Weird Cd burner problem

[Sheri]

I've had my iMac G4 for a few years now and finally decided to try the DVD burner as I had a large amount of data I wanted to back-up. The burn worked. Then I later went to burn a disc in iTunes and it didn't work (I've found that itunes is only working occasionally since the upgrade, so that wasn't too surprising ) - next I figured I do my monthly back-up of work related stuff and now, even using the finder, the CD burner is not working....I get an error message, that says 'an error occurred while verifying the disc. This disc may not work' and it kicks the disc out.

Anyone have any ideas? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Sheri

 

[berg]

Did you do an upgrade ... (Panther to Tiger) ... or just an update ..
(10.4. whatever to 10.4 whatever ) ?

If you just did an update ... here's what to do if your system is acting up ...

Problems After Update? Abridged

1. Start up in Safe Mode .. this will run the "Repair Disk" utility.
Be sure the computer is turned off.
Now press the power button.
Just after you hear the startup tone (NOT BEFORE), press and hold down
the shift key.

Now release the shift key when you see the start up screen with the gray
background with the Apple logo and the progress indicator.

During the startup, you will see "Safe Boot" on the Mac OS X startup screen.

To leave the Mac OS X Safe Mode just restart your Mac normally, without
holding any keys during the startup period.

2. Download and Run this ...Onyx
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/11582
Go to Automation Pane ..
Check all the boxes EXCEPT
1. Optimize the system
2. Hidden DS Store Files
3. Links between documents and applications

Also choose "Clear All" in the button box for caches. Then execute

These settings perform three basic troubleshooting procedures ...
1. Repair permissions
2. Run Unix maintenance (cron) scripts
3. Clear caches

In general .... Before any system or security update ..
1. Disconnect all peripherals except keyboard and mouse ..
2. Make sure sleep and screensaver are disabled ....
3. Quit all other apps ....

If you still have problems with iTunes ... try deleting the preferences ...
MacHD/Users/Your Account/Library/Preferences/com.apple.itunes.plist ...

Or you can reinstall iTunes if you are running Tiger with your install disk ..
Custom Installs in Tiger
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301229

 

[Lacnce]

Is that your standard response?
Maybe you should set your sig to that and save your self some typing,

 

[berg]

Is that your standard response?
Maybe you should set your sig to that and save your self some typing,

Hi Lacnce ...

That's funny .... I do try and save myself typing this stuff over and over ..

so what i do is use iClip
iClip ....
http://inventive.us/iClip/

I have literally hundreds of bins in iClip with Mac OS tips regarding different issues.
If the issue warrants a certain type of response I use the clip bin related to that problem ..

So it is a standard response in a way .. depending on the problem ..
A lot of the problems have similar causes so yes ... I might use the exact same clip bin or a combination of them to respond ..
The two you have seen were both related to possible problems after an update ... so I used that clipping bin.
I have 12 other bins relating to update issues ..

The bins are updated with new solutions or procedures as time goes by ..

For example ... here is a bin i have for users experiencing loginwindow hangs ... all of the following I have only typed once into an iclip bin.
If someone has a loginwindow problem ... I'll send this ...

LoginWindow Freeze

1./ Move these Preference Files to the trash and then Empty the Trash

A/ Macintosh HD/Your Account/Library/Preferences/loginwindow.plist

B/ Macintosh HD/Your Account/Library/Preferences/ com.apple.loginwindow.plist

C/ Macintosh HD/Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow.plist

D/ Macintosh HD/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist

2./ Download and Run this ...Onyx
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/11582
Go to Automation Pane ..
Check all the boxes EXCEPT
1. Optimize the system
2. Hidden DS Store Files
3. Links between documents and applications

Also choose "Clear All" in the button box for caches. Then execute

These settings perform three basic troubleshooting procedures ...
1. Repair permissions
2. Run Unix maintenance (cron) scripts
3. Clear caches

3./ Disable problematic startup items in
System Preferences/Accounts/Startup Items

4./ Disable auto-mounting of networked volumes ... Finder/Go/Connect To Server/delete all servers listed.

