"Can't be burned because the device failed to calibrate"

I have burned DVDs and CDs with my iMac in the past but now it's misbehaving. I tried to burn a DVD and I got the error message "The disc can't be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media."
Restarts, disk repair, permissions repair, don't have any effect. It is burning CDs without problems and the DVDs I have tried to burn were OK in the past.
Is this something I can troubleshoot myself, or will I end up taking it in to my local Mac emporium for diagnosis?

I am getting this error trying to burn DL DVD's.
On a G4/800. Mac Mini 1.83 Intel, Macbook Pro 2.2 and Mac Pro 8-core.
On the original drives I have tried the spray, done the business card trick, reset pram, SMC and EFI, repaired disk permissions. Used Memorex, Ricoh, Imation and Maxell media. So I bought an LG then a Yamaha and then a Superdrive... Tried using Burn Folder, Disk Utility and Toast as software.
Nothing works. 4 Mac's incapable of burning DL DVD's. I have a 8 year old PC that works...
Anybody have a clue whats going on?

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Error Message while trying to burn a DVD-R with my MacBook Pro: "The disc can't be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media.

While using my Mac OS X Version 10.6.8 to burn a DVD-R I keep getting the error message: "This disc can't be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media."
So, I tried the iDVD and got the same error message.
Can anyone out there help me? I've tried both a DVD - R, and a CD.
I made a short 2:20 minute presentation from iMovie and used the "share" to iDVD, then to iTunes, then I tried exporting it to Quicktime and saved it on my desk top. That is when I tried burning by opening the blank DVD-R in the finder then draging the movie on to it and selecting the burn option. Thank you for your time in helping me with this frustrating problem.
Peace, Pyxidis

I have had that same problem, but it was unrelated to any upgrade.
In my case the optical drive was simply failing, and I replaced it - it was a Powerbook, about eight years old.
It is possible that it's unrelated to Lion, as unlikely as this may seem, since you've just upgraded.
Optical drives seem to be the most life-limited component in these computers. The laser just seems to get weak with age.

How do I deal with this error message when burning DVD's: The disc can't be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media.

I am getting this error message when trying to burn a DVD: The disc can’t be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media. iMac, Mac OS X 10.6.8 Memorex DVD-R 12x Any ideas?

First, try a different batch of recordable DVDs. If you still have problems, you may want to make an appointment at the genius bar and have it checked. The drive may be failing.

I am getting this message when trying to burn a cd: The disc can't be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media.

I have a mac book pro OSX 10.7.5 I am getting this message when trying to burn a cd: The disc can’t be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media.

Look here:
Burner - device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media.

Been trying to burn a movie onto DVD and get this "The disc can't be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media" Anybody know what it means and what to do? Help! Thanks

Been trying to burn a movie onto DVD and get this "The disc can’t be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media" Anybody know what it means and what to do? Help! Thanks

It generally means that the media is faulty or of poor quality. Most of us here use Verbatim, Maxell or Taiyo Yuden media.
OR
Your Superdrive may need a clean.
If you have further questions please state what Mac, with what versions of OS X, iMovie and iDVD you are using.

Can't burn discs. Error message: The disc can't be burned because the device failed to calibrate the laser level for this media can't be burned because the device

Cannot burn discs. Error message: "The disc can't be burned because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media". Then the blank disc is ejected.

Two main possible causes:
1. Poor media. Verbatim DVD-R work best, burned at only 2x or 4x.
2. Dirty lens. Try cleaning the superdrive with a proprietary CD/DVD lens cleaner that uses tiny brushes.

Iam getting the following message when i try and burn a dvd using my mac The disc can't be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media.

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

Unfortunately your drive has *probably* failed. You can try a cleaning disc, sometimes thst can help. First though try resetting the smc and pram.
To reset the smc on Desktop Macs
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord.
Wait fifteen seconds.
Attach the computer's power cord.
Wait five seconds, then press the power button to turn on the computer
Resetting NVRAM / PRAM
Shut down your Mac.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.

When i insert a blank DVD, appear a message "The disc can't be burned, Because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media."

when i insert a blank DVD, appear a message "The disc can't be burned, Because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media."

when i insert a blank DVD, appear a message "The disc can't be burned, Because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media."

Error messages: The disc can't be burned because an unexpected error occurred (error code 0x8002006E). The disc can't be burned because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media.

October 13, 2014
After reading the 10 pages of the Apple link and trying almost everything except adding a new account in the System Preferences, I went to Staples and bought a new box of Staples brand DVD+Rs and came home and tried them and they worked fine. I also changed the System Preferences for CDs and DVDs to just "Open Finder" instead of "Ask What to Do" - so I now bypass that dialogue box because I noticed when I burned a CD I never got that question and had NO TROUBLE burning a CD throughout this entire process. And now I seem to have no problem burning DVDs either....
The DVDs I bought were only 4X (burn speed) - kinda low number but that was also mentioned above. Whatever, after several days trying to figure out why I could burn CDs but not DVDs, my problem seems to be solved.

Good work, thanks for the report!

Since I installed Lion I get the message "The disc can't be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media " when I try to burn a DVD.

Is this just a coincidence with a drive failure or is it a problem with Lion?

