8. An apparatus for decoding a machine-readable symbol representing encoded information, the symbol having symbol characters, a series of repeating characters, and error correction characters derived from the symbol and repeating characters, the apparatus comprising: a sensor that receives light reflected by the symbol and produces an output signal therefore; a receiver that receives the output signal and produces a data signal indicative of at least some of the symbol characters, repeating characters and error correction characters, but which fails to accurately indicate at least some of the symbol and repeating characters; and a processor for processing the data signal and producing a signal indicative of the information encoded in the symbol, the processor being programmed to (i) attempt to decode the symbol, (ii) determine if the symbol has any repeating characters if the symbol cannot be decoded, (iii) locate at least two repeating characters in the symbol, (iv) replace the repeating characters that failed to be accurately indicated in the data signal with accurately indicated repeating characters, and (v) attempt to decode the symbol again alter replacing the repeating character with accurately indicated repeating characters that failed to be indicated in the data signal.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the sensor produces an output signal representative of a Code One symbol.