Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Blank DVDs keep getting ejected

natasha22

natasha22

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 18, 2014
15
0
N.Y.C.
Hi, I have an iMac OX 10.9.5 (Maverick). My problem is that my blank DVDs keep getting ejected. I've tried burning them with both iDVD and a program called Burn. I've tried inserting the DVD before hitting the burn button and also after.

I've tried inserting one without any application open, and the blank disc doesn't register on-screen, nor do I get a pop-up asking me what to do with it. It just "grinds" inside the drive, then gets spit out.

The DVDs are Memorex 16X DVD-R. Admittedly, I haven't tried burning anything for a long time. It used to work when I had OX 6-something.

Any suggestions/advice?

P.S. DVD-R is one of the allowable formats listed under "About this Mac."

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Blank DVDs are very unreliable and volatile media. I gather that you are trying to burn discs from an old spindle. If discs from that spindle worked OK in the past on that specific computer, then buy a new spindle of the same model blanks. Otherwise, find a new line of DVD-R blanks.
 
Over many, many years of burning DVDs, I found out long ago that media quality and brand do matter. For best results I use Taiyo Yuden (JVC) and have no problems whatsoever. Second choice would be Verbatim. Bargain price discs are a crap shoot as far as consistent results go. Also best to burn at 4x rate.
 
I went to Amazon:

Is this what you use?
100 JVC Taiyo Yuden 16X DVD-R 4.7GB Silver Thermal Lacquer

Do you use the 8X or the 16?

Thank you so much!
 
natasha22 said:
I went to Amazon:

Is this what you use?
100 JVC Taiyo Yuden 16X DVD-R 4.7GB Silver Thermal Lacquer

Do you use the 8X or the 16?

Thank you so much!
Click to expand...

I use those or the white Watershield versions. Even if the media is 16X, you still want to burn at 4 for best results. I use Toast for burning software because i can control the burn speed. I usually use the 16X discs, burned at 4X
 
I would also check if your drive will play a DVD. The media is the easy fix, but I once had a drive that could still deal with CDs, but not DVDs. An external replacement drive would be the best way to go then.
 
Thanks. I bought those DVDs you recommended through Amazon. If those don't work, looks like I'll have to consider replacing the DVD drive. But I'm optimistic, as I have no probs with CDs.
 
I have experienced this exact problem on all of the Macs I've owned with the Matshita slot loading drives. In every case CD's were fine, DVD's not. The solution in every case was to replace the drive. My parents 2006 iMac is currently working with a USB Lacie slim drive because of this issue.
 
Hopefully the new media will solve the problem, but if it is the drive, you are still way ahead by having reliable media for any replacement if needed. Good luck!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back