Many thanks for all of th info, I no longer feel so in the dark on this EO4 issue. I gave it a couple of good 'slaps' on the side and its now seems to work fine, also it seems to work okay if the tape door is left slightly ajar. Sadly, it let me down badly on a v important recording in work, another JVC 'product' nearly ended up in the Thames river. Time to consider investing in a newer model and different manufacturer....

E-04 is a drum error. The GR-DVM5 is quite old. You could have it serviced but prices on camcorders have dropped so much...you may wish to shop around first. You can get more bells and whistles and better technology for about $300/$400. A repair average for digital starts around $200 and goes up. Check out BuyDig.com for great prices on new product before you decide to invest in your older piece.