How can I unlock my Panasonic VCR after power failure during recording?

Not an answer to the original question but in reference to EL1 or EL2 on the display, which was my problem. It stands for External Link. You turn the mode on and off simply by pressing the Ext Link button. I obviously pressed Ext Link instead of the power button when turning it off and didn't know what had happened.

When on, the VCR won't respond to any other buttons, to prevent people messing with it as in timer mode. The VCR will start recording whenever a control signal (EL1 mode) or a video input (EL2 mode) is detected on the AV2 scart socket, from eg. a digibox; and stop recording when the control or video signal goes off.

Gobschnozzler
March 2011

Me, again. Tried once more and it worked. Left it for several hours between attempts.
Pressed 7 with reset or ext link and 8 with reset and ext link. One of them worked but I'm not sure which one. Still, that's not many for you to try. I don't think I was being patient enough. When it did begin to work, the screen began blank, then added LEDs slowly, at first dimly, then brighter till the whole screen was filled with every possible symbol. This took a few moments, it wasn't a quick thing. Slowly, it settled back down to the flashing clock. I was able to use the remote - hurrah - and accessed the menu to set the clock and now everything is working perfectly. Amazing. I never knew that they could be unlocked. When I think of the jammed vcrs that I've chucked........

Topper
April 2010

Hi. I have the same problem with the Panny NV-HV61EB - there's a tape stuck inside and the display screen jammed up with a clutter of lights and wouldn't do anything. I tried your hints and the panel changed when I pressed 8 with reset. It chucked up everything it could think of and jammed again. I unplugged, hoping to clear it, but nothing worked. However, as it did do something, I'm hoping that someone else has had luck with a different button combo. Any other suggestions, folks? Thanks.

Topper
April 2010

Many Thanks..
pressed button 7 at the same time as ext link button.
Top! all working...

Andy Jackson
April 2010

absolutely brilliant

Rosey UK
March 2010

Perfect!

pat
November 2009

I had the same error put pressed button 7 and the reset button together on the remote (the button below 'ext link') and worked fine

John Salter
April 2008

After setting up a programme to record, our VCR was displaying EL1 and would not respond to anything until I tried the External Link button as Kim suggested. I had assumed EL1 must be an error code indicating a hardware problem, as switching off and on had no effect.

Many thanks Kim.

Nicholas Pye-Smith, Sheffield
January 2008

My father in law has had a very similar problem TODAY - try this - he pressed button 7 at the same time as ext link button & he is now using his machine as normal. If you manage to get it going (or not) email me please at kim.rawson at bt internet.com Good luck

KA Rawson
December 2007