Doesn't iBook G3 DVD-ROM read DVD-RW?

My XP pc and Lite-on DVD-RW drive has no problem at all with data and video.

yes, but you are using a DVD RW drive in that case, not a DVD-ROM.

Why don't you try connecting the Lite-On DVD-RW drive to your Mac? (though, if it is a USB only drive your iBook USB 1.1. port may not be fast enough).

To use the internal DVD-ROM drive on the iBook, you will HAVE to finalise the discs and / or use DVD-r disks instead of RW.

Cheers

Rod

OK

RW discs are generally more troublesome than -R, Moonhill.

I'd just stick with -R or use an external drive in your situation. I really don't think you will find an answer that works reliably for RW with your existing DVD-ROM internal iBook driv when copying stuff from your PC.

If you just want to transfer small (CDs o DVD sized) amounts of data, why not use a USB memory stick or ethernet? You can get a 1 Gig memory stick for pretty reasonable prices these days, and if you don't like that option, 10/100 ethernet would probably take much less time than burning and re-reading a CD-RW anyway, as well as saving you the cost of a disc!



Cheers

Rod

Rod's only too correct that -RW discs are more troublesome than -R discs. You're also correct in susoecting that some drives work better with some media brands than others, although it's a PITA figuring out which media brands work well with which drives. Recordable discs have been known to go bad halfway through a spindle, too, either from manufacturing variations or improper stoage of the discs (the NIST's Care and Handling of CDs and DVDs has some useful tips there). By all means, try a different brand -RW media and see if that helps.

Another thing you might try: run a CD lens cleaner through the drive. -RW media is in general less reflective than -R media which is turn is less reflective than commerically pressed discs. It's possible there could be just enough grime on the drive's LED lens to affect reading the disc. It's more likely that a dirty lens would read with errors, not fail to register at all and be ejected, but it's something that's easy to try.