The unit does not stay shut off. When attempting to play a dvd, sometimes it will load, sometimes not. If if loads and begins to play, we only get about 15 minutes of play before it starts trying to load, or reads usb, or just goes blank. Is there some way to fix this. This unit worked well last year and started to do all these things earlier this winter.

Laser pickup unit fault. The unit alongwith its flat connecting cable should be replaced. Contact any service technician. Electro help

Clean or replace the laser

Program your universal or LCD remote to operate DVD player codes 182 & 230.

The problem is with the lens assembly. sometimes you may have to replace it(lens assembly) or optical pickup

the laser may be broken,and can not read...

DVDs will not load / play... problem just started... TV approx 14 months old. Recently DVD was working and the TV just "SHUTOFF"?

DVD loading mechanism doesn't load completely that's why opens after attempt of loading.
You need to open top cover of unit and inspect loading belt might be lose, tray timing can be out of phase, some wire got stuck with tray while loading etc.

The sound you are hearing is the lens attempting to focus. Since it seems to recover, this could be an alignment problem or just a connection problem. Without seeing the waveforms of the tracking circuit, I can not say for sure. If this is a new unit, return it for warranty exchange or repair.

Dan

you have probably bent the tab that holds the tape end sensor or its light. The tapes have a clear section at the end of the tape and the light shines through to the sensor to tell the unit that the tape is finished. The light should not pass through the recordable part of the tapes. If anything is bent the light may shine on the sensor and tell the unit you're at the end of the tape and to shut off. Some units have a tape tension sensor also that tells the unit that the tape is broken and to shut off. Only way to know is to remove power and take it apart and look for anything that may be bent. Stay away from the rotating head assembly and the posts that the tap travels on. Do not apply power with the unit open. Do not load a tape and remove power as some units freeze in the loaded position and will not load new tapes unless manually placed back in the unloaded position.

Sounds initially like your loading mechanism needs service.
Are your discs clean and free of debris? Have your tried a disc cleaner.