"Laser Power not calibrated" error??

I just upgraded my Mac to a 24" 2.4GHz Aluminum model last week. I went to burn a DVD this morning and got an error message that said "The laser power level has not be calibrated to burn this media". I'm using Toshiba 8x DVD-R media - the same media I have used for years with my previous Mac.
Does anyone know what this error message means??
Do I have a bad SuperDrive??
Did I miss something on the setup concerning the SuperDrive??
Any help or thoughts on the subject would be appreciated.

I had issues with two different methods of burning -
FINDER - popped in a DVD, it recognized as blank DVD. I moved some photos and files over to the DVD, then went to burn the DVD - got an error.
DVD2one - I was trying to burn a short home movie I had made, it processed the video and audio, then I got another error.
I found some older Memorex DVD-Rs someone had given me a few years ago because they wouldn't work in their PC's DVD+R burner. When I used the Memorex DVDs, I could burn using both of the methods above.
I'm guessing the issue is with the Toshiba DVD-Rs I was using. I'll have to give the remainder of these DVDs to someone else and go buy some Memorex DVD-Rs instead. I guess I'll go find this week's adverts and see if I can find a deal some place.

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Laser Power Not Calibrated...

Hi, I tried to burn a DVD-DL last night on my new MacBook Pro, and got an error message that said (something like) Laser Power Not Calibrated. I tried Zapping pram, resetting power admin, resetting permissions, ran disk warrior, created a new account. Tried 3 different types of media. Tried to burn from disk utility as well as toast. The wierd part is that these programs wouldn't even try to burn. The drive recognized a blank disk, started to prepare the data, then quit, saying that the laser power wasn't calibrated.
After a few hours of this, I called apple. First time they were of no help. They hadn't heard of the error message. And the guy I was talking to suggested something he read on this board (change language settings. Doesn't work).
I was finally told to send it in.
Then, I tried burning a cd. It worked. After that, I could then burn dvds again! Anyone have any idea what's going on? Thanks.

I had issues with two different methods of burning -
FINDER - popped in a DVD, it recognized as blank DVD. I moved some photos and files over to the DVD, then went to burn the DVD - got an error.
DVD2one - I was trying to burn a short home movie I had made, it processed the video and audio, then I got another error.
I found some older Memorex DVD-Rs someone had given me a few years ago because they wouldn't work in their PC's DVD+R burner. When I used the Memorex DVDs, I could burn using both of the methods above.
I'm guessing the issue is with the Toshiba DVD-Rs I was using. I'll have to give the remainder of these DVDs to someone else and go buy some Memorex DVD-Rs instead. I guess I'll go find this week's adverts and see if I can find a deal some place.

Qosmio G20: Can not burn CD's but only DVD's - power calibration error

Hi
I'm having some trouble and i think it's very strange.
I can't record audio or data cd's!
i've used sonic reducer, as nero, as windows media player..tried 3 different brands of cd'r and i can't burn audio or data files in any of those..BUT...on the other hand i can burn DVD'S...this is very strange right?
Ps: when i record with nero i keep having this message on the relatory of the burning process : "power calibration error" but only i when i try to burn cd´s.. dvd's recording doesn't have this problem
do i need to update some drivers?
please any help would be super or i will have to make a big trip to solve the problem on the laptop shop.
regards

"Power calibration" - When burning a CD the drive tries to write a test signal to the disk to set the calibration of the laser. If it cannot write a readable signal, this is called a "power calibration error". The error message usually means that there is something wrong with the media.
Please try to use few different empty CDs (Verbatim, TDK, Maxell and others).
Check also this page http://www.cd-burner-help.com/power-calibration.htm
Maybe helps.
Good luck!!!

Power calibration error when burning?

I get a power calibration error when burning from IDVD.
Any suggestions as to how to fix it?

Basically a power calibration is the drive writes to the blank and then tries to read it back and adjusts the laser power accordingly to get a proper burn. So there are a number of reasons you might get this problem.
One is the media itself. A bad disc or poor quality media might give you this error.
Next, you may have a dirty laser and running on of those cleaning CDs (they have little brushes on them to dust off the laser) might do the trick.
Third, could be a laser on the drive is giving up the ghost. Hopefully it is not the last one.
Patrick

Medium error: Power calibration error. (0x73, 0x03.)

Everytime I try to burn a DVD-R in iDVD v3.0.1, I always get the following;
Power calibration error. (0x73, 0x03.)
What does that error code mean?
Any resolution?
Thanks.

