Device will not play previously recorded discs or record new info,but will play shop bought discs.on occasions it will display disc error. i am using new discs.

I Have had this same problem with DVD recorders. They sometimes will not play disc that were recorded on another player, you have to play these on the recorder that you used to make the recording. When recording you must finalize the discs to get them to play in other recorders, if they aren't finalized then the dvd wont recognize them as being recorded, there is no starting point set on the disc for the laser to pick up on. I have also ran into discs bought at the store that were not any good and I couldn't record on them, or when I did I would get the disc error message also. Try another brand of disc,say Memorex or Soney amd see if these will work, make sure they are compatible with the player, and they are the correct format for your player. There are 2 types DVD -R and DVD + R the + R work better on a wider range of players.