The lcd screen is lit up but none of the touch screen works so i can't access the menu, yet i can still record, but on playback i can't press play rewind etc

You can access the answering system remotely by dialing your home telephone number from any touch-tone telephone. To remotely access the answering system
Dial your telephone number from any touch-tone telephone. When the answering system answers, enter the two-digit remote access code (19, unless you have changed it). The answering system automatically announces the number of messages (new or old) if there are any. If there are new messages, the answering system automatically begins to play new messages only. -OR If there are no new messages, the answering system automatically begins to play all old messages. You can also enter the remote commands: Play all messages
1 Press to listen to all messages. If there are new messages, the system plays back only the new messages (oldest first). If there are no new messages, the system plays back all old messages (oldest first). Play new messages
2 Press to listen to new messages only. Delete a message 3 Press during message playback to delete the current message. Delete all old messages
3 Press to delete all old messages. Replay current message or previous message
4 To repeat the message currently playing, press 4 after the answering system plays the day and time the current message was received. To listen to the previous message, press 4 while the answering system is playing the day and time the current message was received. Stop
5 Press to stop playback and recording. Play help menu * 5 Press to listen to a list of remote commands. Skip to next message
6 Press during playback to skip the current message and advance to the next message. Record a announcement
7 Press to record a new announcement. Begin speaking after the long beep. Turn system on or off 0 Press to turn the answering system on or off. Exit
8 or hang up Press to end remote access (the call is terminated). 1. 2. 3. 4.5
0 Answering system Remote access Hang up to end the call and save all messages.
NOTES: If you do not enter a valid remote access code, the system answers the call automatically. If the date and time is not set when a message is recorded, the system announces, "Time and date not set" before the answering system announces the number of messages. If there are no messages in the answering system, the system announces, "You have no message." If there are no new messages in the answering system, when you press 2 to play back new messages, the system announces, "You have no new message." If you pause for more than four seconds during remote access, you hear a help menu listing all features and commands. If there is no command for another 20 seconds, the call ends automatically. If the memory is full, the answering system answers after 10 rings and announces, "Memory is full. Enter the remote access code." Enter your remote access code to access the messages and announcements. When the answering system is turned off, the telephone answers after 10 rings and announces, "Please enter your remote access code."

Normally the touch screen should be activated, try removing battery to reset settings, if touch screen still does not work, then it is faulty.

Can you please specify the exact model of the phone? Because the steps in accessing it remotely varies from model to model. Anyway, you can try to follow the steps posted here and then test:

Remote operation allows you to control the functions of the Answering System when you
are away from the Base,and call from an outside telephone line. The Answering
System cannot be accessed from another telephone on the same line. You can access
many of the Answering System functons from a remote location, such as listening to
messages, changing recorded announcements, and recording memos.
Remote operation can only be accessed from a touch tone telephone. If the remote phone
is set to pulse dialing, switch it tone. If tone dialing is not available, you will not be able
to access the Answering System.
Note: All function codes should be entered within 2 seconds in order to activate Remote
Operation.
To Activate Remote Operation From a Different Telephone Line
1. If the Answering System is OFF, you can dial your telephone number and wait for
the Answering System to answer your call after 10 rings. An announcement, "Please
enter your security code" is given, and you enter your security code to use remote
operation.
2. If the Answering System is ON, it will answer your call and begin playing the currently
selected announcement (as with any incoming call).
3. Enter # followed by your 2 digit security code during the announcement. The
default security code is 19.
4. Once the security code is received, a double confirmation beep will be given, and
you are in Remote Operation mode. You can then control the Answering Machine
functions using the telephone keypad.
5. The user can also enter the Remote Operation mode during message recording. The
procedure is the same as step 3. The recording will be stopped after entering the
valid security code "s#xx " and the incomplete message will be deleted. If " 0s"
is entered, the Answering System will release the line, but the recorded message
will still be retained.
6. If the user enters a wrong security code, the system will release the line.
Playing Messages Remotely
1. Press " #1 ", " #2 " or " #3 " on the touch tone keypad to play the messages in the
corresponding mailbox.
2. The system will announce "Mailbox X. You have XX new messages and XX old
messages" and the system will playback the new message only. If there are no new
messages, the system will announce "Mailbox X. You have XX old messages. On
the other hand, in the absence of old messages, the system will announce only the
number of new messages.
Repeat Messages During Playback
1. Press "#4" once during message playback to repeat the current message.
2. Press "#4" twice within 2 seconds to skip to the previous message.
Skip Messages During Playback
1. Press "#6" once to skip forward to the next message.
Stop Message Playback
1. Pressing "#5" during message playback will stop playback.
Deleting Messages
1. Press "#9" once during message playback to delete the current message.
Note: Playback will pause if "#" or " " is entered. Answering System will wait for the
command in the following 2 seconds. If no further tone is entered, playback will be resumed.
Memo Recording
1. Press " 8".
2. After selecting the mailbox by entering command "1", "2", "3", You will hear, "Now
recording", followed by a beep.
3. Enter "#5" to stop recording when you have finished.
Change OGM Remotely
1. Enter " 7" to record a new OGM. You will hear, "Now recording", followed by a
beep to signal start of recording.
2. Press "#5" to stop recording. Your new OGM will playback automatically.
Check OGM1 Remotely
Enter "#7" to review OGM. You will hear playback of OGM followed by a beep.
Turning Answering System ON or OFF
Pressing "#0" toggles the Answering System ON/OFF. "Answer machine on", or "Answer
machine off" will be announced, followed by a beep.
Voice Menu for Remote Operation
The system provides two pre-recorded voice menus to help you during remote operation.
Press " 5", and you will hear the simple voice menu.
The simple voice menu is as follows:
• Press "#1" to play mailbox 1.
• Press "#2" to play mailbox 2.
• Press "#3" to play mailbox 3.
• Press "#5" to stop.
• Press "#4" to repeat the message.
• Press "#6" to skip the message.
• Press "#9" to erase the message.
• Press " 5" for other functions.
(To advance voice menu)
The advanced voice menu is as follows:
• Press "#7" to review outgoing message.
• Press " 7" to record outgoing message.
• Press " 8" to record memo.
• Press "#4" twice to repeat previous message.
• Press "#0" to turn the system on or off.
• Press " 5" to return to the simple voice menu.
Pressing any function code will stop the voice menu, and perform the corresponding
functions.
Exiting Remote Operation
1. Enter " 0" on the touch tone keypad to exit remote operation mode. The Answering
System confirms your action with a long beep and then disconnects.
2. The Answering System also automatically disconnects if no key is pressed within 20
seconds during remote operation.

