Disk burning failure

Question

Disk burning failure

Twice in a row my attempt to burn a backup DVD has failed with the message "Burning the disc failed because the disc drive is not accessible. (Error code 0x80020020)".
Specifics:
Source drive: External USB drive, containing a 5.25GB .dmg, a small ReadMe file, and the burn folder.
Destination: NEC burner in external FireWire enclosure, loaded with a DVD+R DL blank. Burn speed 2X (the only option offered).

Exactly 50% of the way through the burn, the process stalls, then eventually gives the above error message.

All the various pieces of the system have been used for other things without problems. Could there be some problem with the drive switching layers on the dual-layer media?

QuickSilver dual-800 G4, Mac OS X (10.4.11), X Server

Posted on Nov 21, 2007 10:04 PM

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Answer 1

joshz

Level 4

3,290 points

Nov 22, 2007 6:50 AM in response to G Robert Lewis

G Robert Lewis wrote:
Specifics:
Source drive: External USB drive, containing a 5.25GB .dmg, a small ReadMe file, and the burn folder.
Destination: NEC burner in external FireWire enclosure, loaded with a DVD+R DL blank. Burn speed 2X (the only option offered).

What are you trying to burn? the .dmg, the ReadMe, or the burn folder?

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Answer 2

Nov 22, 2007 8:22 AM in response to joshz

The burn folder, which contains aliases to the .dmg and the ReadMe

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Answer 3

joshz

Level 4

3,290 points

Nov 22, 2007 8:52 AM in response to G Robert Lewis

I might be missing something, but if you just burn the aliases, the DVD will only work if the external drive is plugged in and the files are there.
Aliases are not usable without that hard drive.
(If there is something I'm missing, point it out.)
Good luck!

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Answer 4

Nov 22, 2007 10:03 AM in response to joshz

A burn folder is special. It may contain aliases, but the real files get burned.

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Answer 5

joshz

Level 4

3,290 points

Nov 22, 2007 11:05 AM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

OK. Is the dvd large enough to hold 5GB?
Check by clicking it and "getting info".
Good luck!

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Answer 6

Nov 22, 2007 11:23 AM in response to joshz

Yes, it's a dual-layer that holds up to 8GB.

I successfully burned one using the built-in drive in a new iMac with Leopard; one thing I'm wondering is whether Tiger supports dual-layer discs at all.

It's kind of suspicious to me that the failure occurs exactly 50% of the way through the burn, as though the OS was trying to switch layers to burn the second half of the data but something went wrong.

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Answer 7

Nov 22, 2007 12:39 PM in response to G Robert Lewis

I've burned lots of Verbatim DVD+R DL discs with Tiger (at 8X with a Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-110). What brand discs are you using?

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Answer 8

Nov 24, 2007 6:44 PM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

Memorex DVD+R DL

Seems unlikely it would be the media. I've burned them before with this burner (on another computer).

I don't know how the Finder decides when to switch layers on a DL disc, but right at 50% of the complete image would seem a logical choice. That's where it's failing.

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Answer 9

Nov 25, 2007 5:44 AM in response to G Robert Lewis

Different batches of Memorex discs may come from different manufacturers. Verbatim DVD+R DL discs have a very good reputation.

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Answer 10

Nov 25, 2007 8:07 AM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

I just burned the same image to a DVD from the same batch on a new iMac running Leopard and it worked without a hitch.

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Answer 11

Nov 25, 2007 11:20 AM in response to G Robert Lewis

Sounds like the drive is bad. Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-112 drives are cheap, and you could use the same case. Just to be sure try a Verbatim disc. They burn DL at 8X in my Pioneer drive.

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