JVC GR - DVL300

E04 Unit in safeguard mode : Remove and Reattach Battery

I have had this same problem since my warranty ran out on my JVC DV camcorder. When I turn it on to record or play, a code appears on the display screen "E04 Remove and reattach battery. Unit in safegaurd mode." I have tried to remove the battery and replace it and I have the head cleaned. Twice I have brought it in for repairs but over time the same thing comes up. Can any one tell me what causes this and how to rectify it.

Reply

• Re: JVC GR - DVL300 Stacy - 20th Jul 2004 6:16
  I have a JVC GR-DVL805. I first got the E04 remove and re.. sign after going on vacation to Cancun. Did anyone put their camera through the x-ray at the airport? I did and then saw the sign "do not put cameras through x-ray. I thought that that could have been the problem...or maybe sand from the beach. Does this ring a bell for anyone? I'm going to try tapping on it. I had so many problems with finding the correct firewire and programs for this camera!
  
  
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300
  patrick
  - 2nd Aug 2004 7:11
  yep, tapping it helped in my case as well! cheap repair for this crappy thing; mine is a DVL100 by the way.
  
  
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL300
    Glawen
    - 30th Aug 2004 15:09
    So am i correct if i said that you are suggesting to put the lens cap on and to remove it once or twice to fix E04 error? I'll try, i have a DVL100 too!!
    
    
• Re: JVC GR - DVL805
  Jeff
  - 21st Aug 2004 14:52
  It really works!! The "beat the hell out of your camera" method. Fortunately, I didn't spend $$ on pro repairs. When I started getting the old 'safeguard mode' and 'clean your head' messages I searched the net and found this dicussion group. After reading everyones' messages I beat the crap out my camera as described by Ryan with one small modification - I removed the tape and left the door open, opened the view screen, removed the battery, and then I proceded to whack the camera with the battery right on the side over the speaker with 3 or 4 solid whacks. Presto it is working again without any error messages - I'll have to see how long it lasts.
  
  
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL805
    Andy J from the UK
    - 13th Dec 2004 23:59
    Hi all of this makes good reading, could you tell me if your CAM is still working - as I have the same problem with my DVL100. I hope all of you have a fantastic Christmas and a good 2005
    
    
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL805 Kona boy - 21st Dec 2004 6:57
    I was getting the the E04 "safeguard mode" error, too. Bought another camera for tomorrow's Christmas program at my daughter's school. Thought I'd give the JVC one last chance and saw this post. Camera off. Tape out. Door closed. Gave the JVC a couple of really good whacks - hard enough to make my hand sting for a few seconds. What do you know? Works like a champ. Hope I don't have to repeat this repair procedure in the middle of my daughter's program. Glad Costco has a good return policy so I can return the Canon ZR85 I bought to replace the JVC (just read some reviews of poor indoor/low light video quality). Thanks, Jeff, for posting this repair procedure! Aloha!
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805 Ian - 27th Mar 2005 11:10
    Yes, I have a DVL355 which must be about 5 years old. I got the "E01 Safe mode - remove battery" error and couldn't get it to work no matter how many times I took the battery out. After reading this mail trail - I removed the battery and wacked the camera around the speaker 4 or 5 times - and it worked straight way!!! Brilliant!
    
    
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - DVL805
      Gerson
      - 22nd Nov 2005 14:38
      I have a JVC GR-D33U and amazingly enough your advise work! I smacked the camera five times on the speakers and waazzamm! It works!!!! Thanks.
      
