Is my superdrive dual layer?

I have a macbook pro. I was pretty sure it was a dual layer superdrive when I bought it, but I recently tried to use Toast 8 to burn DVD-video to a DL DVD-R. It gave me an error about half way and quit. System profiler says I have a HL-DT-ST DVDRW GWA4080MA

If you look in system profiler under the disk burning entry it will tell you what it supports.
If you were
a) not burning Verbatim DL ( say you were using the cheap-o Memorex DVD DL)
b) doing other stuff at the same time
Then you will get failures. The whole DL hullaballo is a huge inconvenient waste of money. Twice the capacity at 10X the cost and coasters more often than not. Try better media and hands off while it works.

Similar Messages

  • SuperDrive 8x dual layer for 15''

    Why isn't Apple offering the SuperDrive 8x dual layer as an optional upgrade to the current 15'' models? I priced one and noticed that option does not exist. Is there a techical explanation as to why Apple is missing out on that business? I don't want to buy the 17'' honker just to have the better drive.

    Well,
    what will probably happen is that Apple will state that there are hardware differences between the UJ-857 and the UJ-857D, and that a simple firmware upgrade is not enough. Also, Apple will say that the heat dissipation while burning a DL DVD is too high, and the new MBPs have been adapted to that. So there will be no change in the burning capabilities for the existing Superdrives in the MBPs.
    That leaves two possible ways: To buy a third party Superdrive (for example an 857D, which I guess will be available shortly), or flash it with some piracy firmware from some piracy site (which of course you are strongly discouraged to do).

  • Burning a 2h30min project without a dual layer superdrive

    I have a dual layer Lacie external dual layer DVD writer, I recently purchased iLife because I was told that you can burn dual layer projects with iDVD 5.
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    I have tried the patch to make iDVD burn larger projects(from the French site Hardmac) and it didn't work for me, also tried to save as disc image but to no avail.
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    Hello, Robert!
    Have a look at this. A rep from LaCie posted to it: http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?128@@.68b9ba73
    Be sure to read all the posts for some info that should help you.
    Good Luck!

  • Dual layer DVD-ROM in a SuperDrive

    I have a dual layer DVD-ROM created on a Pioneer USB dual layer burner. The disc plays fine in the Pioneer, but does not mount in the SuperDrive of my PowerBook or G5 tower. Should the standard SuperDrive be able to read the disc? It can read a dual layer movie disc without problem.
    All the best,
    Tom

    I might be in the wrong forum, but what the heck. I have a similar problem. I have a two week old 17" PowerBook G4 with the new Superdrive that writes in DVD-DL. Anyway, I backed up a ton on data from a variety of computers I had around here (20 Dual-layer DVDs) by copying and pasting data to the DVD-DLs using the finder in Tiger. They work fine on the PowerBook but will not play on a 1st generation 20" iMac G5 (1.8 GHz, 1GB SDRAM, running 10.3.9) with a Superdrive. It just spits them out. I thought that older Superdrives could play (but not write to) DL DVDs. Any suggestions on how I can get them to play on older Macs with Superdrives (i.e. 867MHz PowerMac G4 Quicksilver, Flat Panel iMac G4s, and 1st generation iMac G5s)?
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  • Playing dual layer dvd's with iBook superdrive

    I've burned a couple of dual layer DVD's (8.5GB) with my iBook G4 and an external Lacie DVD burner.
    I used Toast 7, experiencing no problems at all.
    The DVD's play perfectly using the Lacie driver itself, or my Sony DVD player, or even a 10-year-old Pioneer DVD drive on my PC.
    But... my iBook Superdrive refused to even read them.
    The disk just makes a couple of turns and then the superdrive ejects it with no message.
    The superdrive plays perfectly the commercial dvd's, which I know are usually double layered.
    Does that mean that superdrive is not compatible with burned dual layer dvd's?
    iBook G4; iPod 60GB v1.2.1; iTunes 6; Airport Xpress Mac OS X (10.4.4)
    iBook G4; iPod 60GB v1.2.1; iTunes 6; Airport Xpress   Mac OS X (10.4.4)  

    I don't believe the SuperDrive for the iBook is set
    up to read/write the dual layer DVD's.
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    The problem is when reading the burned dvds
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    Disc Burning label. Select it.
    If your SD is dual layer compatible you'll see "+R
    DL".
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    What speed were you burning the Dual DVD's on the
    LaCie?
    don't know, really, but Toast is set to burn disks at the best speed:
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    it's IMPOSSIBLE that SD can't read dual layer DVDs: commercial DVDs are 6-7GB, they MUST be DL and they play perfectly.
    and if it really can't play burned DL DVDs, that's really a shame! >:-Z

  • Will dual layer 9GB DVDs work w/ PB G4 Superdrive?

