Cranky CD burner

March 19, 2008 8:43 PM

CD burner on my Powerbook G4 is erratic.

I get some burns done, but I'm getting more and more drink coasters. The process seems to be failing at the initialisation stage. 10.4.11, iTunes 7.

Any thoughts?

I thank you.

posted by Wolof to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

Best answer: Bad batch of media?
posted by mzurer at 9:08 PM on March 19, 2008

Response by poster: Possible, I suppose. They're Sonys.
[NOT SONYIST]
posted by Wolof at 9:14 PM on March 19, 2008

Best answer: In my experience, the first suspect is always the media.
posted by -t at 9:28 PM on March 19, 2008

Best answer: Buy another burner. They're cheap. I don't know anything about Macs, but I'm assuming they just take regular IDE drives?
posted by tra at 10:23 PM on March 19, 2008

Best answer: Yep, my G4 tower burns one good one in 6, even at the slowest speed. I now use an external that never fails.
Another option is to try one of the CD lens cleaner disks, though I haven't.
posted by artdrectr at 11:54 PM on March 19, 2008

Best answer: tra: Powerbook G4 burners are a little more expensive. They're a special form factor and can run around US $100, not including installation (depending on how good you are with disassembly). Thirding the suggestion to try other media.
posted by trouserlouse at 6:15 PM on March 20, 2008

Response by poster: Having tried different media I am fairly sure it's the drive. Best answers all round, and thanks.
posted by Wolof at 6:27 PM on March 21, 2008

Response by poster: A CD lens cleaner disc appears to have sorted this problem out.

So, uh, don't be shy, yeah?

I'd adjust best answers, but all advice given is sound. So, no.
posted by Wolof at 3:57 PM on March 23, 2008