Cannot Burn a Dual Layer DVD on my MacBook Pro...?

[fab5freddy]

I am trying in vain to burn a dual layer DVD with my new MacBook Pro 15".
It should work..... I tried both the Finder Burner and Toast Titanium 8......

Here are the errors it is giving me :

Please Help !

[VoidBoi]

Possibly incompatible media. I have some DVD+R DL's that don't burn on my PowerMac but work fine on my MacBook. Try using a different brand of discs.

[Amdahl]

I had the same problem, and continue to have it from time to time. I have heard that zapping PRAM can fix it. Maybe it does, or maybe turning the system off is what fixes it. There are definitely a lot of dodgy drives in the MacBooks.

[fab5freddy]

ok, thanks for the advice !

[fab5freddy]

Anyone else having problems
burning Dual Layer DVD's on a MacBook Pro ?

[techguy40]

Anyone else having problems
burning Dual Layer DVD's on a MacBook Pro ?

what brand media is your blank dual layer dvd?

[fab5freddy]

i'm using Memorex DVD +R DL

and also tried a SONY DVD DL.

it has to be my drive that is bad.......

[techguy40]

i'm using Memorex DVD +R DL

and also tried a SONY DVD DL.

it has to be my drive that is bad.......

best DL media is Verbatim DVD+R DL

[fab5freddy]

ok, i'll try Verbatim DL as a last resort.......

[kream314]

always burn with Verbatim+r DL it is the best media....Memorex media is the worst, only good for cd-r

[mac-slap-happy]

Had this problem. Setting the burn speed to 2x resolved it for me. Seems that the maximum speed setting wasn't working so well with the Sony DL DVD's I have.

[ClimbingTheLog]

Yes, one of the software updates last fall broke dual-layer burning. I forget which at the moment, but there was discussion on Apple's boards. I haven't yet re-installed the machine from pre-update status to confirm which one did it.

[MattG]

I've had this problem at random with Toast with DL and regular media; seems to be a media incompatibility problem.

[joelw87]

I am getting the same problem with my 20" alu imac. i get errors all the time on dual layer DVD burning, sometimes it works though.

do we have a definitive answer on this issue?

[danny_w]

This may be a silly question, but which MBP do you have? The 1st gen MBP's didn't have DL burners.

[abbas786ali]

Hey Guys! I have tried every remedy that you guys have posted here and also searched on google. I still cannot burn DVD+R DL. The first time i burned it it worked perfectly without any problems and after that when I wanted to burn another DVD it gives me that annoying error. These DVD+R DL 8.5GB are not cheap. I have wasted 4 DVDs till now and have stopped using Toast. Any other suggestions will be appreciated. By the way I run MAC BOOK PRO with OS X 10.4.11

The last brand I used was Philips DVD+R DL 8.5GB

[-23-]

i have same problem and i couldnt find any solution.i bought a new macbook pro(17" - 2.4) on march.i tried several dvd's (Nt,maxell,cursor).
Those medias didnt work but i have a maxell media which is rewritable it is ok.i can burn on this media.
i can burn on re-writable maxell dvd but i cant burn normal maxell dvd -r. it is really funny.
i think it relates to software because if there is a problem my dvd it doesnt burn.

[rpaloalto]

I think the problem is with the dives apple uses. Apple always used pioneer drives. very good drives. Then about 2 years ago they switched to matshita's and the newer optitrack's. I think those are their names.

I have a pioneer 112d in a fire wire external inclosure. I can burn memorex dvd+r dl with no problem, On both of my computers A emac and a imac.
I have been doing this for years with toast 7 and toast 9
even under osx 10.3 and 10.4

Tips: make sure you have buffer underun enabled in toast.
And burn at a slower speed like 2x

check this out
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/VLFWU2D115/

[wezman2k]

i'm also having this problem...it's very irritating. i'm using toast9 with sony DL discs...anyone ever end up figuring this out? Seems like everything except dual layer works, i'm able to burn cd-r and everything

[doug in albq]

....could it be a sneaky, back-door, firmware-type update that was smuggled onto our systems with and OS update or a "Security Update?"

that is what I think, because

after trying about a dozen different fixes listed on the internet, I reinstalled on a separate partition my OS 10.4.10 computer disks that originally came with my 2.0ghz iMac, not allowing it to do any updates....