Hi
What brand of DVD ?
I only use Verbatim (Taiyo Yuden DVDs also supposed to be first class)
What type of DVD ?
I use only DVD-R
If You can - try to get an as slow burning versions x1 or x2 - x16 can be problematic
(alternative is to make a DiskImage of Your DVD project - standard in iDVD 5 and onwards.
In iDVD 4 You need to do a Hack and use a program named HPfurz, install it and follow instr.
Then when You have a working DiskImage - burn this at (x1 or) x4 with Apple Disk Util tool or
Roxio Toast™ if You got this.)
Else
*Not knowing the origin to Your problem - General approach when in trouble is as follows.*
• Free space on internal (start-up) hard disk if it is less than 10Gb should rather have 25Gb
• Hard disk is untidy. Repair Permissions, Repair Hard disk (Apple Disc Util tool)
• Delete iDVD pref file - *or rather start a new user/account* - log into this and re-try
iDVD pref file resides. Mac Hard Disk (start-up HD)/Users/"Your account"/Library/Preferences and is named.
com.apple.iDVD.plist
While iDVD is NOT RUNNING - move this file out to desk-top.
Now restart iDVD.
• Program miss-match. iDVD 5.0.2, Mac OS X.4.11 AND QuickTime 7.5.5 - is OK - DON’T work under Leopard
• Program miss-match. iDVD 6.0.4, Mac OS X.4.11 AND QuickTime 7.5.5 - is OK (might work under Leopard)
• Program miss-match. iDVD’08 v. 7.0.1, Mac OS X.4.11 AND QuickTime 7.5.5 - is OK (might work under Leopard)
• iDVD (08) v7 Locate theme folder. Move out iDVD1, iDVD 2 and eventually iDVD4 folders to desktop - re-try
• Try a Cleaning CD/DVD that cleans the laser lens on the DVD burner/player
iDVD 6.0.4 and iDVD 7.0.1 are compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Last resort. from Craig. Solved the problem!! Finally!!
I deleted every iDVD application and folder from my boot drive,
emptied the trash and then installed iDVD 08 using the customize option
and I am up and running.
If You do a re-install be sure to get rid of all iDVD old parts AND then EMPTY the Trash-basket !
Yours Bengt W

Re: Satellite L30-105 Vista - Power Calibration Error - need new firmware

Hey there guys =)
Ive got a Satellite L30-105 running a 32-bit Vista. And even if i try several different burning softwares (Imageburn, Nero), and with TDK-cds, I get a error from the burning softwares, saying "POwer Callibration Error".
The Satellite L30-105 (Article number PSL33E-02S026N5), uses a cd/dvd burner called MAT****A DVD-RAM UJ-850S
I am wondering, can i download and install new drivers for my dvd-drive???
i am also gonna try to buy this "cleaning-cd", to try to clean the lense. cause i bought the laptop in 2007... so its like grandma..
But do u guys have any other what might be wrong?? Is it expensive to get a new cd/dvd-drive for this laptop???
Cheers and thank u!

Hi
Power calibration error means that the ODD laser lens cannot calibrate in the right position.
Usually this has nothing to do with an drive firmware but with the hardware problem.
In most cases the CD/DVD drive must be replaced.
Im not sure how much an new CD/DVD drive could be but fact is that you cannot use any CD/DVD drive
You need an compatible one and such compatible and supported drive could be ordered from an local ASP.
greets

Satellite A200-1M8 PAE6E: CD/DVD drive issue - power calibration error

Hi,
I have an Satellite A200-1M8 ( or A200 PAE6E ) with Vista and for some time I've been trying to burn some dvds which I failed due to power calibration error.
I tested my DVD-ROM and it works normally, the problem is it does not read (recognise) every dvd.
Is there anyone who can help me out about this?
Or how can I learn which type of media my DVD-ROM would read?
Thanks in advance.

Hi
I think I have founded an interesting article for you:
[Is there a list of supported type of CD-R/-RW or DVD-R/+R/-RW/+RW/-RAM discs which should be used?|http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums/ann.jspa?annID=36]
But generally a power calibration error means that its the media is faulty or not compatible with the drive.

CDs work but not DVDs "device failed to calibrate laser power level for med

Hi
I've been having a problem with my disc drive.
I can burn CDs but not DVDs. Have OS 10.5.6.
While trying to burn an error message comes up saying
"This disc can't be burned because the device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media?
I tried to go into Apps - Utilities - Disk utilities and repair, but this message still shows up and refuses to burn anything even in Toast.
Please help. Any advice would be valuable. Thanks.

njdesigner wrote:
Thanks for the advice. I'm going to try the brands you suggested.
I don't think the drive may be dirty, because wouldn't the CDs not work as well?
Not necessarily. Different lasers, different power levels, etc.
It's really a dual drive: CD and DVD. Almost two separate devices with a common motor and platen,etc.
You can get a cleaning CD from RadioShack and elsewhere. Get the dry one with the small brushes. Works fine on everything but a notebook.

Laser Power Error!

Hi,
When I am trying to burns music disks I am getting the following error,
The attempt to burn a disk failed. The device failed to calibrate the laser power for this medium!
Then my mac spits out my blank Sony CD-R disk. I have been using this type of disk for months without and problems and also tried Maxell XL-II Music 80 Disks and they seen to burn okay but do not register the music on both hi-fi and apple equipment?
I had this same problem 2 months into owning my apple when it was new and got a new drive on warrantee, does this not mean as its no longer under warrantee that I have to get a new drive or at best buy a external one?!

I just wanted to tell everyone on this thread that I had this same problem and it's been solved. I have a 5 year old IMAC. I thought I'd just have to give it up and that the superdrive was going. But, I tried the $14 Memorex Optidisc (cleaning disk) that I bought at Circuit City and it worked like a charm. I've had no problems or error messages since. Thanks to David Jenson in another thread for suggesting it....

