Resetting an LG VCR

BewareOfThe Dog on 27/08/2022 - 17:27

Hi, all, I have an LG FC930W VCR. I have a heap of videos to go through, just to check there is nothing important before disposing of them. Unfortunately, the VCR when turned on says SAFE, which is due to the Child Lock being activated. Unfortunately, I don't have access to the original remote, which according to the User guide is the only way it can be bypassed. I have tried looking for a service manual, and so far no luck finding one for that model. I have a Logitech Harmony Remote, but it appears this button is not available/supported unless I have the original remote.

I opened the VCR, and I noticed there was a Reset section on the PCB. I assume it relates to the the 2 pins W5A3 and W5A4. Is it safe to touch these with a screwdriver, to reset it?

I have some of the 'shielded' Red/Yellow ones from Aldi.

Electrical & Electronics LG

Comments

  • MS Paint on 27/08/2022 - 17:38
    +2

    Just do it and take one for the team.

    If we don't hear from you by 9pm tonight we can assume the worst.

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 27/08/2022 - 19:35
      +1

      I always love your logic. :)

    • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2022 - 08:07
      +1

      MS Paint - I laughed so hard that I choked on my coco pops. Damn you!!

    • HeWhoKnows on 28/08/2022 - 17:56

      VCRs dont have any inbuilt memory
      They just write to tapes.

      Problem solved

  • Ocker on 27/08/2022 - 18:44

    Dunno. but I found the user manual in 20 seconds flat
    https://manualzz.com/doc/49391024/lg-fc930w-owner%E2%80%99s-….
    If it comes to the worst just buy a 2nd hand VCR on eBay

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 27/08/2022 - 19:36

      Plenty of owners manuals online. :}

  • mboy on 27/08/2022 - 19:02
    +1

    I’ve just googled: LG "C.LOCK"

    Looks like you’re not the only one who’s had this issue, but I couldn’t seem to find any solutions. All results, including the user manual posted by Ocker above, seem to suggest you need the remote.

    However there are usually workarounds for these kind of situations, even if they’re not advertised. Who knows, try the following:

    • Hold down the Power Button on the VCR for 30 seconds
    • Hold down the REC button on the VCR for 30 seconds (someone mentioned this was a workaround for Panasonic VCR’s, maybe it’s the same for LG)
    • Try the same thing for any other ‘prominent’ buttons on the control panel. Maybe hold a few together.
    • BewareOfThe Dog on 27/08/2022 - 19:36

      I might give that a try. Thank you.

  • FoxJump on 27/08/2022 - 19:28

    i have that vcr and remote.
    but i lent it to a friend. are you in Sydney? i can lend the golden remote. assuming my friend hasnt lost it. ill ask him now

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 27/08/2022 - 19:34

      Newcastle. :)

      • FoxJump on 27/08/2022 - 19:37
        +1

        I've asked my friend if he has it. once he replies when he's returning it to me i can arrange a time for you to visit with your vcr so we can turn childlock off for you.

        • BewareOfThe Dog on 27/08/2022 - 19:38
          +1

          Thank you. I'll see what happens with other solutions. September will be a long month for me as I will be working at the NRL Finals at Accor.

          • FoxJump on 27/08/2022 - 19:42

            @BewareOfThe Dog: great. being a tech hoarder pays out again!
            nb if you have 3.5” fdd i have a usb fdd unit that hopefully my kids havent destroyed.

            • MiniMoo on 28/08/2022 - 01:11
              +2

              @FoxJump: The quick brown FoxJump over the BewareOfThe Dog… ??? I think this collab was meant to be. :)

              • BewareOfThe Dog on 28/08/2022 - 20:36

                @MiniMoo: Classic. I've had a fiddle with learner remotes, and I'm not sure when I'll get to Sydney that doesn't involve work.
                I had a look at most of the VHS videos, which all blank, ex-video store and I doubt that there is much that is sentimental, as it would have been most likely written on. I started throwing the obvious rejects out.

  • MrThing on 27/08/2022 - 19:29
    +1

    whats a VCR?

