We have a Samsung DVD-R129 that is giving "unable to read disc, please check disc" whenever you load a blank DVD-R  It will start up fine with a finalized disc, and almost always will start up with a disc which has been recorded but not finalized, however it it getting to where it will never start a new disc.  The problem was occasional at first but now is pretty much every time.  Power cycling with the switch does nothing.  Go back to a previously used disc and it will read and record on it, but still will not start a new one.  If I hard power down by pulling the plug and waiting a minute or so, then it will start a disc and record it.  I've been doing this for some time, but I'm sick of having to reset the clock and channels every time I want to start a new disc. 

The manual http://static.tigerdirect.com/pdf/SamsungDVD-R129Manual.pdf 

does not seem to have anything to contribute.

Anyone know anything about these things?