Bingo, all disk burning works again.

What is this, Apple?

[davidleon]

I've burned double-layer DVD's on my MacBook Pro's with Tiger and Leopard with no problems. I agree with the other posters who recommend Verbatim DVD+R DL discs, burned at 2X speed. I also agree with the other posters' suggestions to repair permissions (from the Leopard DVD.) You also may want to rebuild your hard drive with DiskWarrior.

I also have a suggestion.

1. Download DVD Imager:

http://lonestar.utsa.edu/llee/applescript/dvdimager.html

2. Make a disc image of your VIDEO_TS folder with DVD Imager. (If you cannot make a valid disc image with DVD Imager, then your problem lies here.)

3. If successful, burn the resulting disc image with Apple's Disk Utility at 2X or 2.4X speed.

[Amdahl]

It very possibly is a problem with 10.5, because my MBP did much better at burning discs (DL or single layer or CDR) on 10.4, but once I had 10.5, it had so many problems that I replaced the drive (and cured the problem). I still have the original drive, so if I ever hear that Apple fixes this, I can put it back in.

[rem7]

so there is a guy that wrote on the mac support forums that he just took his laptop and sprayed a bunch of compressed air and it worked... I'm pretty desperate and as a last resort I did it .... and its working. yeah, well, its still burning... but I didn't get any error, and its a Memorex DVD+R DL. so hhopefully it it'll end without errors.

post:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=7248547

[davidleon]

Verbatim DVD+R DL are "the" double layer media of choice.

[cuestakid]

I have just started having this problem recently. I actually tried using Verbatim after reading somehwere else that these were the best; I bought a 25 pack and after one worked, the next 5 or 6 didn't; I received the same error as the OP. I then tried using a different brand (TDK) and that actually resulted in my Peryn MBP locking up. I know its definitely not the drive as I then tried a DVD-R disc and that worked just fine.

Does anyone have any ideas?

[ppc750fx]

I've found that older versions of some burning software can cause this issue. Try removing those and try again.

Also, you might want to take some compressed air and clean out the MBP's drive. I've found that they're very, very sensitive to dust.

[cuestakid]

how do i take out the drive?

[sickmacdoc]

I have just started having this problem recently. I actually tried using Verbatim after reading somehwere else that these were the best; I bought a 25 pack and after one worked, the next 5 or 6 didn't; I received the same error as the OP. I then tried using a different brand (TDK) and that actually resulted in my Peryn MBP locking up. I know its definitely not the drive as I then tried a DVD-R disc and that worked just fine.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Not that this is particularly helpful I'm sorry to say, but I did want to note that just because a drive can successfully write a single layer disk does not automatically translate to success with double layer disks. The burner must focus the burning laser at two different points (depthwise) with incredible precision to successfully burn a DL disk, so as an example if the focus point is on for layer 1 and slightly off for layer 2 it might burn SL disks ok, but fail on DL disks. An relatively short article about the DL burning process can be seen here (http://www.supermediastore.com/how-to-burn-dual-double-layer-dvd-media.html).

[ppc750fx]

how do i take out the drive?

Uh... you don't.

[simonr]

For the past month I have had same issues as described in the past postings, lots of sense key errors trying to burn dvd's so bad infact I could even burn single layer in disk utility and toast. I had tried toast 7,8,9 &10 and still no joy.

I also thought this was a software update issue as now running osx 10.5.6 and after reading other post about possible firmware problems thought I might have to replace the MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857D drive.