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 27/08/2022 - 19:36

      Video Cassette Recorder. :)

      • SBOB on 27/08/2022 - 19:41

        What's a cassette ??
        ;)

      • MrThing on 27/08/2022 - 19:42

        whats a video, is that like a secret section on netflix

    • FoxJump on 27/08/2022 - 19:44
      +2

      like betamax but better

      • MS Paint on 27/08/2022 - 20:44
        +1

        Betamax was a lot better in terms of video quality, audio quality and stability compared to vhs. In fact it was the tv industry standard for recording before digital. Only problem was there were very limited movie rentals on beta.

        • BewareOfThe Dog on 27/08/2022 - 21:58

          Supposedly there was an agreement with JVC/Matsushita etc etc, where they struck an agreement where Adult movies were distributed at a cheaper price on VHS. This allowed Video stores to take a lesser risk on a potentially hot item, and made more money.

    • AustriaBargain on 27/08/2022 - 20:12

      Blu Ray in the 90s https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-VHS

      • SBOB on 27/08/2022 - 20:15

        Wasn't laserdisc the blu ray of the 90s :)

        • Switchblade88 on 27/08/2022 - 21:42

          And HD DVDs were the Blurays of the 2010s!

  • AustriaBargain on 27/08/2022 - 20:10
    +3

    Look up your local VCR repairman in the Yellow Pages.

    • SBOB on 27/08/2022 - 20:14

      Or your local trading post newspaper :)

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 27/08/2022 - 21:58

      I would but we threw them out! :)

  • bazingaa on 28/08/2022 - 02:35

    W5A3 and W5A4.

    don't touch these together without referring to the schematic. You might need to remove those 2 connections instead of shorting together.
    24wc16p is an eprom (IC503), most probably the config should be in there. don't just remove it. we don't know what are actual config in there, might be some parameters about heads too ?

    if you need the a remote, try a Xiaomi Redmi phone with IR blaster if you can borrow one, you can select many devices and use the phone as a remote. I had a DVD recorder (like VCR but records to DVD instead of VHS) with missing remote, and it certainly helped me to use some functions which were not in the key pad.

    • FoxJump on 28/08/2022 - 03:36

      yes that's true. i confirm my modern lg webos 2 tv responds to signals from the vcr remote

      i have not tried it the other way around.

  • mattymatt on 14/10/2024 - 23:20

    Old post but had the same issue today and ended up getting it all working…..
    What i Did (and 2 options, but kind of similar enough)

    1: with this model vcr, you can wipe the whole eeprom chip. This is the 24wc16p chip, once its wiped, it will reinitialise itself, however, you will need to have some of the old settings to re-set it up…. [HARD WAY]
    details:
    1a: get a ch341a programmer
    1b: desolder the eeprom chip
    1c: (optional) get a 8 pin IC socket from jaycar or radio parts (just get the $0.50 one) and solder that to where the ic was on the vcr board.
    1d: using the ch341a programmer / software (ProgramadorCH341A.EXE) and having it setup for "atmel at24c16" , read the chip and make sure you save the file, infact, be safe and save it in multiple places including online
    1e: using the programmer, wipe/erase the chip
    1f: put the chip back into the vcr
    1g: start the vcr. you dont need it all assembled, infact you dont even need the casette tray installed, it will say "safe" when it turns on, and it will present you with options
    1h: using a IR blaster / tuya ir, i was able to find a remote control for the lg where the "ok" button worked (was under dvd / LG), no child lock butttons worked, but this was needed to be able to press "ok" (which was labled wrong in tuya, the actual ok button on tuya ddint work, but the button with 3 horizontal lines did act as the "ok"
    1i: navigate to configure "opt1, opt2 opt3" and then press the "OK" (the button on top right of the tuya app which has the 3 horizontal lines and things are saved
    1J: assuming all has worked, turn everything off, reassemble everything (the assembly is fiddly, you have to make sure everythign is well aligjned else you will get teh tape not playing, ejecting etc)

    2: the easier way - iv done the compares of the fresh reset and the "safe" childlock flash so you dont have to….
    2a: do the steps above to get the chip out, back up the content of the eeprom etc
    2b: in my case (and possibly yours if you have the same model and in Australia), the magic number was a change from "10" to "02" as shown in image https://ibb.co/NrJpHk8
    2c: upload the chnage to teh eeprom and plug that guy back into the vcr…. test etc

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 15/10/2024 - 09:12
      +1

      Thank you.
      In the meantime my father gave me a dvd/vcr combo. ;)

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