Dual Layer DVDs high failure rate

First, welcome to the discussions.
The first thing I suggest is click your Apple and choose Software Update. Make sure you have all of the latest upadates for your machine.
I would also Click the Apple and then choose ABOUT THIS MAC. Then click More Info scroll down till you find ATA and then write down the Optical Drive you have on your Mac. Go to the Manufatures Web Site and get any updates to your drive.
Last but not least 2 other things that no doubt will help. First Media you are using.
http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm
2nd is System Maintence.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=607640&#607640
Cheers Don

Hey, this might sound a little weird, but I would recommend actually flipping the iMac so the DVD drive is horizontal rather than vertical. You'll probably have to balance it on something.

I had a similar problem just burning regular DVDs with my iMac G5, and this fixed the problem. It's like in the PlayStation 2, you know? It never works as well when it's in its vertical position.

Hi,

It seems I have the exact same problem. My drive will not write on DVD +R DL as stated. I have tried Memorex and Samsung DVD+R DL so far, and it has wasted all of them (4 so far)! I also have Toast 8 and Liquid CD and I've tried burning DVDs with both, to no avail.

My drive is a Matshita UJ-845. I just Googled to see whether others have had similar problems with this drive and it seems many people do. I also looked on the company web site and only found support for Windows machines. There are sets of drivers released recently (7 February 2007) for Windows, but nothing for Macs.

I think this is a shame, considering DVD+R DL media is not cheap at all. Apple should do something about this.

In addition, reports I found on the web seem to indicate that this is not the only problem the drive has. People are reporting that it's a very picky drive, as it won't even write on Verbatim DVDs (regular DVDs, not DL) and some other brands.

Hi Parham,

I use Verbatim discs in my iMac with a UJ-845 all the time. In fact I've generally found them to be the ones it is happiest with. I was actually going to suggest that you tried the Verbatim DL's, as they work fine for me, until I read your final comments.

Memorex discs have a pretty poor reputation with mac Matshita drives generally, I'm afraid.

Cheers

Rod

Hi Rod,

Many thanks for your input.
Do you use Verbatim DVD +R DL, or DVD -R DL?
I was told the drive actually works with DVD -R DL even though it's not indicated anywhere.

Hi Parham,

I've been using the + DL Verbatims only in mine.

Cheers

Rod

Many thanks, Rod. I appreciate it.

Cheers.