Burning DVD+R DLs on 10.5.7 -- no more!

I know this is just another version of several of the questions that have been asked in this forum, but I think it is more particular than most. I have an original MacBook Pro 17" 2.16GHz. I'm running the latest (10.5.7) version of Leopard. Recently, I have needed to burn some movies to Dual Layer DVDs. So I pull out my handy spindle of Verbatim 8x DVD+R DL discs, as I've used successfully, for a while, and I keep getting the same errors in the same places: it's some version of "Hardware Error, Sense Code 0x03," always right around 50% of the burn.

Before the usual suggestions come pouring in, here's what I've done so far:

*I've tried burning with Toast, Disk Utility, and iDvd.
*I've tried saving as a disk image first and then burning in a subsequent step with Toast or Disk Utility.
*I've blasted my SuperDrive (Matshita UJ-846, Firmware FQ3T/MMC-3) with canned air.
*I've successfully burned both data and VIDEO_TS folders to single layer DVDs.
*I've tried switching brands, using both Verbatim (which always worked before) and Memorex. (I haven't been able to find Maxells yet, but as soon as I do I'll give them a try too.)
*I've tried slowing the burn speed down as far as it will go (2x in Toast).
*I've deleted the prefs for Toast and Disk Utility.
*I've successfully read single and dual layer DVDs by playing them in Front Row or copying data from them.

Based on these experiments, I've arrived at a couple of conclusions:

*The problem is confined specifically to burning DL DVDs. It does not affect burning single layers, nor does it affect reading from the SuperDrive, which (mercifully) suggests it is not a hardware problem.
*The problem only seems to have cropped up since the problematic 10.5.7 upgrade. Admittedly, I don't remember when the last time I tried to burn a DL disc was, perhaps back to 10.5.5 or so, but in any event it seems to be of recent origin.
*The hardware error is usually indicative of incompatible media, but I am using one of the brands (Verbatim) most highly recommended in the forum, and one that has always worked reliably in the past. I did think to try switching to DVD-R DLs (as opposed to DVD+R), but those are nearly impossible to find retail.
*The error at 50% might suggest that the burner isn't "turning the corner" onto the second layer of the media.

So I guess what I'm asking is:

*What am I missing? (I'll get started: I haven't zapped the PRAM yet, and I haven't tried more extreme cleaning methods like a cleaning disk or the credit card swipe).
*Are other users having this kind of problem? I've heard elsewhere in this forum and on the interwebs about software upgrades changing the conditions and compatibility of their burners: suddenly certain media types are no longer supported, speeds have to change, etc. But is that case specifically attested with 10.5.7 or even 10.5.6? (By the way, System Profiler still lists DVD+R DL as compatible.)
*How do I get back to burning Dual Layer DVDs?

Any and all help is appreciated in advance. Cheers.

MacBook Pro 17" 2.16GHz, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jun 2, 2009 2:09 AM

24 replies

Jul 20, 2009 12:43 PM in response to Mark Pedretti

RobertMyers8, your symptoms, and your error codes, seem exactly like mine. I've had no additional success in remedying the issue: I tried zapping PRAM and defragging (as previously suggested), to no avail. And the fact that we are getting hardware/sense key errors suggests it is something on the level of the drive and its interface with the OS. I'm surprised to hear that a cleaning disk helped for you, but the fact that it stopped working so quickly suggests that's not really the underlying problem. Nonetheless, I'll give it a try as soon as I can find one I like. But alas, no solutions on my end, only more exclusions.

J.O.D

Level 1

0 points

Sep 3, 2009 2:47 PM in response to Mark Pedretti

Does Apple have an opinion on this issue?

I'm experiencing the same problems with DVD+R DL and I've tried multiple brands of media.

smusevic

Level 1

0 points

Sep 17, 2009 3:30 AM in response to Mark Pedretti

I had problems burning CDs/DVDs and it turned out to be a mechanical fault. I got a new superdrive and again I couldnt burn DVDs, giving me strange 'unknown error' in the middle of burning, sometimes when 'opening session' of DVD, sometimes the verification failed resulting in 'unreadable' DVD etc.
Here is the superdrive info:

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N:

Firmware Revision: AP12
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media:
Type: DVD-R
ID: TTH02
Blank: No
Erasable: No
Overwritable: No
Appendable: No

My Mac sports a plastic transparent Speck SeeThru case - http://www.speckproducts.com/products/seethru/macbook-pro-15-silver-keys/25
If I ran some intensive computations (eg: 100% both cores) the final temperature (soon after all fans are working full power) was about 5 degrees Celsius higher when the plastic case was mounted, which makes sense. Being afraid I'd burn the CPU or something I installed the fan control app and reconfigured fans to start working full power at lower temperature than default.
Now, if I burn the DVD with mac fully hot (eg: all fans at full power) the burning never succeeds. However, keeping it reasonably cool, superdrive works fine. Note that it didnt really matter, if I used maximum or lower write speed.
In my case, there might be 2 possible reasons, as far as I can tell:
-the excessive heat causes burn to fail
-the fans cause burn to fail
As these two things ALWAYS happen together, I have no way of saying which is the cause, although I'd say it's the heat. I'd try removing the case and try burning DVD while computer fully heated, but I really dont feel like destroying another pack of DVDs, it cost me a lot already.

