JVC has had a special free repair offer on this manufacturing fault running for about the last 30 months or so but unfortunately this expired at the end of Dec 2007, so all you can really do now is pay out the exorbitant charge (approx over half the original cost price) to have it repaired or contact JVC by letter and "plead your case", which may work as its still the same manufacturing defect that caused the problem in the first place, and this caused by faulty CCD modules (supplied by Sony) being fitted into a multitude of JVC models. You should also check to see if there are any consumer protection laws in your country that could possibly assist in this, as the reason for the problem "is" caused by a manufacturing defect.