5./ Disable or uninstall any "haxies" (third party applications that alter the look or function of your basic system)

6./ Go to System Prefs/Network/Built in Ethernet/TCP/IP/DNS Server box ... delete any entries there ...

7./ Delete Finder Preferences
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/finder.html

I have found this to be the most effective way I can help ....


Cheeers ....

 

[Lacnce]

Nice system.
Never type the same thing twice!
I use the iClip widget. it's much more elegant.

 

[Sheri]

Thanks Berg, but no, I didn't upgrade. Just burnt a DVD to back up some info and since I did that, I can't get a CD to burn. Not in itunes or in the finder.

Sheri

Did you do an upgrade ... (Panther to Tiger) ... or just an update ..
(10.4. whatever to 10.4 whatever ) ?

If you just did an update ... here's what to do if your system is acting up ...

 

[mad jew]

In iTunes, you can slow down the burn speed. This is done through the Advanced section, under the Burning pane. Slow it right down and see how things go.

Also, the verification process occurs after the disk has been burnt and as such, doesn't really affect the final product. Just out of interest, have you tried these CDs in a player? I'm guessing they won't work, but obviously check first.

On that note, can you see whether the CDs have data on them? If you hold them up to the light, you can usually notice a slightly distinct shade difference between the burnt area (closer to the centre) and the unburnt area. Is data getting transferred to these disks?

 

[berg]

Hi Sheri ..

That's funny because in your first post you said this started after an upgrade .... what did you upgrade?

Will your computer still burn DVD's ?

My machine is very finikky on burn speed and brand of cd that it will accept. I've had to do as mad jew says ... turn it down in iTunes to 2x speed and it will only work with one or two makes of cd's ...

 

[Sheri]

Yes, since I went to itunes 6, a few months back I've had to slow the burn speed, usually to 4x or I get a different error. LOL The CD's are brand new but I didn't think to check and see if anything took. I've already tossed them in the trash in frustration but I'll try another burn and see if anything is there - thanks!

Sheri

In iTunes, you can slow down the burn speed. This is done through the Advanced section, under the Burning pane. Slow it right down and see how things go.

Also, the verification process occurs after the disk has been burnt and as such, doesn't really affect the final product. Just out of interest, have you tried these CDs in a player? I'm guessing they won't work, but obviously check first.

On that note, can you see whether the CDs have data on them? If you hold them up to the light, you can usually notice a slightly distinct shade difference between the burnt area (closer to the centre) and the unburnt area. Is data getting transferred to these disks?

 

[Sheri]

Oh, sorry, I was talking about when I upgraded a few months ago to itunes 6. I tunes 4 burned CD in a snap but six has been a total pain. I have to lower the burn speed to 4x and close every other window and then most of the time it'll burn but it used to burn everytime. But my finder was burning the same. This just started yesterday after I 'tested' my DVD burner *whimper* Big mistake that!

Sheri

Hi Sheri ..

That's funny because in your first post you said this started after an upgrade .... what did you upgrade?

Will your computer still burn DVD's ?

My machine is very finikky on burn speed and brand of cd that it will accept. I've had to do as mad jew says ... turn it down in iTunes to 2x speed and it will only work with one or two makes of cd's ...

 

[Sheri]

Just went in and tried a few experiments. LOL burned a CD, same problem - put it back in to see if anything was actually burned and it hadn't

Then tried burning a DVD again and that worked. Burned fine.

Then I tried a CD again and for the first time since I burned the DVD yesterday that worked! So, it looks like it might have fixed itself?

Otherwise I've got an intermitten problem (nooooo! LOL)

Thanks for all your suggestions!

Sheri

Hi Sheri ..

That's funny because in your first post you said this started after an upgrade .... what did you upgrade?

Will your computer still burn DVD's ?

My machine is very finikky on burn speed and brand of cd that it will accept. I've had to do as mad jew says ... turn it down in iTunes to 2x speed and it will only work with one or two makes of cd's ...

 

[mad jew]

I'm glad it works for now. If it happens again, try resetting the PMU.