Unable to burn Dual Layer DVD's with Toast

Question

Unable to burn Dual Layer DVD's with Toast

Hi all,

I'm having issues trying to burn dual layer dvd's with either Toast 10.0.8 or 11.0.1. I keep getting the Interface -50 error and sense key 0x02 error saying media is incompatible.

I have tried dvd's by DataWrite and Elite M and they both show error. It's strange though as I have been using previously purchased Elite M dual layer dvd's of the same spec as these newly purchased ones, and they worked fine!

My dvd drive is a standard OPTIARC AD-7170 that came with the Mac Pro as spec'd.

I am able to burn single layer fine, and dual layers are read. I'm just unable to write dual layer at the moment.

Any ideas? I'm stuck on what to do and what manufacturer's dual layer dvd's will work with this drive. It can just do +R DL.

Could it be I've been unlucky to have had 4 bad batches? I brought 2 x 2 (25 disc) tubs of DataWrite and same by 50 disc tubs Elite M.

Please help.

Thanks,

Ash

P.s. I have tried creating a new admin user account to see if I am able to burn under that. I get the same errors.

P.p.s. "Hopefully" this is just a media issue and I can find some that works again. If not and it is a drive fault what can I do? What writers spec'd same are available internal for my Mac Pro?

Message was edited by: AshleySmith06

Mac Pro 2.66GHz, Quad Core Intel Xeon, Mac OS X (10.6.5), 5GB RAM

Posted on Apr 6, 2011 4:01 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 6, 2011 4:38 PM in response to AshleySmith06

Dual Layer DVD is the most exacting stuff you can burn, and I do not understand why you are not using Verbatim DVD+R DL media, at least for your first copy.

There are two speed ranges, and you must have the correct speed range to match the capabilities of you drive -- 2.4x or 8x. 8X media will NOT work in a drive rated for 2.4x.

If it fails at higher speeds, slow it down.

Disk Utility sometimes gives you more warnings about the speeds at which the drive and media can perform. I do not understand why you are not using Disk Utility if you have an Apple-shipping drive.

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Answer 2

Apr 7, 2011 1:30 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi Grant,

I haven't tried Verbatim as they're too expensive a disc/pack. Elite M have worked fine previously at 8x. I've used 50 of them. This new set however doesn't work, nor did the DataWrite. I have tried at various speeds but upon scanning the disc Toast gives the first error reported below.

I'm using Toast to backup data in UDF format and do not have additional space to create multiple ISO's to burn with disk utility. I prefer using Toast, which I haven't had issue with thus far.

Here's the full error...

I put the disc in and boot Toast, drag and drop data and hit burn. Toast scans for the disc and gives the first error...

"Interface error: -50

The connection is not stable."

I hit ok and select record and get the same error pop up message again. I hit ok again and see this error message...

The drive reported an error
Sense Key= ILLEGAL REQUEST
Sense Code = 0x26
INVALID FIELD IN PARAMETER LIST

I hit ok again and see...

The drive reported and error
Sense Key= ILLEGAL REQUEST
Sense Code = 0x30, 0x05
CANNOT WRITE MEDIUM - INCOMPATIBLE FORMAT

I have to click ok about 3 times to get rid of the message, then I am returned to the main Toast GUI.

I'm going to call my retailer where I got the Mac from and see if they have any ideas. Help is very much appreciated though so please keep those messages coming if you have any ideas please.

Thanks

Message was edited by: AshleySmith06

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Answer 3

Apr 7, 2011 4:31 AM in response to AshleySmith06

If think you may be using the wrong speed-range media for that drive's capabilities. As I mentioned, there are two ranges, and 8X media cannot be written in a 2.4x (sometimes referred to as 4x) drive.

When you get an error message that actually tells you something concrete, you should listen to it:

CANNOT WRITE MEDIUM - INCOMPATIBLE FORMAT

... is pretty unambiguous. It's a problem with the Media.

Off-Brand media is the next weak link in the chain. One of their many problems is that they vary wildly from batch to batch. Verbatim media are thought to be the "gold standard". Get a small number of Verbatim Media and see if you can make ONE master on the best in the market. If you can, the problem is in the Media. If you can NOT, the problem is in the process.

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Answer 4

Apr 7, 2011 4:46 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:
If think you may be using the wrong speed-range media for that drive's capabilities. As I mentioned, there are two ranges, and 8X media cannot be written in a 2.4x (sometimes referred to as 4x) drive.

When you get an error message that actually tells you something concrete, you should listen to it:

CANNOT WRITE MEDIUM - INCOMPATIBLE FORMAT

... is pretty unambiguous. It's a problem with the Media.

Off-Brand media is the next weak link in the chain. One of their many problems is that they vary wildly from batch to batch. Verbatim media are thought to be the "gold standard". Get a small number of Verbatim Media and see if you can make ONE master on the best in the market. If you can, the problem is in the Media. If you can NOT, the problem is in the process.

Like I mentioned I have never had issue with Elite M before, and I always set Toast to burn "Best" under the recorder settings.

Here's what system profiler says for the disc and drive...

OPTIARC DVD RW AD-7170A:

Firmware Revision: 1.N8
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media:
Type: DVD+R DL
ID: UMEDISC DL1
Blank: Yes
Erasable: No
Overwritable: Yes
Appendable: Yes
Write Speeds: 1x

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Answer 5

Apr 7, 2011 5:07 AM in response to AshleySmith06

The classic way to make progress is to eliminate one of the many complex factors and substitute known good items instead, thus ruling some issues out.

You can try:

• A slower burn speed
• A known-good burning program
• A known-good drive
• Known-good media

You seem to be stuck. To make progress, you will need to change something.

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Answer 6

Apr 7, 2011 5:10 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Well it's got to be the media then as the other 2 points I see nothing wrong with what I have. Everyone uses Toast in the industry, the drive is sound, so as per the error it suggests the media.

I'll grab some MediaRange and Verbatim.

Thanks

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Answer 7

Apr 8, 2011 3:57 AM in response to AshleySmith06

Can I somehow update the firmware? I don't think Sony support drives supplied in Apple computers.

http://www.sony-optiarc.eu/supportservice/downloads/archive/downloadsarchive/dvd drivesdesktoppcs/ad7170a.html

Message was edited by: AshleySmith06

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Answer 8

Jeff_L

Level 1

40 points

Apr 11, 2011 4:38 AM in response to AshleySmith06

Posted by AshleySmith06 (lost in removal of threadjack):

To update on my issue, last night I inserted an Elite M dual layer dvd that I had burnt a few weeks back and found that my drive would not read it. I got the pop-up saying it was a blank disc and what did it want me to do with it. I left it a few minutes after ejecting, then put it back in and it read fine.

Does that sound like an issue with the laser? Perhaps I need to clean it somehow, and then my dual layers will burn again? What do you recommend I do to resolve the issue?

Thanks,

Ash
Mac Pro 2.66GHz, Quad Core Intel Xeon Mac OS X (10.6.5) 5GB RAM

+
Posted by Jeff L.

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Answer 9

Apr 11, 2011 4:45 AM in response to Jeff_L

Radio Shack and other sell cleaner CDs with tiny brushes mounted on the disc. You play it as a music CD, then fast forward to perform the cleaning (as the audio track instructs you to). Sometimes several cycles are required to thoroughly clean.

If no change, a new drive is less than US$50.

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Answer 10

Apr 11, 2011 7:59 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks. I'll try resetting the PRAM first then grab a disc cleaning set before trying new media and then considering a new drive.

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