LaCie d2 DVD Burner Does Not Read Discs

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Level 1

8 points

LaCie d2 DVD Burner Does Not Read Discs

Anyone experienced a similar problem or have a solution?

I've just bought a LaCie d2 16X DVD burner w/ Lightscribe and have it connected through firewire to my 1Ghz iBook G4 running OS 10.4.7

iTunes 6 and Toast Titanium 7 recognize the burner, but when I insert a blank CD or DVD the burner doesn't read it and I get a 'no disc' message in Toast.

Neither burner nor discs appear on the desktop.

I've tried installing the latest LaCie Update Tool firmware from their website, but I just get the following message when I run it: "LaCie DVD Update Tool found a DVD drive CD/DVDW SH-S162L but there is no update available. (The firmware is at vLC00)."

That doesn't sound right. I've tried with a USB 2 hook-up and it still doesn't work.

Anyone know of any way to get the burner to recognize blank media? (I've tried it with different brands, being very careful that the disc is positioned in the middle of the tray. Nothing works).

Thanks.

Jake B

iBook G4 1Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.7)

PowerBook G3 Pismo, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Jul 28, 2006 7:56 AM

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Answer 1

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

Jul 30, 2006 12:39 AM in response to JakeB

Hi, Jake.

Your profile lists two Macs - iBook G4 and a Pismo. Did you try the LaCie with the Pismo?

If it does not work with either Mac, you may have purchased a DOA (Dead on Arrival) unit. I'd return it to the store from which you purchased it for an exchange.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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Answer 2

JakeB Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 30, 2006 11:25 AM in response to JakeB

Hi, Doc. Smoke,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I tried it with both the Powerbook G3 Pismo and the iBook 1Ghz G4. Both recognized it, yet with either computer it did not read ANY disc I put in. Great. I'm seriously considering sending it back and ordering another brand.

Anyone aware of any firmware NOT on the LaCie website or other solutions before I take that step?

best,

Jake

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Answer 3

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

Jul 30, 2006 2:21 PM in response to JakeB

1. Are you using the correct type of DVD media?

If the drive is shown in System Profiler, then take a look at the following line in the Hardware > Disc Burning section:<pre> DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL</pre>For example, if you're inserting DVD+R or +RW media, but the list does not include "+R, +RW", then that could explain it the problem, i.e. the burner does not support R/RW media.

2. Also check the "Burn Support" line under Hardware > Disc Burning in System Profiler, e.g. from my PM G5:<pre>SONY DVD RW DW-Q28A:

Firmware Revision: KAS7
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL
Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: No</pre>2. Does it recogonize CD-R and -RW?

3. Does it recognized audio CDs or movie DVDs?

4. Try a different brand of media. I use Verbatim discs with my PM G5's internal burned and these always provide good results for me.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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Answer 4

Jul 30, 2006 8:58 PM in response to JakeB

How have you set up DVD/CD in System Preferences?

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Answer 5

JakeB Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 31, 2006 10:34 AM in response to The Dude Abides

Hi, Dr. and Dude,

I double-checked my system preferences and I have it set up to launch Toast should a blank CD or DVD be inserted. I've experimented with multiple media, all to no avail. The little green activity light on the front flashes a few times, then stops. I've listened closely/felt the top of the drive, and the drive doesn't appear to be turning.

I checked Disc Burning in the System Profiler, Dr. Smoke. It said Burn Support: Yes (Unsupported).

What the heck does that mean? As I said, the latest Apple upgrader from the LaCie site keeps posting an error message on install, and acc. to discussion forums here, this appears to be a common problem.

I'm ready to send this lemon back.

best,
Jake.

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Answer 6

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

Jul 31, 2006 12:34 PM in response to JakeB

1. You wrote:

"I've experimented with multiple media, all to no avail."

Yes, but you did not respond to point 1 in my last post: what media is supported?

2. You wrote:

"Burn Support: Yes (Unsupported)."

You might want to take a look at the items concerning "burn support" on this XLR8YourMac page. In situations like this, sometimes one can burn from the iApps (iTunes, iDVD, etc.) but not from Finder or Disk Utility. I've not found specific documentation on that value, but I believe it means that the device can burn discs (Yes) but the method is not one supported in Mac OS X, i.e. it's not listed as a supported device in the DiscReording Framework.

Many folks have had luck getting their unsuported external optical drives to working with Patchburn. I've not used it, but it has helped innumerable folks.

3. You wrote:

"I'm ready to send this lemon back."

I don't blame you. However, you may first want to give LaCie Support a call. See this page for their phone number and hours.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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