Set the M, A, Off, and Play switch to M with a loaded tape. DO NOT touch the Refresh button. Press the Vol switch down one time, this will get you a Top Menu Page on the display screen. Use the Vol wheel to move about in this Menu page. Press the Vol switch again will let you into the different settings.

Luis J. Soria

Connecting flexible ribbon cable between LCD board and Camera main board is cracked on some points and needs to be replaced.

if you have experience of camera repair, let me know to help you further or take camera to tech person for proper fix.

Hi, the solution to the problem seems to be the following. When u press play, once, you get 1x play. If whilst playing you press play a second time the DS-30 goes into slow play mode, and if you press a second time it goes into fast mode. For those of us who accidentally went into either fast or slow mode, just press the play button again, during playback, until "play" appears on the LCD screen. Apparently it is as simple as that.

This may be a dumb idea... but did you accidentally turn the screen off? Don't ask how I know this...

I had the same problem. Try this: open the LCD screen so that you can access the playback buttons.Make sure camera is in playback mode. Press the "menu" button. Select "narration" . Switch narration to "off" .Now you should hear the recorded audio when your tape is playing.

Videos with sound is possible or you can record sound memos as well

Recording and Playing Sound Memos
You can record and play back sound memos for your photos while you view them on the LCD screen.
1. Turn the Mode dial to playback mode.
2. Press the MENU button. Playback Menu 1 is displayed.
3. Select Sound Memo by using the u d buttons, then press the r button.
4. Press the OK button and then start recording.
5. When you are finished recording, press the OK button. You can play or delete the sound memo or record
a new memo.
6. Press the MENU button twice to exit the menu.
When you play back a photo that includes a sound memo, the icon appears on the screen. Press the OK
button to play the sound.
Note:
You must have at least one photo saved to record a sound memo.

Audio Dubbing may vary by model. Most Digital Camcorders are equipped with this feature. To verify that your model is, please view the User Manual. Audio Dubbing * The AUDIO DUBBING function only works in PLAYER Mode. * You can add sound to the original sound on a pre-recorded tape, recorded in SP mode with 12bit sound. * Use the internal and external microphones or other audio equipment. * The original sound will not be erased. Dubbing sound 1. Set the camcorder to PLAYER mode. * If you want to use an external microphone, connect the microphone to the external MIC input jack on the camcorder. * When you wish to dub using the External A/V input, connect the AUDIO/VIDEO cable to the camcorder by inserting the cable jack into the A/V in/out terminal at the left side of the camcorder. - Press the MENU button, turn the MENU DIAL to highlight A/V and press the ENTER button. - Turn the MENU DIAL to highlight AV IN/OUT and press the ENTER button to select AV IN. 2. Press the (PLAY/STILL) button and find the timeframe of the scene to be dubbed. 3. Press the (PLAY/STILL) button to pause the scene. 4. Press the A.DUB button on the Remote Control. * A.DUB will be displayed on the LCD. * The camcorder is in a ready-to-dub state for dubbing. 5. Press the (PLAY/STILL) button to start dubbing. * Press the (STOP) button to stop the dubbing. Notes: * You can not use the audio dubbing function while playing a write protected video tape. * When you wish to dub using the External A/V input, you must connect the AUDIO/VIDEO cable to the audio system from which you wish to record. * You cannot dub sound on a pre-recorded tape in LP or 16 bit mode. Dubbed audio Playback 1. Insert the dubbed tape and press MENU button. 2. Turn the MENU DIAL to highlight A/V. 3. Press the ENTER button to enter the sub-menu. 4. Use the MENU DIAL to select AUDIO SELECT from the submenu. 5. Press the ENTER button to enter the sub-menu. 6. Using the MENU DIAL, select the AUDIO playback channel. Press the ENTER button to confirm the audio playback channel. * SOUND1 : play the original sound. * SOUND2 : play the dubbed sound. * MIX(1+2) : play back SOUND1 and 2 equally mixed. 7. To exit, press the MENU button. 8. Press the (PLAY/STILL) button to playback the dubbed tape. Note: When you playback added sound (SOUND2 or MIX mode), you may experience loss of sound quality.