Why won't my Samsung VHS HQ VR-5607 video cassette recorder turn on?

Hello

Today my girlfriend and I were given an old Samsung VHS HQ VR-5607 video cassette recorder and some old tapes. Before we were given the VHS player, it was turned on to see if it functioned and it did. After bringing it back to our apartment, I plugged it in and turned it on after my girlfriend couldn't get it to work. Then, upon inserting the first tape we wished to watch, there was that brief white TV static followed by the VHS player shutting off. Any help would be much appreciated. It may also be noteworthy that my knowledge with this old of technology is very limited. Thank you.