I finally decided before doing this to purchase a CD/DVD Lens cleaner made by AF International and put this in the machine yesterday morning and let it run. It made some strange noises to the drive and continued for about 1 minutes after which I ejected the disk and booted up toast 10 and loaded up 7gb of info and then put in a Verbatim 8x dvd. I selected the speed to x2 and clicked to burn. To my amazement this burnt the disk perfectly with no errors although it took about 21 minutes to do it at this speed. I seriously suggest trying a dvd cleaner disk the one I have has two tiny brush heads on it as it has proved really successful for me. I have now burnt 7 dual layer dvd's and in the process of doing more. The lens cleaner cost me £3 alot less than a new drive. Best of luck.

[cuestakid]

To simonr-

thanks for that, I may consider doing that.

To sickmacdoc-

thanks for the information. That kinda makes sense, and now that you say that I may have an idea as to what happened. a While back, my laptop off a table and dented the area in front of the superdrive. Now while I have been able to use the drive just fine since, I have not tried to burn a dual-layer disc and based on your description, I am beginning to wonder if maybe the short fall damaged the laser-but before I decide that is the issue I think I may try to clean the lens and hope that it is just dirty. I will likely also try yet another brand as well.

[crazzyeddie]

Which MBP do you have?

The original MBP could not burn DVD+R DL.

[cuestakid]

I have the Penryn 2.5

[Bruceman]

I've tried all of the posted remedies nothing really works. My MacBook Pro 15" (10.5.6) burned a few DL DVDs a few months ago. Not consistently either. I've tried EVERY brand of DL DVD since and I still have major problems. I spent the better part of the day trying to burn just one DL DVD for a client. Nothing worked. About a dozen coasters! I've even bought a LaCie outboard DL DVD burner and I still get the same error messages. It doesn't matter if I'm burning with the internal Mac burner software or Toast 8. Totally unreliable. I'd love to see Steve Jobs try this LIVE on stage sometime. Apple has got to fix this!

[ppc750fx]

I've tried all of the posted remedies nothing really works. My MacBook Pro 15" (10.5.6) burned a few DL DVDs a few months ago. Not consistently either. I've tried EVERY brand of DL DVD since and I still have major problems. I spent the better part of the day trying to burn just one DL DVD for a client. Nothing worked. About a dozen coasters! I've even bought a LaCie outboard DL DVD burner and I still get the same error messages. It doesn't matter if I'm burning with the internal Mac burner software or Toast 8. Totally unreliable. I'd love to see Steve Jobs try this LIVE on stage sometime. Apple has got to fix this!

Right. You've clearly got a problem with your software configuration. Rather than get all up in arms at Apple, you might want to try a fresh install of OS X and see if the problem persists. My bet is that it won't.

To the other folks with burning issues, try this:

Get a can of compressed air (the sort with which you can add a little plastic straw to the nozzle.) Spray a good blast or two of air into the slot. Try to burn again.

This happens with pretty much every slot-loading drive I've ever used -- dust tends to build up inside the casing, and at some point it starts to interfere with the lens's ability to focus on the disc. Compressed air usually cleans it out, but it's still a nuisance.

[doug in albq]

.......shhhhhh, it's preference files, shhhhhhhh........

[fireram]

I have a new, 3 days out of the box 17" MBP. First disk put in the drive was a Fujifilm +R dl disk.

would not burn got the media error 0x07 or similar, cant remember the number....

I also tried one in my three year old imac g5, and same error.

Is it possible that the compressed air, is somehow moving the alignment of the laser and making it work for some people??

It leads me to believe it is a software glitch that only happens on chance, as there has been no positive fix yet,,, and it has been many years with this issue.

So, do I take the MBP back to the store, or try a different brand disk, or different burn software, or get a cleaning disk, or all of the above??

[fireram]

Well. I just had a successful burn using the disk utilities burn app.

On the new MBP, same fujifilm disk, my last one, that would not burn in the same drive with the same files, using toast 8..

