Burner - device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media.

I've experienced this problem since SL. The PRAM reset doesn't work for me.

Interested in the science behind forcing compressed air into the drive though!?.......

parkerpress wrote:
Just FYI, A quick, 2 second burst of compressed air into the slot-loading drive on my MBP C2D solved my problems....

Compressed air worked for me. Thank you! I was ready to have my laptop serviced.

I have sprayed compressed air into the drive about 3 times still no luck. I burned two other DVD's in the same batch that I bought so i'm having doubts it's the DVD's, any other ideas to remedy the problem will be appreciated.

This is the answer to this issue. I found it on another forum and am quoting it from there. http://forums.mactalk.com.au/24/39730-macbook-pro-will-not-burn-dvds.html#post45 3945

"Most people don't know this, but there are actually two pairs of lasers in a DVD-writer, one for CD media, the other for DVD media. One laser in each pair is for reading, one is for writing. The read lasers in each pair run between 3 and 5 mW, the CD write laser runs at 80 to 180 mW, the DVD write laser from 100 to 250 mW. The faster you burn a disc, the more power the write laser requires.

Where the problem lies in modern DVD writers is that the focus lenses are no longer made of glass, but of plastic, and the more power the write laser pushes through them, the faster the plastic lens degrades due to heat build-up. The writer's electronics are self-adapting to a point, and will increase power as the plastic starts to fog, but eventially even at maximum power output the lens is too far degraded to get an accurate write.

This problem has become more commonplace in the last three years as DVD writer speeds have increased, along with the fact that build quality has declined, with optical drives becoming virtually a consumable.

I can only assume that the posters who have had this power error problem pop up have been burning a lot of DVDs at maximum (x16) speed.

if you want your DVD burner to last the distance, do not burn at the media or the drive's maximum capability."

I burned at the lowest speed with success.

I have never been able to burn a DVD, I have burned CD's, I do that here and there, but never a DVD. I was using Memorex DVD-R, read one post that suggested Sony, so I purchased Sony DVD-R. I get the above message, still after using canned air, trying to download a Burner software from Cnet...I don't know what to do next...my iMac is 4 years old...Any suggestions, short of getting a new iMac, which I would love, but can't afford to do right now....

Hey - Late in the disucssion. But here in February 2010. A short blast of compressed air into my MacBook Pro solved that menacing message of laser calibration. Easy fix. Mind numbing hassle until then.

YES. Try compressed air. Just might surprise you. Did me.

I don't know what to do. I tried "EVERYTHING"

I have a sony superdrive Optiarc and another burner SONY. I can only burn DVD + R, DVD-R is impossible to burn. Neither BURN, or with toast, or with disk utility ...
I always give the error "device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this medi" Also I try it withNero in Paralells and gives me error of calibration. Whether one or another recorder. In the two .

I've also tried resetting Vram, creating a new user in the system, cleaning dvd recorders with a dvdcleaner, the system of changing the order of languages in international preferences

Another unfunny thing is that when I put a burned DVD from another computer, my system detects it as "recordable" or "empty disc"

However since the superdrive of my MB and I read everything I record all kinds of discs without problem.

I think that I will take my Macpro to the apple service, I do not know where most get my hands into the system to operate the burners.

The problem that most concerns me is that I see there are people who have the same problem and it seems hardware (I have two burners and they both behave the same) nor firmware (if restart or try another user remains the same, so is not a corrupt preference) is not a failure of the snow leopard, because I spent tb in leopard and tiger ...

Same problem. Laser failed to calibrate power level for this media. MacBook Pro, 10.6.2, tried the language thing and the compressed air. I don't have access to other media right now and I don't have a drive cleaning disk...

Another problem that also happens to my recorders, (apart to the problems of recording DVD-R discs) is that when I insert a video DVD (Video TS folder) not original, my two recorders detect it as blank disc, disc empty. They are red perfectly in my MB superdrive and in another dvd players.

Hi, I just got this message today - I tried burning at slower speed but it got stuck on the "finishing" part of the process. Am intrigued by the compressed air comments. Any one know how / where you buy compressed air in Auckland NZ?
Mike

I think that this is a bug of OS, it cannot be that lot of people have the same problem with the calibration laser.

This is a massive problem! It isn't just Powerbooks. I have a 2007 MBP and I'm on my fourth (yes, that's right FOURTH) superdrive and it too has the same problem.

Every time it has happened (I have burned disks maybe just 4 times) I contact Apple support, they collect my machine, replace the drive, then send it back. Then it works until I next want to burn a DVD.
The last time it failed was less than 6 months after it was replaced previously.

Fortunately I purchased an Applecare warranty, but I would have to say that I simply don't recommend that anyone buys Apple hardware without one.

In 3 years, I have had 3 superdrives and a main logic board. This is not my definition of reliable. I still prefer Macs to PCs, but this issue is really stretching my convictions about the supposed superiority of Apple.

This is a massive problem! It isn't just Powerbooks. I have a 2007 MBP and I'm on my fourth (yes, that's right FOURTH) superdrive and it too has the same problem.

Every time it has happened (I have burned disks maybe just 4 times) I contact Apple support, they collect my machine, replace the drive, then send it back. Then it works until I next want to burn a DVD.
The last time it failed was less than 6 months after it was replaced previously.

Fortunately I purchased an Applecare warranty, but I would have to say that I simply don't recommend that anyone buys Apple hardware without one.

In 3 years, I have had 3 superdrives and a main logic board. This is not my definition of reliable. I still prefer Macs to PCs, but this issue is really stretching my convictions about the supposed superiority of Apple.

I too was having problems burning CDs and DVDs; the computer would spit out blank media or I would get the "failed to calibrate laser power level" message. Went to Radio Shack and bought their CD laser lens cleaner, ran it in the computer for a few minutes, and now the burner is working fine.

This is getting ridiculous. I was hoping that 10.6.3 will resolve this issue but no, it didn't. I even submitted this issue to http://www.apple.com/feedback/ in Jan 2010.

This is so frustrating with my $2700 unibody MBP.

APPLE PAY ATTENTION AND FIX THIS **** ISSUE ALREADY! I CANNOT BURN ANYTHING AT ALL.