    Has anyone successfully burned 9GB DVD R media with a Powerbook Superdrive? My G4 is about 3 years old and 9GB was not available at the time.
    Thanks,

    Welcome to the Apple discussions.
    I believe you need a dual layer superdrive to benefit from the dual layer DVDs. The dual layer superdrive was only available on the last Powerbook model, with the hi-rez screen.

  • Superdrive Should Read Dual Layer, but doesnt?

    I recently purchased a Powerbook 17" and under the specifications, it is supposed to support Burning Dual Layer DVDs. However, upon looking under my System profiler it does not show this. Why?
    MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-835E:
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    Interconnect: ATAPI
    Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
    Cache: 2048 KB
    Reads DVD: Yes
    CD-Write: -R, -RW
    DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW
    Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
    Media:
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    ID: CMCW02
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    I believe only the last version of the 17" G4 PB had a DL burn capable drive. Exactly what model do you have? Your System Profiler specs indeed do not show DL capability.
    You may get more info in the proper G4 17" forum - this is the 15" forum.

  • Has anyone installed a dual layer superdrive in early model imac g5?

    I want to install a dual layer burner in my imac g5 1.8 ghz machine. Apple chat tells me that this is not possible with my machine. I would like to know if anyone has done this and did it work for them. Thanks
    imac G5 1.8Ghz   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  

    I bought a Panasonic UJ-845 DVD burner from OWC and installed it in my old iMac G5 1.8 ghz. There was a wee bit of minor work to replace it (you have to transfer the sled using a Torex wrench and have to remove and replace the plastic bezel.) Installation was simple and took only 15 min.
    I ran it for a couple of days, removed it and returned it to OWC. Yes, it burned dual layer disks but was just as slooow as the original DVD drive. HORRIBLY SLOW!
    I then bought an external Firewire DVD burner from OWC (Pioneer based drive). I'm very happy with the burn speeds on it for single and deal layer disks.
    If you insist on an internal drive, remember the Panasonic UJ-845 drive is universal. ZipZoomFly.com has it listed at $89.99 with free shipping. (ZipZoomFly Part# 175300 ) That's $40 cheaper than the exact same drive that OWC sells.
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  • Dual Layer Superdrive doesn't recognize DL Discs

    Not sure if there is another thread on this, I cannot find one. If so please supply me with the link.
    I have a Powerbook G4 and it came with a combo drive. A while back I purchased a Matshita DVD-Ram UJ-845S Dual Layer DVD burner from Other World Computing. I never really tried using it until recently.
    I am trying to back up my home movies via Backup and when I insert a DL DVD it recognizes it as a CD, not even a DVD.(The DVD's I am using came with my DL Burner) I had a certified Apple Tech install the DVD drive in my Powerbook to avoid voiding my warranty. I bought the DL DVD burner to avoid using multiple disc and to backup my movies that I bought.
    Are there any driver updates or something?
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    Jeremy

    I might have figured it out, but I am not 100% sure. I think the disc's I got w/ the DVD burner are CD-R's. I put one of them in an older laptop(w/ only a CD burner and it said it too was a CD-R disc.
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  • Superdrive burns dual layer dvds?

    i just purchase a mac mini today with 2.4 ghz or w/e...i want to know if the cd drive can burn any dvd's especially dual layers.

    Yes, It will burn DVDs including dual layer.
    Reads DVD: Yes
    CD-Write: -R, -RW
    DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
    Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
    Media: To show the available burn speeds, insert a disc and choose View > Refresh
    You can verify this on your machine by clicking the apple logo on the menu bar and selecting "about this Mac". On the next screen select "more info" tab.
    On the new screen look at the left column under hardware and select "disc Burning" This will show all your drives capabilities.
    Hope that Helps...

  • IDVD will not burn dual layer disc correctly.

