Any idea whats wrong with my Sony camcorder?

Question

I have a Sony Digital8 handycam model dcr trv230. When I put the tape in it and close the tape compartment it beeps twice and pops open again. I got it to accept the tape after awhile but after a few seconds of recording it starting beeping and flashing two symbols on the screen. One of the symbols is a square with what looks like a rain drop in it, and the other looks like the symbol for pause. It also shows DC 2100 in the top right of the screen. I can't get it to take the tape again now, so nothing seems to be working. Any ideas what could be going on? Thanks.

Answer 1

It sounds like it may be a moisture problem, which can occur if you move bring it outside and then try to use it indoors or vice versa, or if there is a significant temperature change. Try taking the tape out, opening the tape compartment and using a hair dryer or your vents in your car to get the inside of the camcorder to about the temperature of the area you're trying to use it in. Alternatively, you can just leave the tape compartment open and wait, but either way it will probably take several minutes to remedy itself.

Answer 2

try leaving the tape door open, and under a lamp that puts out some heat, like one of those clamp on utility lamps, about a foot away.  2 hours should be fine to dry out the sensor.  repeat if nessasary until this stops.