I have anemerson ewr20v4 combo dvd recorder with vidio cassette recorder. i can.t find 1x or 2x blank dvd-rw disc anymore . can you help? can i upgrade the the firmware to to accept a higher spee d disc?

yes all the DVD recorders are very sensitive to what brand is fed to them......go back to your ole faithful Maxell here are 3 sites you can try......J & R music, Amazon.com or Ebay

1. http://www.jr.com/product/productListing.jsp?Ntt=maxell+dvd+blank
2. http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_tref_p_brandtextbin_1?rh=n%3A1036658%2Cp_brandtextbin%3AMaxell%2Ck%3Advd+blank+media&keywords=dvd+blank+media&ie=UTF8&qid=1282862945&rnid=15784691
3. http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?rt=nc&LH_BIN=1&_nkw=maxell+dvd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m301

note if you updated (firmware) your player you may need to purchase the dvd w/ 4x-16 speed..

Need a firmware upgrade. Emerson will charge you for it. Otherwise you need to find Dvds it will accept. Hard to do with all of the newer dvds. -RW only 1Xor 2X. -R 1X-2X. Memorex would not work for me. Multi- speed dvds over listed speeds will not work. Maxell -R 1X-4X worked for me. Good luck finding any.

Need a firmware upgrade. Emerson will charge you for it. Otherwise you need to find Dvds it will accept. Hard to do with all of the newer dvds. -RW only 1Xor 2X. -R 1X-2X. Memorex would not work for me. Multi- speed dvds over listed speeds will not work. Maxell -R 1X-4X worked for me. Good luck finding any.

Anyone know where I could get a free download for a Emerson Dvd/vcr combo firmware upgrade??? (Ewr20v4) I need it right away . Emerson will charge to mail me one.

The unit is saying that its an "Un-format disc" problem. Is this the only error code you are getting? Also, what types of DVDs are being used? As in, DVD-R DVD-RW DVD+R DVD-RW and what speeds? 1x 2x 4x 8x 16x?

Sure, My suggestion is to call 1-800-605-8453, They will be glad to help you with that error code!
Good luck

Make sure the discs you are using are the same as the ones listed as compatible in the manual:

• DVD-RW ver. 1.1 / 1x / 1x to 2x, ver. 1.2 /
2x to 4x / 2x to 6x
• DVD-R ver. 2.0 /1x / 1x to 4x /
1x to 8x / 1x to 16x, ver. 2.1 / 1x to 8x / 1x
to 16x
• DVD+RW 1x to 2.4x / 1x to 4x / 3.3x to 8x
• DVD+R 1x to 2.4x / 1x to 4x / 1x to 8x / 1x
to 16x
• DVD-RAM ver. 2.0 / 2x, ver. 2.1 / 2x / 2x to
3x / 2x to 5x, ver. 2.2 / 2x / 2x to 3x / 2x to 5x
• DVD-R DL ver. 3.0 / 2x to 4x
• DVD+R DL 2.4x / 2.4x to 8x

Any brand can be used.

The dvd player does not recognize discs above 2x. I contacted Emerson, they have a software upgrade they will send you for free, but you have to ask for it. I think it gives the player the ability to read up to 8x.

The problem is likely that you are using 8x/2x media. Though the booklet does not say it, the burner does not support anything above 4x for DVD-R and 1x for DVD-RW. Calling their tech support can (possibly) get an update for this problem. Otherwise, the burner cannot use anything but outdated media.

get the maxell dvd-rw 4.7 gb ( 2x ) or the (4x) the 8x won't work , only the maxells worked no other brand would. you can buy em at sears 10/24/2011