So I am convinced it is a software problem. Al be it an intermittent one for some...

Any one else try the disk utilities burn app and not have success??

[asteuern]

Hello,

I have had all the same problems that everyone else has had trying to burn DVD+R DL on a Mac Book Pro 10.5.6 using Toast 8. I used to be able to do this but when I updated the Mac and Roxio software I lost the ability to burn these DVD's. I ruined more than 20 blank DVD's trying to figure out the problem. I read all of the posts here and took some of the advice and I think I found a fix. At least it works for me:

I went into the following folders user/library/preferences and i put com.roxio.Toast.plist in the trash and i also trashed Roxio Toast Prefs. Then I tried to burn a DVD+R DL at 2x. It worked. I am now able to burn this type of DVD again. I hope this helps.

[cemcr]

I wasted 3 or 4 Maxwell DL with BURN.... I have not tried the Verbatim brand, but with the same drive in same conditions it will burn single Layer at maximum speed... will try again with Verbatim at 2x....

Well. I just had a successful burn using the disk utilities burn app.

On the new MBP, same fujifilm disk, my last one, that would not burn in the same drive with the same files, using toast 8..

So I am convinced it is a software problem. Al be it an intermittent one for some...

Any one else try the disk utilities burn app and not have success??

[walker333]

I had the same problem with my macbook (late 2008) and its matshita drive. I did some search in Google and I found that this is a common problem with matshita drives. It seems to me that there is a general problem with these drives. I also found that some macbooks have hitachi LG drives installed and I didn't read any problems regarding those. So I ordered one and replaced the matshita drive. Now everything works perfect.

[SolRayz]

I've come to the conclusion that our drives are pure ****...I have not been able to burn DL dvd's for almost a year now. Its really quite annoying and have simply given up trying at this point. I personally feel that this is the weakest point of our macs.

My wife's Penryn Blackbook has also recently fallen victim to this DL dilemma. What gives :apple:?

With same problem affecting so many loyal apple notebook users, why won't Apple address this?

[TheZA]

best DL media is Verbatim DVD+R DL

I had numerous problems burning DL until I starting paying close attention to the media. Verbatim can, repeat CAN, be among the best. You want media manufactured in Singapore or Japan; not China, Taiwan, Korea, etc. If you go to the forums at ripdifferent.com there is a topic on media with detailed guides and experiences. I got a small cake of Singapore-manufactured Verbatims at Best Buy once when they were on sale, and haven't had a single coaster out of all of them. And that is in the Mikshita drive.

[reneg1963]

i had the same problem, solved it by disabling the sudden motion sensor. when the disk is going from layer 1 to layer 2, the sudden motion sensor activates. there is a risk, because when you drop you're Mac book, the superdrive will be damaged.

to disable sudden motion sensor start Terminal:
type: sudo pmset -a sms 0

to reactivate type: sudo pmset -a sms 1

i use Verbatim, all the other brands didn't work out.

[jamesryanbell]

I try to burn an .iso, and I get this error every time:

"The disc can’t be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media."

??

Any help would be appreciated.

[Bennieboy©]

i got that a lot of times on my old iMac, i think it's a sign that your drive is on it's way out

[jamesryanbell]

I'm just using a Windata DVD+R. It shouldn't matter. It should be able to burn it. That's ridiculous. I've never - EVER - had a drive reject any type of media I throw at it in any computer I've ever owned. Not once. SURELY that's not really the problem.

Any other ideas?

[neteng101]

I couldn't do it either - resorted to a desktop sized Sony IDE DVD writer drive that I had installed in an external enclosure hooked up via USB, and was able to burn just fine. Seems like we have DL Superduds. Late '08 uMBP here...

MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-868

[klystron50]

I've been having similar problems burning DVD+R DL discs with my Santa Rosa MBP. CDs and single layer DVDs burned reliably. After trying everything posted here, I found that (gently) cleaning the laser lens with an ethanol swab solved all my DL burning problems. Next step was to order a new drive.