    I have an iMac9,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz with 8 gigs of ram, with a OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5670S DVD-writable to -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW. It will not spit out a properly formated disc from IDVD. I get the "Supported disc not available" message, even though I have encoded it for dual layer in NTSC.
    Has anyone ever experience problems with this? If so, what did you do to resolve it? I've burned through a half a dozen dual layer disc and these are still not supercheap.
    TommyBoye

    Yes I called and my warranty was up so the nerd on the other end tried to sell me the applecare protection program. I guess my next step is to go to an apple store, but as the person that replied last in that discussion said time is an issue. I guess my biggest problem with this whole thing is that it is obviously the update that messed up all of these superdrives, so warranty shouldn't be an issue. Apple even removed the download link: http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20070716082804520&query=superdrive

  • DVD dual layer write speed?

    Anybody know what the maximum write speed of the Superdrive is, for dual-layer DVDs?
    I have a late 2011 MacBook Pro 15" and I want to buy some blank DL DVDs.  I'm looking at Verabtim DVD+R DL blank media.  They offer both 2.4X and 8X speeds.  I've read that the 8X disks - which are more expensive, roughly 15 for the price of 20 of the slower disks - can be a problem for older drives that don't support that speed.
    I already know that my Superdrive will write at 8X or more for a single-layer disk.

    "Be sure to take full advantage of:
    About this Mac > ( More Info ) > Disk Burning ..."
    Yup, this showed me that my 8X (single layer) disk could in fact be burned at 8X, but without any DL disks for testing, ATM doesn't tell you anything about burning speeds.
    Thanks for the confirmation that I do NOT want to buy the 8X disks.  I've gone ahead and ordered the 2.4X Verbatim disks.  I also saw some labeled as 2.4-6X, and I suppose those would work with my 4X drive.

  • New MacMini's Dual Layer Drive

    Most people know that new MacMini currently on the market is register at 1.5GHz not 1.42. Also Vidoe RAM is 64MB not 32MB as well as the superdrive is matsushita UJ-845. UJ-845 is listed as DL drive and from the google it is DL drive.
    On my other post, I have been asked if I was able to write Dual Layer Media. I have tried last evening and write 7.9GB of information on Fujifilm 2.4X DVD+R DL medial using the Mac native writer program. I have old toast 5.2.3 so didn't even try but it was success.
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    Still think PowerPC is a still sweet processor over Intel but have to see when it comes out..

    Hello! You may want to read THIS XLR8 Article. Tom

  • Mac Mini 2006 MA607LL/A need to buy dual layer burner

    Hi guys. I bought a MA607LL/A mac mini. I need to upgrade so it can read dual layer burn cd. So I guess super drive? Which one will fit? Ty

    I wouldn't waste the time or money upgrading it to a Superdrive.
    Your best bet is to get a faster and more reliable external tray loading USB desktop DVD Drive.
    For Example: I'm happily using an LG GE24LU20 that I picked up on sale at BestBuy a few years ago.

  • Dual Layer Burning (Mac Mini 1.42) UJ-845C

    So I understand that the Matshita UJ-845C superdrive is capable of burning Dual-layer DVD's, however it appears that perhaps that support has been turned off in firmware version DPP9? Anyone know if there is a firmware update for this that will enable the Dual-layer burning? Seems a shame to have a DL capable drive without DL support :,(

    My System Profiler Information does not show "+R DL", yet other peoples systems with the same model drive (but different firmware) DO show the "+R DL" which would be a good indication that the drive is merely firmware crippled to not support "+R DL".
    As for evidence, I think that showing that:
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    and
    b) The same drive (Matshita/Matsushita/Panasonic) OEM'ed to other Manufacturers (Toshiba, etc.) supports "+R DL"
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    Obviously doing will void any warranty, however if the drive does not support "+R DL", it is not a great loss, as it can be replaced with another model UJ-845 that does support "+R DL"
    2) Speak with Panasonic regarding this particular part number and see what they have to say about the capabilities of the drive and whether or not it is a feature that is disabled in firmware
    I have sent an email off to them already regarding this and hoping that I will receive a reply soon.
    3) Speak with Apple directly regarding this particular UJ-845 model number and see what they have to say about it's dual-layer capability and whether it is turned off in firmware or not.
    While I agree that when purchasing a new machine you can only count on the specs that Apple provides as to the functionality of the machine, if indeed the "+R DL" feature is merely turned off in firmware and the drive is indeed capable of supporting this, then that would mean that Apple deliberately turned it off, and the question becomes "why?" The most likely answer would be that they were advertising other more expensive machines that had "+R DL" capability such as the Dual-G5 and the iMac G5, and again we come to the question of "why?"
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