Sony DCR-PC105E error C:31:23, pin-lock roller?
 

I have a Sony video camera DCR-PC105E, miniDV. My intention is to transfer old recordings to my PC. I have bought Elgato Video Capture, which works fine transferring old VHS tapes.

When I put a tape in the video camera I get a error code C:31:23. The error code shows both when choosing VCR and camera. I've spent many hours searching for a solution.

The classic solutions given are these two:

First solution. There is a black rubber roller inside the camera. This has a white lock pin. Push down the rubber roller and secure it with the white lock pin. This solution didn't work for me.

Second solution: Hit the camera gentle on the side. I've tried hitting the camera in many ways without any success.

I've tried with several different tapes and it's the same result.

Now I don't know what else to try. Any suggestions?

C31 and C32 I think are the most common errors possible on Hi8 cameras. I realize that this is a MiniDV camera, but I presume the codes are generally similar. Generally the fix for them is to take off the camera's outer shell, then unplug all ribbon cables coming off of the tape deck and then plugging them back in. You're basically just reseating them.

You really should take a capture with the DV output of that camera as it should give a much better capture than the elgato video capture as well. Only trick there is that you need a PC or Mac with firewire and the appropriate firewire cable to do the capture with. There are even better capture methods, but PAL DV is pretty decent from what I'm told. I say PAL because there's an E at the end of your camcorder to suggest that you are in PAL-Land

Hi aramkolt.
Using firewire is a good idea.

However I need to solve the C:31:23 error. Unplugging/plugging back the ribbon cables is worth a try. I really have no idea where to find the cables or if it's very hard to take apart the camera?

For the average person it's probably quite difficult. Tiny, fragile parts. Easily damaged. If you're new to this I I wouldnt start on a camcorder. It's not entry level.

No suggestion for another solution?

Update. The error code has changed from C:31:23 to C:31:30.
I'm still struggling to get rid of the error code so I can playback tapes.

Agree that it's possible to damage the camera while reseating the edge ribbon connectors, but I don' think there's a way around it other than having someone else more experienced reseat the connectors. The "hitting the camera" thing is probably trying to attempt the same thing (reseating the connectors), but they are so lightweight I wouldn't expect them to have much momentum or move at all when doing that.

12voltvids on YouTube has posted probably at least 20 videos showing roughly the same fix for Hi8/D8 cameras to show what is more or less involved, here's a random one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfIR4levZ44

You can jump to 10 minutes in the video to show the actual connectors in question and prior to that will show roughly what is required to get at them. MiniDV should be pretty similar I'd imagine.

I've done it probably 10 times, and it did work most of the time. Doesn't mean that's the only thing wrong, but that's usually what the issue is.

I've seen some of his videos. It's scary watching him taking the camcorders apart. However I might try it as there is no other solution I know of.

I've seen several of 12voltvids videos. Studying how he takes apart the cameras, Unfortunately none if them is DCR-PC105E.

I've tried smacking the camera as described below. It seems to help a lot of people, but not me.

http://www.pechorin.com/m/2004/11/16...22-226151.html