I have recorded all my vhs tapes to dvds and they have played before and now they wont play. i have checked 4 dvds and they wont read in my tv, or 2 of my computers. what could of happened?

f the entire VHS is full then you can easily transfer the VHS contents to the DVD. The video will play while it is recording onto the DVD, but you don't have to have it hooked up to any TV for it to record. Now if you don't know how long the VHS content is that you want to record to DVD, then you will have to hook up the player to a TV so that you can press stop when you reach the end of the content you want recorded. At least this is true in the way that I use to transfer VHS to DVD:

1) Turn on the unit
2) Insert VHS tape
3) Insert DVD-+R or DVD-+ RW
4) Using remote, press VCR
5)Using remote, press play then pause the tape where you want to start recording.
6)Using remote, press DVD
7) Using the remote, press DUBBING. The VHS should start to play and the DVD should start recording

When using this method, don't hit the RECORD button!

A lot depends on what type of video tape you use and where do you want to play the DVDs (CDs are for audio recording only). If tape is compact VHS then you can buy a simple DVD Recorder VHS VCR combo player and transfer across easily provided you have the compact VHS cassette module.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/reservoir/tv-dvd-players/lg-v271-vcr-dvd-player-combo-recorder-6-head-hi-fi-stereo/1073556241

For other type of video camera tapes you will have to try other methods like connect camera with tape to a DVD recorder and directly burn the DVDs. You can buy attachments and software for PC but I have found these very cumbersome to work with.

tried to record coming from other tape and replace the audio cord.

COPYRIGHT PROTECTION FOR DVD`S AND VHS TAPES RENDERS THE ZENITH XBR716 INTO USELESS JUNK. TOSS IT INTO THE TRASH BIN.

I SHUT THE CONVERTER BOX OFF BEFORE TRYING TO START RECORDING

I don't recognize your first problem.  The "light to dark" issue I believe is intentionally engineered (mine does it too); it prevents recording DVDs on to tape.  Try running the DVD player directly to the TV.  Radio Shack used to have a box that would correct this issue too, you might check there.

T. R.

1) The 4:3 / 16:9 option only optimises playback for that particular type of TV. The 4:3 setting also allows you to set the output between:

• 4:3 PS - expands the picture vertically and horizontally which gets rid of the black bars, but you also lose the left and right edges of the picture.
• 4:3 LB - Letterbox format, displays the full picture from the disc, with black bars top and bottom.

The PS option loses the bars on 16:9 widescreen DVDs, but may still leave bars on true cinema widescreen DVDs, which are 21.7:9
This is normal.

• 16:9 - Optimises the picture for a widescreen TV. Again True cinema widescreen DVDs will still have black bars.

2) All of the external inputs will show "No signal" until there is actually a signal playing into them.
EG to copy VHS to DVD, you will need to select the relevant scart or phono input, and press play before the recorder will register a signal and allow recording.
Some bought VHS videos have copy protection, and may cause problems when copying to DVD.

3) Greenish playback maybe caused by colour setting on TV being too high. Also check Hue or Tint settings on the TV, if it has them.

4) For some reason, in their infinite wisdom, Philips omitted the Video Plus facility from this model.

upgrade the firmware on the product.

There are no such adapters that would allow 8mm, Hi8 and Mini DV tapes to be played in a VHS VCR. Only the old VHS-C tapes can fit and play in an adapter. There are several reasons why 8mm (or Hi8 and miniDV tapes) cannot be physically played in a VHS VCR: 1. 8mm (Hi8, miniDV) is a different format with different technical characteristics than VHS. These formats were never developed with the intention to be mechanically compatible with current VHS technology. 2. 8mm/Hi8 tapes are 8mm wide (miniDV is 6mm wide), while VHS tape is 1/2" wide, making it impossible for a VHS video head to read the taped information correctly. 3. 8mm/Hi8/miniDV tapes are recorded and played at different speeds than VHS, so even if the tapes could physically fit into a standard VHS VCR, the VCR still couldn't play back the tapes at their correct speeds. 4. 8mm/Hi8/minDV audio is recorded differently than VHS. 8mm/Hi8 audio is recorded in AFM HiFi mode, while miniDV audio is recording in 12-Bit or 16-Bit PCM digital audio format. So, even if the video could be played back in a VHS VCR, the audio could not be read properly. 5. 8mm/Hi8 video is of higher resolution than VHS and is recorded in a different bandwidth length (miniDV video is recorded digitally), so once again, a standard VCR still could not read the information correctly, even if the tape could fit into a VCR.