May as well add mine. This worked for me about 18 months ago on my 10yr old Sony TRV120. but it has come back....time to fix it one more time, convert all my tapes and buy a newie

Same problem - different solution: Before reinserting the tape, wind the tape's wheels inwards a quarter turn. If the tape has become tight, such as at the end of the tape when tension is increased the camera gets scared it might break the tape. Controlling your camera's transport from an application on your computer might also help it to get back to work. If it happens with every tape then its probably time for professional service or a slap!

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!! Look at what Sony has reduced us to, but it works!! My dad really had something when he would kick something to get it to go;)

Its not working for me, i tried taking out the battery and everything this site suggested! HELP

This is no joke it completely works!! It's crazy

went to record some outdoor shots and got the error. took the battery out and put it back in... works like a charm! THANKS!

yo i slapped it and it worked wtf!!!!god bless america and japan sony number 1!!!

Yes,this worked for me too! I had this error years ago,but forgot how it started working again. Searched for the error message and found this page! Sure enough a couple of smacks and taking the battery off too seems to make the camera "forget" the error message and retry the tape. Thanks to you,I'm looking at tapes from 11 years ago! Sony Camcorder Error Message

Holy crap!!! His slapping thing really worked! a very light slap when turning on you camera when you get this error will work as a charm (a take-off-the-battery-put-back-thingi is also useful, to make the camera forget it asked for the tape to be takem out to begin with!) I just hope there is no "long term" damage...

"Smack it" method works: no joke people!! I thought it was my beloved TRV280 's dying breath as I saw that error message. Thanks