Hope it helps anyone,
Saso Musevic

Level 2

233 points

Sep 17, 2009 8:45 PM in response to Mark Pedretti

I have the same problem. I used to be able to burn any kind of disc (CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+R/DL, etc...). I don't burn a lot of discs, but a couple of days ago I had some Dual Layer DVD content I needed to burn, and it kept failing. After I insert the disc (I'm using disk utility), it says "preparing burn" then a few seconds later "finishing burn". No data ever gets written to the disc.

Only happens to DL discs. I tried a CD and single layer DVD this morning and it worked.

Since I don't burn very often I don't know when the problem started. I'm guessing it's after some upgrade (running 10.5.8 by the way).

I have the following drive:

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N:

Firmware Revision: AP09
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO

A previous poster noted that on his system the +R DL and -R DL disappeared. I checked mine this afternoon and here is what I saw:
HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N:

Firmware Revision: AP09
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds

The poster commented that VMware Fusion may have done this. And his solution was to reset the PRAM. So I did the same. (Although I don't know if the rest of the pram was required or simply a reboot of the system, as I didn't test this). After resetting the PRAM (and the resulting reboot), the "-R DL" and "+R DL" came back.

I then attempted to burn, a dual layer disc and it still failed. Someone else had suggested it may be dust. So I bought myself a DVD lens cleaner. And after cleaning the lens, I was able to successfully burn the DL DVD.

So in my case, the problem was resolved using a DVD drive lens cleaner. (I use Memorex brand DVD+R/DL Discs).

I hope this helps someone out there having the same problem.

Detrich

Level 1

15 points

Oct 1, 2009 5:00 PM in response to Mark Pedretti

I've never been able to burn DL DVD's on my friggen Mac Pro since day one... Everything else- single layer DVD or CD's burn absolutely fine. So, it can't be a defective drive.

I've tried DL DVD+R and DL DVD-R. One single time only a DL DVD-R burned successfully. I thought I was Moses parting the Red Sea.

If Apple isn't allowing us to burn DL DVD's, why the heck wouldn't they just say it rather than make us continuously waste money on media?

I smell a conspiracy going on here...

Oct 25, 2009 7:09 AM in response to Mark Pedretti

I've been having the same issues but I'm just trying to copy photos that I've taken to a CD. I'm using imation CD-R disks. There is plenty of space on the disk, but about 1/2 way through it "fails." I've tossed many a media because I thought they were faulty. And it's really starting to tick me off. I haven't had any problems until I upgraded to leopard and 10.5.8. Anyone know if there is a fix?

Oct 27, 2009 5:07 AM in response to simplysilly

Yep....I too have the burn fail problem. I don't do a lot of DVD burning or CD for that matter, I have a MacBook Pro (early 2008) running OSX.8.5. It must be a year since I last burned a DVD but out of the blue....no joy! I get this thing -

Done the lens clean, done the PRAM job - CD's burn OK, using Verbatim dics, considering a new iMac, methinks will consider a wee while longer! need help!

Oct 30, 2009 4:39 AM in response to Robert Myers8

Here's an update and solution (so far) in my own case.

Since I was still under applecare i called apple and it was diagnosed as a superdrive failure. i was directed to take it to a local repair shop. two days later, the laptop successfully burned a test dvd in the store and then one later at home just for good measure.

i then was deployed overseas for a few months. i had been preparing to do alot of imovie -> idvd work to pass the time and on my first burn attempt, lo and behold, all the same symptoms and all the same failures. i could again successfully burn CDs all day long.

while deployed i bought a new WD 500 GB external drive and hooked it up the my FW800 port for it's first time machine backup. it worked for about 10 minutes and then failed with the warning that i ejected the drive improperly and damage might be done (paraphrasing). i tried hooking it up with the FW400 to FW800 cable. i tried hooking up some smaller FW800 drives. the FW 400 and FW 800 didn't work. hooking up any of the drives with USB worked fine.

fishing around on the internet i found you can disconnect all devices, shutdown the laptop and take out the battery to "reset" the firewire port. that worked fine, but the drives always disappeared from the desktop (with the improper ejection warning) after a few minutes. if i looked up the FW port in the "About this Mac" system profiler after the drives disappeared, there would be a warning saying (paraphrasing) that the FW could not be found.

after returning home i called up applecare to complain about the failed DVD repair and mentioned that i was having problems with FW as well. the applecare person had me reset the PRAM which temporarily solved the missing FW, but the DVD still failed.

the tech person said that he suspected a failed logic board and set me up with another appointment.

now a week later, i've burned 2 successful DVDs and DVD DL and my FW devices have been mounted on the desktop for about 4 days straight without a hitch. (knock wood).

i can't remember what the first substituted DVD drive model number was, but it was not the same as the original that came with the MBP. this time the DVD drive is rather unusually named: HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N6

hope that helps someone else.

Detrich

Level 1

15 points

Nov 12, 2009 12:07 PM in response to Mark Pedretti

Thanks for sharing your exp, Robert... It just goes to show us all one thing though... It's pretty nutty that SO many of us have DL DVD burning issues on our Macs, whereas on a Windows PC it's nearly a cakewalk. I've hardly ever had DL burning issues using an old Windows 2000 HP PC at work that costs a fraction of the price of my Mac Pro... Go figure...

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Burning DVD+R DLs on 10.5.7 -- no more!