Focus Servo Failure

Hi jp_dastous and welcome to Apple Discussions!

Yes, the error you are getting is from a hardware issue. Call Apple (1-800-263-3394 in Canada) to find out your repair options.

Best of luck.

I'm having the exact same problem. I get a Tracking Servo error and a Focus Servo error. Called apple - this laptop isn't even a year old yet (July 09). It's barely been used. I have a scheduled appointment with a "genius" (I hate that name) in a couple days to get it looked at. From what I've read over the past week or so it's a common problem but I've never found a straight up answer. People say clean the lens, use better discs, update firmware, ect. None of which helped me any 😟 Kind of sad that you pay over $1000 for a laptop and they ship an inferior optical drive.

Hello. Did you ever find a solution to your burner problem? Was it the hardware? Or was it the media? Or was it a software issue? Thanks!

I have a Macbook Pro 3.0GHz doing the same thing
I think it's TDK brand Dual Layer DVDs.

Other sites mention this
http://www.ehmac.ca/mac-ipod-help-troubleshooting/44383-dvd-wont-burn-getting-er ror-message-help.html

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=615874

I will have to try another brand of disc to see if it makes any difference.

Hi there,

I seem to have the same problem, although my drive has been changed due to a mechanical error. The drive wouldn't pull in any discs any more. That was a few months ago. Concerning to that my Apple Care already paid off. But even with my new drive, the error occurs again and seems to pop up exactly when the drive would change the layers. It is always at approx. 49%. Any ideas? I used Toast 10.0.7

i got the same error on mine, and its 14 months old. i think they should all come with a SuperWarranty, a 3 yr. standard warranty since they're into "firsts". but anyway, i'm using toast 10.0, and was using a fujifilm disc when i got the error. it made some weird noises at about 50%, but then continued burning the disc, and i got the error right at the end. hopefully just a fluke...

I don't believe this problem is a hardware issue. I haven't had any issues with Toast 10 Titanium and my Macbook Pro superdrive, until I tried buring to Dual Layer DVDs. Up to tonight, it has been hit or miss buring DVD+R DL discs. Sometimes it works great. Other times it fails at different points with that same FOCUS SERVO FAILURE.

After reading several different threads on this issue, I tried a few of the suggestions. I believe I have worked around the issue. I disabled the preference in Toast to open automatically when a blank CD or DVD is inserted. I close Toast and insert my blank Memorex DVD+R DL disc. I wait until the drive spins the disc up. Takes about 15 to 20 seconds or so. Once it is at full speed, I open Toast. I create a .toast image file from the source and use that as the source to burn from. I then drag the .toast image file into the disc image copy folder in Toast and fire away. I have burned 3 discs flawlessly in succession without issue. It seems I have to close Toast down and restart in between each disc and follow the same process. Although it is a little annoying, I am thankful I am no longer making expensive coasters.

What bothers me is that no one from Apple has responded or chimed in. I guess they don't care about the issue as long as it is not voiced by many users. I used Phillips dual layer and i get the same problem. I tried to follow the advice below but it doesn't work at all. It's either a hardware issue and/or software. But both parties are mum.