[yiyi96]

Finally, I successfully burnt a DVD+R DL on my Macbook Pro after trying different solutions offered here.

1) I tried 5 imation DVD and all failed!
2) I tried to plug out all USB devices while burning, failed!
3) I tried DVD lens cleaning and it failed again .. !
4) I tried burning in the lowest speed and it failed again ...!

Yesterday, I went to a photo shop (not photoshop) to buy the nozzle which can manually squeeze compressed air to clean my MacBook Pro's DVD/CD drive. At night, after I cleaned it with my little nozzle, I put in a NO-BRAND DVD+R DL medium, set it at 2.4x speed at it finally works!

I guess the drive is very sensitive with dust. Don't think is OSX problem.

Thanks to this forum. It gives me so many ideas (although most failed and only one works :-)

[pjdm]

I could not burn a +R DL ever in my MBP Superdrive. It is about 2 years old now. I read the complete thread. My burns lasted about 20 seconds before quitting. I used compressed air which made a small difference in sound and duration. Then I flattened a q-tip dipped in alcohol, slipped it into the left side of the slot, about an inch in is the lens, wiped a few times and removed the q-tip. One final shot of compressed air using the q-tip to open the slot and it burned my snow leopard perfectly.

So, don't lose the tip of the Q-tip inside but wiping too much. try one or two passes first. Don't use a lot of alcohol, just enough to damp the tip. I found this suggestion on another site where someone removed the drive and opened it up. but another user just told him to slip the q-tip inside. Best idea ever.

Hope that helps.

[Diveactive]

I could burn 8.5 GB DVD from I photos and from file no trouble . now i have had a 500 GB HD put in I just cannot burn the dvds Why Come on mack is there some thing in the up dates that cause this error everyone is getting
Its costing a small fortune on DVD s =r 8.5 GB :mad::mad:

[djasterix]

Hey Guys! I have tried every remedy that you guys have posted here and also searched on google. I still cannot burn DVD+R DL. The first time i burned it it worked perfectly without any problems and after that when I wanted to burn another DVD it gives me that annoying error. These DVD+R DL 8.5GB are not cheap. I have wasted 4 DVDs till now and have stopped using Toast. Any other suggestions will be appreciated. By the way I run MAC BOOK PRO with OS X 10.4.11

The last brand I used was Philips DVD+R DL 8.5GB

OS X 10.4.11? wich MBP do you have?

[sskunky]

I just found this on the Apple support site.

You should always burn double-layer discs directly from iDVD and not from a disc image. Double-layer discs burned from a disc image may cause playback issues in some DVD players, such as freezing during playback.

Not sure if it works yet but I'll give it a try.

It also states that if you use a third party burner they dont necessarily put the split of the second layer in the correct place? therefore creating problems with the burn when it comes to the dual layer.

[moonchilddave]

i had the same problem, solved it by disabling the sudden motion sensor. when the disk is going from layer 1 to layer 2, the sudden motion sensor activates. there is a risk, because when you drop you're Mac book, the superdrive will be damaged.

to disable sudden motion sensor start Terminal:
type: sudo pmset -a sms 0

to reactivate type: sudo pmset -a sms 1

i use Verbatim, all the other brands didn't work out.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! That worked like a charm!!!!

[Diveactive]

I am trying in vain to burn a dual layer DVD with my new MacBook Pro 15".
It should work..... I tried both the Finder Burner and Toast Titanium 8......

Here are the errors it is giving me :

Please Help !

yes all are in the same boat . Why this is . Its about time this was investigated and resolved. As Mac use super drives. However . crazy as it is, the cheap y dvd are much better . 8 out of ten times they burn . here in malaysia . I have gone through expensive brands , And lost allot of money. Turn to the one that cost 40p 2 rm and they work well. :)