Can't burn CD's - "Interface error 5"

Question

Hello, I haven't used my old firewire LaCie CD burner (LaCie 1394, blue front with the slide out tray) in a while but recently I needed to put some graphics files on a CD. The sw I'm using is Toast 6. No matter what I tyry to do I get the following message: "Interface Error: 5 The connection is not stable"
I tried different CD brands, no effect.
This is the setup.
Machine Name: Power Mac G4 Cube
Machine Model: PowerMac5,1
CPU Type: PowerPC 60? (1.1)
CPU Speed: 1.3 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
L3 Cache (per CPU): 2 MB
Memory: 1.25 GB
Bus Speed: 100 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.1.9f1
System Version: Mac OS X 10.4.2 (8C46)
Kernel Version: Darwin 8.2.0
Looking for answers I found an (unanswered) message on a macosx.com forum. I'm reposting it because it provides more info about the same problem:
[quote]
"Burning the disc failed because communication to the disc drive failed. (Error code 0x80020022)" -- Is the error code when I attempt to burn any disc using the Finder or Disk Utility.
"Interface Error: 5 The connection is not stable.
The drive reported an error:
Sense Key = Illegal Request
Sense Code = 0x210x02
BUFFER UNDERRUN" --
Are the errors when I attempt to use Toast Titanium v6.x and v7.x.
I'm using an iMac G5 running 10.4.2. I have two burners, both of which give me the errors and will no longer burn to CD's or DVD's (cheap or expensive media, I've tried many different types). The burners i have are an internal superdrive that came with the mac (MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-825) and an external LaCie Firewire DL drive (_NEC DVD_RW ND-3500AG). Both drives started giving this error at the same time and I can't think of anything that I installed that could effect these. I don't have any speed tools installed.
I have tried all that Apple suggests in the articles http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25750.
I've experienced the same errors twice before, though not both drives at the same time. What fixed it the first time was simply upgrading the firmware on the burner. Second time, there were problems on the hard drive that I was burning from (directory issues if i remember) and running a combination of Tech Tool and Disk Utilitity fixed that.
But this time, I'm at my wits end and can't find anything helpful online. I'm hoping to find an answer before I end up trying a complete system reinstall.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
[/quote]
Yes, any info ...
TIA
Cube, 2 ibooks   Mac OS X (10.4.2)  

Answer 1

I'm having the same problem using Toast 7 to burn a Video TS movie I made. I'm using an external Lacie 16X DVD-R DL drive and an iMac G5 2.0, and Mac OS 10.4.3
After several failures with Interface Error 5, I tried copying a DVD movie I made from another DVD. This was created with the same Lacie drive using Mac OS 10.3 and my old iMac FP 15 inch. I got the same failure message.
I then switched my Lacie Drive to the USB port and everything is working fine. I switched it back to FireWire and I get the same error message again.
I can play DVD's on the Lacie with either the USB or FireWire port without any problem, I just can't record using the FireWire port. The FireWire ports on the computer work fine with all my other FireWire devices.
It must be a combination of 10.4.3, Toast 7 and Lacie FireWire. I'm going to recheck Lacie's site to make sure I have all of the updates.
iMac G5   Mac OS X (10.4.2)   Mac OS 10.4.3