I've been using this machine (VCR mode) and remote quite uneventfully for about 2 years now until last night when I discovered that some of the buttons are suddenly no longer working. We are using this on an older TV, with DirecTV service, and I use the timed recording function a LOT.

The problem is that the Menu button no longer responds at all. Most of the other ones, including power, channel switching, forward/reverse, etc, still work fine, but without a working menu button I can't do any timed recording (no DVR here). I have considered unplugging the unit to reset it (or whatever needs to be done according to the manual (which I do have) but I'm concerned that if I lose all the channel settings etc, without a working menu button I won't be able to get it set up again. And yes, I did change the batteries :) Nada.

I "assume" that while a universal remote would make it play, record, etc, it would NOT give me access to the settings screens. True? False? OTOH, all of those functions still work fine, it's just the menu (and Display) button that do not so I guess there's nothing really to be gained by that.

I understand from other research that this model has apparently been discontinued, but hopefully someone here can give me some suggestions on what, if anything, can be done. The Emerson/Funai site seems to be down at the moment so I can't check it right now.

Thanks!

Elaine
Charlottesville, VA