to Zune

Cheap Portable DVD Players - What to Look For When Buying a Cheap Portable DVD Player

Cheap portable DVD players are a great way to enjoy all of your movies and music on the go. They are great if you are traveling in a car, by airplane and even by train. They are great if you need to view movies at home and do not have a player at hand. They are lightweight and easy to transport. You can find many cheap portable DVD players that can meet all of your viewing needs.

When you are looking at cheap portable DVD players, it is important that it will be able to do everything you want it to and meet your budget. One of these should be able to provide you with enough battery life to enjoy your favorite movie. It should have a car adapter as well as an AC adapter to power up the player. A headphone jack can be an important feature, especially if you need to enjoy your movie around other people as to not to disturb them.

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The screen size is another consideration. The larger the screen size the better to be able to enjoy the viewing. Often, the portable players have screen sizes that range from seven to ten inches. The cheap portable DVD players may have the smaller sizes to accommodate your budget.

Other needs for a portable DVD player may include the ability to play music as well as video. It may be important for you to use burned discs as well. Some cheap players will have these features. You may also wish to have the S-video out and audio out ports to be able to connect the device to your television.

You can find many brands of cheap portable DVD players that will have many of these features. They may not have the high-resolution screens of the more expensive models, but they will certainly meet your expectations. You can find many of these brands on the internet with discounted pricing. You can find a RCA portable DVD player for .99 that is complete with an LCD screen, headphones, car, and AC adapter. This unit also comes with an anti skip feature. It has a seven-inch viewing screen and the battery will last around two hours. It will also let you play CDs, but does not support DVD-RW or CD-RW discs.

The Optros model for fewer than eighty dollars comes with an eight-inch viewing screen. It has a 2.5-hour battery life and can act as a MP3, CD, and DVD player. It weights just over one and a half pounds. It comes with a remote control, headphones, car, and AC adapter. It has stereo sound and is a wonderful inexpensive DVD player.

Phillips and Digital companies also offer cheap portable players. They offer seven-inch LCD screens with stereo speakers. They have the remote controls as well as headphones. The adapters come with the units; however, they cannot play the discs that have been burned. You can listen to CDs and view all of your favorite movies. The battery life is over two hours and both are easy to carry. Another option is to purchase a refurbished model. This will allow you to buy a high-end player for a fraction of the cost. Most are guaranteed and come with a limited warranty. It is a great way to get a larger screen size and all of the enhanced features. The high resolution screens as well as the DVD-RW and CD-RW playing options.

You can find many cheap portable DVD players on the internet. Compare the prices and options that are available for each brand and you will surely find the right unit for you. These are a great way to enjoy watching movies or listening to music on the go.

Cheap Portable DVD Players - What to Look For When Buying a Cheap Portable DVD Player

Fisher Price DVD Player

Fisher Price makes gear like adults use, but make it as kid-proof as possible. One example is the Fisher Price DVD Player. It's a real DVD player, but it's made to survive being dropped and handled by kids. This DVD player is perfect for car trips, with its easy to use controls, kick-stand base, and easy opening door. It has a 3.2 inch LCD screen, as well as stereo sound and anti-skip technology. For easy portability, it has a handle with rubber hand grips. It plays CDs as well, and can connect easily to a television for watching on a big screen. (The video out cable is not included, however.)

The Fisher Price Kid-Tough DVD and CD Player comes with a rechargeable 4.8 Volt NiMH battery pack with a 2 hour play time. There is also a child-rated AC charger that works as a power adapter for operating on AC current. Parents love the fact that their children can entertain themselves easily in situations such as long car rides, and children love that they have their very own DVD and CD player that they can operate themselves. Some parents have reported that this DVD player is a good option for older, special needs children because of its durability and simplicity of operation.

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It requires four AA batteries, which come included, and measures 8.5 x 2.25 x 9 (L x W x H). You can also purchase an "on-the-go" kit that has kids' volume-limited headphones, a headphone jack splitter, RCA cable (for connecting to a television), and car charger. The Tough player and kit are available in pink and blue. Fisher Price makes several items especially for kids who like to use grown-up gear. The Fisher Price digital camera is one of the options. The goal is to let kids be kids while feeling "big" enough to use real working electronics.

Fisher Price DVD Player

DVD player software - its importance and buying tips

DVD players have become an indispensable part of our lives. DVD player delivers excellent sound and picture. But this quality not only on the DVD player. DVD player software is important for this. DVD players are mainly used for two purposes - watch movies or listen to video clips and music.

A DVD player is only a tool for DVD playback. But it is useless if you do not install their own DVD playback software. These programs are very necessaryto play the DVD movie on a computer. These programs allow you to view movies on a PC.

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DVD players are quality of sound and images of assessment available to them. And to improve these two qualities, just a good DVD playback software. A good software is to hear any noise, you.

While it is a movie on a DVD player, you will find the sound so clear and realistic, that the joy I experience the film in theaters. There will beProblem, even if you only have two speakers. All you need is a proper sound system, which is used with all modern amenities, and then you will be able to test the sound of which you've never heard of you.

The picture is very clear that the correct software is installed on the player. Even if you play a movie on your computer, the color is sharp and natural. It will help your computer to deliver crisp detail even in shadowScenes.

Buy DVD player software is very important, and so you must have some idea, a good software. Only then will you be able to know which software is best for your car. Then the following points when you buy software for DVD:

Feature Set

The first and most important criterion that must be followed when buying software for DVD players to know all the features of each software. Also for the software, offers a wide range of opt-in duringFeatures.

Easy to use

The software must be user friendly so that anyone can use it. It has a control panel. The configuration of video and audio control panel is to be simple. It has subtitles and chapter selection mode.

Easy installation and setup process

The software installation is to be simple. Make sure that works well with other programs. Sometimes other software of poor quality can not support running with other programsand this could adversely affect your system.

Video Quality

Good DVD video programs of good quality. Produce video images that are clear, the color that really show much.

Audio Quality

The sound quality is to be good. A good program should be able to reduce all the additional sounds, damaging the original sound.

Help Documentation

The software has online support, a toll-free support telephone hotline and a built-in helpSection.

Today a wide range of DVD playback software on the market today. They all have different functions. Some popular brands of this software, DVD X Player, Win DVD Platinum, Power DVD, and light metals, etc.

DVD player software - its importance and buying tips

Portable DVD Player Cases

A portable DVD player is ideal to relieve the boredom of long road trips. Usually, all portable DVD players are tough journey for any purpose. However, since there is still an electronic device, there is always the possibility that he found it ruined by the bumps on different roads. And 'where the use of a portable DVD player to very useful.

There are many cases portable DVD player on the market. However, the election of a case, setBe sure to choose a good solid speaker for your portable player soft. The portable DVD player case must be large enough to need space for your portable player and additional cables in order to continue using the portable DVD player - and, of course, a couple of DVDs. The portable DVD player is usually in ballistic nylon, as it is a sturdy material that is both lightweight and waterproof - two prerequisites for a travel accessory. They are equipped with an adjustable driveSuspension system that allows easy connection to most seat backs or between two bucket seats. This mounting system must be removed to convert into a laptop case.

DVD Cases

In addition to this, there are also storage compartments for remote controls and records, and sometimes more space for additional boxed DVDs. For the convenience of listening to the film, while the player is in the fall, few portable DVD players have a construction, dual headphone outputs. UsuallyAn integrated power port, a network is optimized AV cables from the power source of the vehicle tank. In addition, there is also a guarantee for the portable DVD player cases, usually for 25 years or so. So go ahead and buy a portable DVD player case to wear on the road took its toll on the portable DVD player.

Portable DVD Player Cases