      
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805 Mariano - 16th Apr 2005 16:33
    Thanks same procedure here, and it worked like a charm !!!
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805 Omer - 6th Jun 2005 21:53
    Thanks Jeff, Your method really works. I had the E01 error, I opened the view screen and ejected the tape. It did not come out. I took the battery and hit beside the speaker and your method really worked. Thank You very much. Omer.
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805 velmaj - 10th Jul 2005 21:01
    i dont get it. what am i doing wrong? i opened the side thingy and took out the tape, left the tape door open. hmm when i went to play mode it sade camera in safe mode. grr. help!
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805 Lman - 7th Aug 2005 18:27
    ha, Worked for me too. Used my thumb giving nice whacks around the camera and a few in suggested area around the mic. Camera felt solid while hitting it too. Thought, its not going to work after I hit it like this, but it did.
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805
    Mike
    - 7th Dec 2005 5:27
    I saw your response about the E04 safegaurd error. I had the same problem and my camera was new. It costed me $200 to get fixed, they said that they had to re solder a wire onto the chip inside of the camera that came loose. Since then, i have had no problems with it. Its ridiculous for such a huge company to make such a big manufacturing mistake and not recall them. Tons of people have that same problem. -Mike
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805 Roberto Carral - 16th Feb 2006 21:22
    I CAN BELIEVE IT….IT WORKS!!!! I did just what you say, My camera works now after 4 year in storages. Wow. Thanks.
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805
    B Konishi
    - 7th May 2006 7:07
    Thanks so much for the advice - my camera kept getting that "safeguard mode" & I would get frustrated & just put it away. The it work again & I'd forget about it. But it wouldn't go away this time. So we did the same thing that was suggested - whacked several times around the speaker & voila! It worked! I was amazed. I really thought I was going to have to bring it in for service.
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805
    steve
    - 5th Jul 2006 1:46
    hey that totally works!!!!! i tried the "beat the hell out of yer camera method" as well and i cant believe it but it worked!!! it was the funniest thing actually hitting my camera but that did the trick! thanx alot dude, you rock!
    
    
    • Re[3]: JVC GR - DVL805
      CaptJB
      - 8th Dec 2006 4:36
      Ha Ha Ha. I've had this piece of junk under my bed for two years (ever since the warranty ran out)because I was sick of the stupid "Safeguard Mode" constantly coming up 10 minutes after I got it back from repairs. I bought a new Sony yesterday...and then I stumbled onto this web site and thought why not? Beating the crap out of it actually worked better than any of the 5 seperate trips to the repair shop! Maybe I'll re-gift it to someone I hate.
      
      
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805
    Daniel
    - 15th Mar 2007 0:26
    I really thougt this fix sounded insane but I figured it was worth a try. And it was. I thumped the camera around the mics and base without the battery or tape in, and with the tape door open. I'm not sure I recomend "beating the hell" out of the device, but a few sound thumps have solved my worries...for a while anyway.
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805 John - 26th Aug 2007 20:04
    I am very happy to tell you that my JVC GR-DVL805u has been sitting around not working for a couple of years. Every 6 months or so I would try it to see if the EO4 error message would go away by itself. This time I stumbled onto the "beat the hell out of it" technique. I can't believe it, but the camera is working perfectly now. If and when the problem comes up again you know what my first repair procedure will be. Thanks a lot. John
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805 Alan - 16th Sep 2007 5:36
    It works for my GR-DF550U!!!
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805
    Bryan Hudgens
    - 28th Jan 2008 3:11
    Thats the craziest thing I've ever seen - but IT WORKED! I use a Sony, but still have a bunch of JVC tapes i've been needing to pull into the PC - pulled the JVC out of the closet and had the Safeguard mode error - I thought I was going to have to get ripped off and send it out for repair when I came across this thread. Beat the speaker 5 times with my battery and now the thing works again!!!! Thanks a TON!!!!
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805 maxwell Blandford - 5th Jan 2010 2:35
    Its January 4, 2010. My JVC was in storage for 4 years becuase it did not work. I took the advice of the posts on this site, removed the tape, wacked it on both sides....voila...it works. Corpal punishment works. It worked when I was a kid, and it works like a charm on my Camcorder. Shame on JVC,
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805
    Pastor F D Nelson
    - 31st Jan 2010 19:27
    EO4 safeguard mode came up on the screen of my JVC GR-DVL805 this morning after recording 11 baptizims last night. I thought OH NO,the video camera bit the dust and all of the recordings from last night was lost. Read your "rod of correction solution" to the problem. I thought you were crazy, but being a firm beliver on the rod of correction, I tried it anyway. IT WORKED!! It seams to be working just fine now. I'll use this in one of my sermons sometime in the near future. Thank you and God bless you, I'll keep you in my prayers. Pastor Francis Nelson Redemption Center Church Topeka Kansas
    
    
  • Re[2]: JVC GR - DVL805
    Mario
    - 25th Feb 2010 18:46
    Jeff, Thank you very much, I followed your advise and did what you said. It works! You saved me some money and time. I own you one!
    
