JVC camcorder stuck in 'safeguard' mode? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Tractorfan · 16th Jun 2014, 9:55 pm

Hi,
Some dear friends of ours are emigrating and are having a huge clear out. They gave me a JVC GR-DVL100E (European spec?) digital camcorder. I don't think it's been used in quite a while. When I power it up I get a blue screen with: "E04 - unit in safeguard mode", then it tells me to "remove and reattach battery". But doing that does not reset the camera and the messages persist.
Any ideas chaps?
Cheers, Pete.

Lloyd 1985 · 16th Jun 2014, 11:57 pm

I've got a couple of JVC's camcorders, and I've seen this fault with them before. It's something in the tape drive getting stuck, on one of mine it was the eject mech jamming because of one of the gears was missing a tooth, to get around that I just have to give the tape some help in and out! On another one it was a damaged ribbon cable causing it, also in the tape drive. Try ejecting the tape mech and see if it's opening and closing correctly. Might just be because it's not been used for a while.

Regards,
Lloyd.

Tractorfan · 17th Jun 2014, 8:43 am

Hi,
Thanks for your reply Lloyd. I tried the eject button, but nothing happened. I had assumed that it was because of the error message, but it may well be stuck. I don't think it was kept in the best of places, possibly a cellar or garage. I'll have another play later on.
Cheers, Pete.

Tractorfan · 17th Jun 2014, 9:56 pm

Hi,
Here's an update.
I had another fiddle with this camcorder today and managed to eject the tape. While the carriage was open the error message disappeared. It seems OK while the tape carriage is open, but when it is closed, whether or not a tape is in place, the error message returns once more. The mechanism seems a little hesitant when in motion, but I can't see anything obvious amiss. Hm.
Cheers, Pete.

16th Jun 2014, 9:55 pm	#1
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,182	JVC camcorder stuck in 'safeguard' mode? Hi, Some dear friends of ours are emigrating and are having a huge clear out. They gave me a JVC GR-DVL100E (European spec?) digital camcorder. I don't think it's been used in quite a while. When I power it up I get a blue screen with: "E04 - unit in safeguard mode", then it tells me to "remove and reattach battery". But doing that does not reset the camera and the messages persist. Any ideas chaps? Cheers, Pete. __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

16th Jun 2014, 11:57 pm	#2
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,817	Re: JVC camcorder stuck in 'safeguard' mode? I've got a couple of JVC's camcorders, and I've seen this fault with them before. It's something in the tape drive getting stuck, on one of mine it was the eject mech jamming because of one of the gears was missing a tooth, to get around that I just have to give the tape some help in and out! On another one it was a damaged ribbon cable causing it, also in the tape drive. Try ejecting the tape mech and see if it's opening and closing correctly. Might just be because it's not been used for a while. Regards, Lloyd.

17th Jun 2014, 8:43 am	#3
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,182	Re: JVC camcorder stuck in 'safeguard' mode? Hi, Thanks for your reply Lloyd. I tried the eject button, but nothing happened. I had assumed that it was because of the error message, but it may well be stuck. I don't think it was kept in the best of places, possibly a cellar or garage. I'll have another play later on. Cheers, Pete. __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

17th Jun 2014, 9:56 pm	#4
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,182	Re: JVC camcorder stuck in 'safeguard' mode? Hi, Here's an update. I had another fiddle with this camcorder today and managed to eject the tape. While the carriage was open the error message disappeared. It seems OK while the tape carriage is open, but when it is closed, whether or not a tape is in place, the error message returns once more. The mechanism seems a little hesitant when in motion, but I can't see anything obvious amiss. Hm. Cheers, Pete. __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."