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.

Laser Calibration Error

I am having an issue burning CD's from iTunes v.6.0.5, running on Mac OS 10.4.7. When I attempt to burn from a playlist, I get the following error message: "The attempt to burn the disk failed. The device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media."
I do believe that this problem is not isolated to iTunes, as I have tried to burn from Finder and receive another error message: "Sorry the operation could not be completed because an unexpected error occurred (Error code 0x8002006D)."
I've been burning CDs and DVDs successfully for several years (same media as I am trying now) and am very frustrated by this issue. Having looked through all of the other threads, I am starting to see a pattern here of issues with these Superdrives. Can anyone suggest something besides:
1) Replacing my SuperDrive
2) Using other types of media
3) Blanking my harddrive and starting over from scratch
It seems to me that it is highly suspect that after years of operating fine, my iMac is suddenly not working after applying the latest updates to OSX and iTunes. Apple Support, this issue is not going away.
iMac 800 MHz G4 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Ok,
I tried to burn a data DVD at 8x using Toast.... and it worked. Now I am confused. Whats wrong? If you google for the error I got when I tried to burn from the finder you will see that I am not alone with this problem. However I have not seen a real solution for the problem. Most suggest to switch DVD brands. I believe I have excluded that one. Whats left? I need to be able to burn from the finder.

DR4-A power calibration error??

I bought 50 units of Maxell MXL RG01 dvd-r:s. They are on the recommended disk -document. Everytime I try to burn them with Nero 6, Process goes to 1 percent and I get error message "Power calibration error". I'm having a new Firmware(2.50) installed. Can anyone tell me what's wrong, because MSI doesn't reply my e-mails?

Hi All
I just wanted to post some information on the "Power Calibration Error" on the DR8-A2. There are quite a few posts on this subject and yes this error can occur if you are using incompatible media, but if you have been using the media without any problems in the past and then you suddenly start receiving this error then it's not the media at fault and also not the software you are using. You can try a "DVD Lens" cleaner the wet or dry version and it may work but I have personally found that when you have the "Power Calibration Error" problem these cleaners will not work for the DVD writer. They do work well for DVD players and DVD ROM drives so don't get me wrong. The reason so many people get the "Power Calibration Error" on the DR8-A2 drive is really due to the fact that the drives dust proof mechanism is poor and the dust builds up on the lens. Remember if you get the "Power Calibration Error" when you try a new media then it probably is the media. Only try the fix given below on the drive if you receive this error on your normal media which you have been using in the past without any problems. I have now had the problem 3 times and the drive is only 4 months old but have managed to get round it every time. Although my drive was in warranty I had to break the warranty seal as I didn't have time to take the drive back for exchange. You will need to open your drive and you will void the warranty so only do this if you are confident enough to do so and at your own risk.
You will need the following...
A) Screwdriver to remove your drive.
B) Computer cotton swabs - (Others may leave cotton deposits so not recommended)
C) Lens / Head Care Solution - (One that contains ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL)
D) Paper clip - (Or something of a similar size to eject drive)
I have gone into detailed instruction only for the benefit of people who have never opened up a CD/DVD drive, obviously people with the experience can skip to step 5 in the instructions.
Instructions...
1) Philips screwdriver to open your PC and remove your drive.
2) Straighten the paper clip and insert it into the "Emergency Drive Eject" hole to eject the drive tray a quarter of the way out and remove the front panel from the tray by unhooking the clips underneath and then sliding up.
3) Now remove the drives front panel by pressing down on the clips and sliding forward.
4) Remove the 4 screws at the bottom of the drive and then turn the drive over to slide up the top panel of the drive.
5) Here’s the delicate bit, you will really need to be very gently now, place 2 or 3 drops of the lens leaner onto the tip of the cotton bud and then very gently wipe the lens side to side. Do not push down on the lens too hard and don’t clean it using up & down strokes. Do this 8 to 10 times. Then get a clean cotton bud and do this once more.
6) You can now put your drive back together in reverse order and the system should work without giving a "Power Calibration Error".
I hope this helps, I have done this several times now on my own systems and for friends and family, it has worked for me every time. Like I said earlier the dust mechanism is poor on these drives and in a few weeks time you will need to clean the lens again.

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.

Cd burn laser power error

i have a brand new macbok pro and ive had it for two weeks and this is the fisrt time ive tried burning a disc and an error message pops up that says: "Unable to burn disc.The device failed to calibrate the laser power for this media." I cant figure out how to fix this. Ive tried reinstalling itunes and ive restarted my mcabook plenty of times. please help me!
thnaks, Derrik

I've been getting the same "The device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media." error. I've burned over a hundred DVD's using the same media and now the last 5 or so have failed with this error.
I tried another brand and still the same error. I also tried the International Language and compressed air fixes. Nothing. Still the same error.
My Macbook Pro as the Matshita UJ-857E drive.
Has anyone been able to fix this problem? My next step is to buy a CD/DVD drive lens cleaning kit.
Thanks,
Ken

"Laser Power not calibrated" error??

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