Page 1 of Could the cold affect my DVD player?

I recently moved my player from the living room to the conservatory, which does not have central heating. After the last week, it has started playing up a bit. First of all, Pearl Harbor wouldn`t load at all. After a bit of a wash, the disc loads but at Chapter 21 - 24ish there is heavy pixellation, skipping and judding.

I thought that this was a bit strange but hey scratches happen.

TO my amazement, I have just put Black Hawk Down in to watch, and at chapter 7 it started doign the same thing, I have tried a few other discs but they all play fine, at the bits I`ve seen, obviously I haven`t been able to watch them all the way through.

My instruction manual says the player should be kept between 5 degrees celsius and 35. The room is at about 14 when I dont have the portable heater on.

So, is it just a fluke that these two discs have got scratched, even though I played Black Hawk Down once before, or could the cold have a factor?

I am worried that the player is damaging the discs, and if I am not careful will destroy my entire collection :(

Trying them in different players tomorrow, but I am bemused!

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"There are things known and there are things unknown, and inbetween are the doors."

My Top 20 Movies
My 58 Strong DVD collection

It is perfectly feasable that the cold could be having an effect,

My first thought is there any condensation in the conservatory.

"Great chunks of my past detaching themselves like melting icebergs"

This item was edited on Tuesday, 18th November 2003, 10:31

Yup - condensation is the first thing I`d look for...

Yes there is, how could this affect it?

My brand new pristine condition "Lord of the Rings" DVD arrived this morning, and it won`t play it :(

Anyway, taken it back to Comet, and they`ve sent it for repair.

What are they likely to find when they pop the hood if condensation has been affecting it?
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"There are things known and there are things unknown, and inbetween are the doors."

My Top 20 Movies
My 58 Strong DVD collection

There is probably condensation on the lens.

By the time it`s gotten back to the repair centre, the condensation will have probably evaporated - it may leave a small bit of detectable residue, though.

Do you have a lens cleaning disc? That might help.

Electricity loves water - A fact that was lost on my wife when she decided to try & blow dry my hair, while I was in the bath. :/

Most instruction manuals (like who reads those) reccommends that you leave equipment out of excessively damp areas & to let temperatures stabilise for a few hours after turning on & before use (VCR`s spring to mind for that one - tape sticking & wrapping around a nice moist head).

"Great chunks of my past detaching themselves like melting icebergs"

This item was edited on Tuesday, 18th November 2003, 15:20

Tell you what mate..
You`ve put me clean off conservatories !
;)

Yeh conservatories, ther freezing in winter and roasting hot in the summer.

Although they are a good place to store all of your christmas beer

mmmh beer.