Try a different DVD or try a commercial laser head cleaner Disc

Mac OS X 10.6.8; iPhoto- photos to 'burn folder'; press 'burn' symbol. This window appears: 'Burn - The disc can't be burned, bcause the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media'; what to do next to address this?-

have Mac OS X 10.6.8; Put a few iPhoto-photos to 'burn folder'; press 'burn' symbol. This window appears: 'Burn - The disc can't be burned, bcause the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media'; what to do next to address this?-

That's a hardware issue and I'd ask on the forum for whatever Mac you have.

Dvd burner error message "device failed to calibrate laser power"

When I try to burn a dvd, I get an error message:
The disc can’t be burned, because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media.
and then it spits out the disk. This has never happened before.
Advice?

If Wjosten's suggestion does not work, clean the dvds - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=50448 or use another dvd brand - Verbatim, Maxell or Taiyo Yuden are highly recommended by Mac users.

Disk cant be burned because my laptop failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media

Tries to burn some files onto a CD-RW and I got this error message. The disk cant be burned because my device failed to calibrate the laser power level for the media

Hi David,
Mac SuperDrives are notoriously picky about the discs they'll play nicely with. Looks like your's is one of those. FWIW, I've had many more problems with RW discs than regular ones. I'd try another brand of regular disc.

I recently tried to burn some photos to a disc. It did not work, but then I ended up with a .fpbf folder on my desktop. Can't trash it, and when trying to burn again, I get this "... can't be burned because the original items can't be found". Help???

I recently tried to burn some photos on a CD. For some reason, It did not work. Now I have a .fpbf folder on my desktop. I can't seem to get rid of it. I tried dragging it to the trash, but then I get a box asking my to type my password it, so Finder can make the changes. Doing so, does nothing at all. And when I try to burn another CD from the same .fpbf file, I get a the following message: "There are 35 items that can’t be burned because the original items can’t be found. Skip the items and continue burning?". When I skip and continue burning, nothing shows up on the CD. In the meantime, the .fpbf folder is still in my desktop. I tried changing the aliases on each pic, but it still doesn't work. Any ideas of how I can remove this folder from my desktop?
Thank you.

Beavis2084,
Thank you for your detailed explanation but something is seriously wrong with my computer. Although the method you have described is very similar to the one I tried in step 2 from my second post, I have since "done things" which may have complicated matters—or suggests that my computer has a more serious problem.
Here's what I did:
1). Installed Onyx and discovered that I had a .plist file (com.apple.iphotomosaic.plist) that was causing a Syntax error: "Conversion of data failed. The file is not UTF-8, or in the encoding specified in XML header, if XML." After doing some research online, I was given the understanding that downloading the iLife update 9.0.3 (I installed the more recent version, 9.0.4) would solve this problem because it would also fix some system issues. So, I downloaded it...and when it didn't solve the problem, I decided to just deleted that .plist file.
2). I read your knew post and decided to follow your directions, even though I realized they were basically the same steps I followed in the 2nd method I mentioned earlier. I say "basically" because, for some reason, after inserting a blank disc, my computer does not open the disc in the Finder. Instead, it places the blank disc's image on the Desktop, even though the Finder's Preferences and the System's Preferences are set to have it open in the Finder—nothing should be on my Desktop! (Note: When transferring the items (all folders) I want to burn to the blank disc, I did not use the Option-Click-Drag method as before, I used the Click-Drag method, which created the curved arrow in the lower left corner of each item.)
Now, for the result of "method 2," the method we basically have in common, the computer goes through the burn stage but, in the verify stage, tells me that it is unable to verify the disk, suggests that my DVD may be unreliable and that I should try another disc, and then tells me about some "fork" (?) error (-43).
I don't know what to do anymore...

"The attempt to burn a disc failed. The device failed to calibrate...."

Using my "new" used 20inch-iMac G5, I just successfully burned my first music cd.
Moments later, I tried (repeatedly, with a half-dozen different blank cds) to burn a second music cd, and got the following message each time:
"The attempt to burn a disc failed. The device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media."
1) What does that message mean?
2) What should I do next to fix the problem?
thank you

I'm really getting tired of this, so I decided to bit the bullet and try to get it fixed. (Note that I'm talking about a 2-year old G5 iMac.)
THE BAD NEWS:
Apple store genius bars see this error "a lot" (even just this week), and it's usually the optical drive that needs to be replaced.
THE GOOD NEWS:
In Apple's article Do It Yourself iMac G5 parts you can install, they say, "iMac G5 computers are designed to make it easy for you to install replacement parts if you need to. These parts are known as Do It Yourself (DIY) parts." Listed among these parts is the optical drive. Apple even provides a PDF manual describing the simple process of replacing the optical drive.
THE IRONY:
An Apple store will NOT sell you this part, even at their high price of $221. They insist on doing the installation. And the price for this 10-minute procedure -- described in their online manual as sliding the drive into place and replacing the screws -- is an additional $130 (and I'm guessing they won't do it while you wait). That seems to be a labor rate of around $780 per hour for a "Do It Yourself" replacement that they won't let you do yourself.
So Apple's $351 price to (maybe) get an old G5 iMac burning CDs again is almost 1/3 of what a brand new aluminum Core 2 Duo iMac costs.
THE UPSIDE:
Online third parties will sell you a "genuine Apple" super drive for around $145 (or a combo drive for $95) to install yourself. (Use Google to search for "imac g5 optical drive replacement cost.")

"Can't be burned because the device failed to calibrate"

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