Sense Key/Sense Code Error

Rich Gaspers_Jr.-

The obvious question is have you tried a different brand of DVD media?

Does it burn CD's?

Luck-

-DaddyPaycheck

For what its worth, Rick, I've seen errors just like this one fixed with different media. Unfortunately the relationship between the message and the cause isn't all that direct!

Other things worth considering include:

- some directory coruption on your HD disrupting the burn

- running something else while burning which hogged processor time

- an overfull or badly fragmented HD

excessive power demands or some such from a peripheral device.

Cheers

Rod

I have been having the same problem burning discs on my DVR-109 superdrive. 9 discs out of 10 will fail due to sense key errors. I have tried everything and still have not been able to fix this.

Roxio have this explanantion:

A sense key error is an error reported to Toast by the recorder during burning - usually with an error code directly from the firmware of the recorder. These error codes are often cryptic and are specific to the particular manufacturer of the recorder.
Cause Sense key errors are most commonly caused by:

* Out of dated firmware
* Incompatibile media (the recorder does not like the particular brand, or that piece of media)
* A buffer underrun (the recorder was trying to burn the disc faster than the computer could send data to it)
* Recorder failure (the recorder may be broken or about to break)

Resolution Here's some common things you can do to avoid them:

1. Make sure buffer underrun prevention is turned on.
In the Recording Settings sheet, Advanced tab, make sure to check Buffer Underrun Prevention.
2. Burn at a slower speed. In the Recording Settings sheet, Basic tab, make sure to choose 1x as the Write Speed.
If the disc burns successfully, try choosing 2x the next time, then 4x, etc. Toast 7 & 8 Titanium users can check the speeds supported by the media by using the new Disc Info dialog.
3. Change your media. Switch to a different brand of media, or try a different piece from the same batch. Most DVD/CD writer manufacturer's have recommneded media for their burners. Check with the manufacturer of the drive to see what brands they recommend. Toast 7 & 8 Titanium users can check the manufacturer by using the new Disc Info dialog.


Also see www.nomorecoasters.com for information on choosing high quality media.


4. Save as a disc image first. After preparing your disc, choose File --> Save As Disc Image instead of burning. This will save the entire disc to your hard disk first, you can then use the Image File Copy option in Toast to burn.
5. Use a different recorder. If a recorder is consistently giving errors, it may be failing. Trying to burn your disc on another computer or another recorder may help isolate the issue.
6. Do less on your computer while burning such as copying files or other processor intensive tasks. Also, do not do any file activity that would attempt to modify the underlying source files while preparing the disc or recording it.
7. Update your firmware. Check with the manufacturer of your writer and see if they have any firmware updates for it.

Miriam

I have tried everything and still have not been able to fix this.

"Everything" is always a very difficult word when it comes to working out what someone has tried, Victor? What have you actually tried?

What sort of Mac are you using? Are we talking about an external Pioneer 109 in a FW enclosure attached to an iMac or an internal Pioneer 109 in a different Mac?

Have you tried using different brands of media (if so, what brands)?

Do you have plenty of free space on your boot drive (how much? )

Are you operating other external devices on your FW port (assuming you are talking about an external burner) simultaneously? (try disconnecting them)

Are you running other processor or disk intensive applications at the same time you are attempting to burn discs? (try burning while nothing else is running)

Cheers

Rod

any luck on fixing this? I am having the same problems and have tried different media and the other suggestions. 😟

Hi there.

It seems like there's others out there with the sam problem as me. Since a couple of weeks back i get these error messages when i try to burn dvds. Not on every session but often, and in a different parts of the process.

"The drive reported an error:
Sense Key = HARDWARE ERROR
Sense Code = 0x03"

I've been checking and repairing my system. Checked every little suggestion on different forums, but none of the sollutions is working. Some of you suggest that it's the medium (the discs), but i've tried several different ones and the the ones i used i've been using for ages without no problem what so ever.

I've also scanned the internet for i firmware for the Superdrive (MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-845) without any success. Is there such a firmware out there?

Any suggestions? Or do i need to change the drive? I've have used the drive pretty much and i do not know how much mileage you can put on them. If i'm changing the drive, hat brand and model should i use?

Please help

Best regards
Dalpha

This is exactly how my whole mess started. Now I have ended up without a warranty and in need of a new DVD drive.
Cp. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1036701&tstart=0

Send in your Mac before your warranty ends. This is no Toast / CD-R related problem.

I have an OS X 10.3 and Toast 7 (updated), and lately mine has been burning all the way until about 15 seconds is left, to which it then stops burning, and reports a "Sense Key=Harware error Sense Code=0x09, 0x04 Head Select Fault. I know it's not the media, as I've used the same discs and they've worked before. I never run anything else when I'm running Toast, I have enough room on my disk, and I've cleaned the head on my external burner. Problem still persists and I'm running out of dvds.