Mini CD/Tuner/Cassette - displays 'er' when cd inserted

[Adrian]

HI All

As a life-long 'tinkerer' with electronics - I do hate to see a piece
of kit that's potentially usable go into the landfill.

I was given this mini-hi-fi unit - Goodmans - MS188

Nothing exotic, flip-up CD on top, radio, then Cassette at the bottom.

When first tested - no joy on the CD - might play for a little bit -
but then stopped and showed 'er' on the 7-segment display.

As part of the 'moving house, do I really need to keep it' process <g>
- brought the unit inside, fed it a cd - and it ran quite happily.
Left it running overnight - and in the morning it's showing the same
'er' fault again.

When a CD is inserted and the lid closed, the CD spins up to speed,
but I can't hear any 'positioning' noise before I get the 'er'
display.

Strangely, I've just one to the machine which was switched off
overnight - and it powers up and plays (the same CD) without any
problem....

I know there's quite a bit in the FAQ about CD players - but, to be
honest, I don't really understand the details.....

Any suggestions for those with much more knowledge than me - things
that can be easily tested... or am I wasting my time and should I just
get rid of the thing ? (Kind of like admitting defeat !)

Many thanks in advance
Adrian - Suffolk UK

 

[Mark D. Zacharias]

HI All

As a life-long 'tinkerer' with electronics - I do hate to see a piece
of kit that's potentially usable go into the landfill.

I was given this mini-hi-fi unit - Goodmans - MS188

Nothing exotic, flip-up CD on top, radio, then Cassette at the bottom.

When first tested - no joy on the CD - might play for a little bit -
but then stopped and showed 'er' on the 7-segment display.

As part of the 'moving house, do I really need to keep it' process <g>
- brought the unit inside, fed it a cd - and it ran quite happily.
Left it running overnight - and in the morning it's showing the same
'er' fault again.

When a CD is inserted and the lid closed, the CD spins up to speed,
but I can't hear any 'positioning' noise before I get the 'er'
display.

Strangely, I've just one to the machine which was switched off
overnight - and it powers up and plays (the same CD) without any
problem....

I know there's quite a bit in the FAQ about CD players - but, to be
honest, I don't really understand the details.....

Any suggestions for those with much more knowledge than me - things
that can be easily tested... or am I wasting my time and should I just
get rid of the thing ? (Kind of like admitting defeat !)

Many thanks in advance
Adrian - Suffolk UK

The first thing is to clean the laser lens - this may well fix your problem,
and it sounds like the lens should be readily visible with the lid open.

No, "cleaning discs" do not work. One can use common windows or lens
cleaning solution.

Have 2 cotton swabs (buds) ready. Fluff the ends. Have one moistened but not
dripping wet. You can dab it on your shirt if necessary to remove excess
liquid.

GENTLY clean the lens with a rolling, circular motion of the swab. Follow
with a dry swab to get any residue.


Many cd players have been revived this way.


Mark Z.

 

[Arfa Daily]

The first thing is to clean the laser lens - this may well fix your
problem, and it sounds like the lens should be readily visible with the
lid open.

No, "cleaning discs" do not work. One can use common windows or lens
cleaning solution.

Have 2 cotton swabs (buds) ready. Fluff the ends. Have one moistened but
not dripping wet. You can dab it on your shirt if necessary to remove
excess liquid.

GENTLY clean the lens with a rolling, circular motion of the swab. Follow
with a dry swab to get any residue.


Many cd players have been revived this way.


Mark Z.

Agreed on all Mark says. However, if that doesn't cure it, as a professional
repairer who groans every time a Goodmans ( yes, they did used to be a good
company 30 years ago, but now it's just a Chinese badge job ) appears on my
bench, take my advice, and retire it gracefully to landfill ...

Arfa

 

[Adrian]

HI Mark

The first thing is to clean the laser lens - this may well fix your problem,
and it sounds like the lens should be readily visible with the lid open.

No, "cleaning discs" do not work. One can use common windows or lens
cleaning solution.

Have 2 cotton swabs (buds) ready. Fluff the ends. Have one moistened but not
dripping wet. You can dab it on your shirt if necessary to remove excess
liquid.

GENTLY clean the lens with a rolling, circular motion of the swab. Follow
with a dry swab to get any residue.


Many cd players have been revived this way.

But not this one, I'm afraid..... <g>
Did the head cleaning thing already.
The unit was working at the time - both before and after (!) -
but now it's playing silly so-and-so's again

Annoying ! - but thanks for the suggestion

Adrian
Suffolk UK

 

[Adrian]

HI Arfa

Agreed on all Mark says. However, if that doesn't cure it, as a professional
repairer who groans every time a Goodmans ( yes, they did used to be a good
company 30 years ago, but now it's just a Chinese badge job ) appears on my
bench, take my advice, and retire it gracefully to landfill ...

OK - breaks my heart to do it - but you might just be right........

Thanks
Adrian

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Agreed on all Mark says. However, if that doesn't cure it, as a
professional repairer who groans every time a Goodmans ( yes, they did
used to be a good company 30 years ago, but now it's just a Chinese badge
job ) appears on my bench, take my advice, and retire it gracefully to
landfill ...

Wasn't Goodmans one of the great British HiFi names?

 

[Arfa Daily]

Wasn't Goodmans one of the great British HiFi names?

Yes, it was. Unfortunately, like many similar companies, who were household
names, they no longer exist in their own right. Others that spring to mind
are Bush and Ferguson. All of these good old companies' trading names were
bought up by Chinese and Korean manufacturers, and then stuck onto some real
crap products. The problem now is that one generation on, mothers, fathers
and grandparents are still remembering the " good old days " when the names
were synonymous with a quality product, and passing this wisdom down, so the
garbage still gets bought. I often have to tell people that such items are
not worth a half hour of my time, or that spares are just not available, and
equally often, I get an incredulous response along the lines of " But it's a
really good one ! It's a Bush. My dad had a Bush telly for 20 years ... "
It's a shame really. I have never thought that it is right for established
trading names to be allowed to be sold on, but I guess that's life.

Arfa

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Yes, it was. Unfortunately, like many similar companies, who were
household names, they no longer exist in their own right. Others that
spring to mind are Bush and Ferguson. All of these good old companies'
trading names were bought up by Chinese and Korean manufacturers, and then
stuck onto some real crap products. The problem now is that one generation
on, mothers, fathers and grandparents are still remembering the " good old
days " when the names were synonymous with a quality product, and passing
this wisdom down, so the garbage still gets bought. I often have to tell
people that such items are not worth a half hour of my time, or that
spares are just not available, and equally often, I get an incredulous
response along the lines of " But it's a really good one ! It's a Bush. My
dad had a Bush telly for 20 years ... " It's a shame really. I have never
thought that it is right for established trading names to be allowed to be
sold on, but I guess that's life.

It's exactly the same in the USA; RCA, GE, even Philips (yes, the Dutch
company), along with other names like Singer (sewing machines) and many
others are now the sure sign of crap that won't sell without a name. You are
actually better off with the 'off brands' because they at least have some
standards.