    
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300
  Same story, different model
  - 23rd Aug 2004 5:09
  It's the tape not the camcorder. Try using a JVC tape or going back tot he one you used originally before the problem started.
  
  
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300 Sara - 23rd Aug 2004 19:14
  Unit in safeguard mode : Remove and Reattach Battery
  I have had this same problem since my warranty ran out on my JVC DV camcorder. When I turn it on to record or play, a code appears on the display screen i remove and reattach battery unit in safegaurd mode.
  
  
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300 SK - 28th Aug 2004 12:33
  I have the JVC GR-DVM75 and have had this darn Safe Mode message forever. I just have to take the tape out and remove the battery. Sometimes it takes a minute, sometimes it takes days before it works again. Terrible!!!! I have yet to see a solution on the web.
  
  
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL300
    Jim
    - 14th Nov 2004 23:03
    E04= bad drum, happened to my DVM90, JVC in Woburn MA took care of it.
    
    
• Re: JVC GR - D33U
  Jerry
  - 1st Sep 2004 20:47
  Hitting it works when you have the E01 error.
  
  
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - D33U asd - 25th Jan 2005 18:27
    sdfs
    
    
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300 Sambo - 5th Sep 2004 6:14
  JVC GR - DVL300
  @ Paul - 14th Dec 2003 0:02
  E03 Unit in safeguard mode : Remove and Reattach Battery
  
  
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL300
    Tina
    - 31st Oct 2004 20:44
    I purchased a GR-XM330 on 12-1-01 for $402.53 less than 4 months later I began getting E03 Messages constantly. I tried all the suggested solutions from this site and a couple of others. Nothing fixed it.
    
    
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL300
    Tina
    - 31st Oct 2004 20:53
    I purchased a GR-SXM330 in 2001 at over $400.00 , it worked for a short 4 months before it bagan displaying error massages , E03 and Safemode , also it bagan eating up my tapes. My mother purchased on axactly the same with the same problems. I havn't used mine since then , she hasn't either. I am very upset at the fact I was told when inquiring about repair , that I would have to either send it in or pay to have it fixed. I will not purchase JVC again.
    
    
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300
  - 7th Sep 2004 9:11
  I pressed the mode boton once and it worked!!
  
  
• Re: JVC GR - DVL300 Patrick - 10th Sep 2004 17:09
  I have this Error E04, Safeguard mode, reattach battery thing which i got no idea to fix. Can somebody e-mail me on how to best fix this irritating problem. Please out? I bought this in Australia but i am now in the outback in Afica -Botswana. I tried taking the camera around for service but still they could help. Get back to me with a good answer. I thought it could be because of dust in here but i had it cleaned and still the same problem. Again it would work for some seconds sometimes and return to the error message. Its hurting to lose capturing this once in lifetime adventure am currenting involved in. Please help!! PATRICK
  
  
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL300
    Reijo
    - 6th Oct 2004 17:36
    I have the sme problem though my cam is dvl108. I took the cam to service couple of times and it worked there always??? One quick fix I have found is that if you tap the cassette door gently the error is suddenly gone. Any help on this one is appreciated.
    
    
  • Re: Re: JVC GR - DVL300 Frans - 23rd Oct 2004 9:25
    Hi Patrick Had the same problems - I was told by technician to use only the JVC tapes - try to clean with a tape cleaner and then only use JVC tapes - they also replaced the flat cylinder - the JVC tapes compared to other makes use a differnt process and substances which will conflict therfore the E4 problems as the head gets dirty It worked fine for me - had no more problems. There is actually a site in Switzerland (foto & video club) explaining this all in detail - can't remember the url Cheers Frans