Sony RDR-VX535 DVD Recorder

I was given this as a Christmas present and I feel very badly for the friend that bought it for me as a very very nice gesture. I will sell it to the highest bidder at auction and give the money back to the buyer that saw my complete frustration trying to make this work. It suggests from the packaging to do just what I would want it to, that is, copy an old VHS tape to a DVD. But it DOES NOT WARN YOU ANYWHERE ON THE BOX, that it only records PERSONALLY MADE old VHS,8MM tapes.It does NOT FACTORY RECORDED VHS tapes. I have a large collection of VHS tapes that I wanted to keep in my own collection on DVD, but could not do that. It will not record past the copyright coding of a simple old VHS tape. It will not even record an HD MOVIE ON the TNT cable station. Also, keep the 75 page manual attached to the remote control at all times. You will need this to Play DVD's or VHS tAPES, let alone try to record with either. This is an expensive piece of electronics that a beginner like myself, should avoid even considering. I consider this to be a RUN OF THE MILL DVD player, poor DVD recorder, fair VCR that does not even have it's own tuner and a very difficult owner's manual to follow. Even the manual jumps back and forth from page to page.  The uselessness of this item ranks right at the top with the PALM VIIx, online unit that went belly up within a year. My advice from first hand experience,  DO NOT BUY.