Video Playback / Recording Devices

I've had a DVD player but was recently given a DVD recorder as a gift. Can you make copies of DVDs by using one as a player and the other as a recorder or is a DVD recorder just for copying stuff from the TV, just like you would make copies of your favorite shows to the VCR?

If this is indeed possible, how do you set up the two machines? I already have a VCR connected which gets lots of use and a cable box.

As you can tell, I'm not Techie savy.

RedBaron

I have a hitachi vcr and time warner cable. THe cable from the cable box goes into vcr video in and the vcr video out goes to tv. This was working previously .then i wanted to play a camcoder and i had done something and now no matter what i do...i m not able to do the recording on vcr. Can anyone pplz help me.this seems to be very simple prob and i think it requires one great advice from someone great

I was told that there is a way to "reset" the logic on one of these if it strats having problems which mine has. All it will do now when powered on is (without command)open the platter, "DVD" icon flashes. The platter will retract only to eject again. Any suggestions?