DVD +R POWERBOOK G4

[ftroop99]

I HAVE A MAC OSX POWERBOOK G4 AND I NEED TO EXTRACT FILES FROM A
DVD +R. IS THIS POSSIBLE? MY DRIVE SPITS OUT THE DISK AND ONLY SEEMS TO READ DVD-R. ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

[galactica]

OK, FIRST OFF I NEED TO KNOW WHICH POWERBOOK G4.

and no, its not really possible on a drive that is -r only. If your drive spits out +r disks, it does so because they are incompatible.

2 options
1. get an external dvd drive that is dual format
2. get an external drive that is dual format

hope this helps

you could also use a friends dual format drive and reburn it onto a - r or transfer the files if you like

[xjeffx]

What ver of os X are you running? When I had Jaguar (10.2) my drive would spit out dvd+r's, and not play dvd-r's. I upgraded to Panther (10.3) and now it read's +r's great! I haven't tried a -r in a while though.

If you don't have Panther, I suggest upgrading. It MIGHT work.

Fyi, my system is a 12" powerbook, rev a 867mhz with a combo drive (cw8122)

[ftroop99]

I have Jaguar OS. I was thinking of upgrading anyway, but you just sealed the deal for me. thanks.

[ps2daddy]

Yep panther is what you need

If you get an external dvd drive that is dual format and you still have jaguar it still wont work.

I tried that one out myself with my ibook and my g4 tower but the moment I updated to Panther, Bam!!
Life was great

[galactica]

that, and make sure you update yourself the most recent edition of 10.3.x becuae i believe you have to have 10.3.3 or beyond.

[ps2daddy]

As long as you install panther from the CD you'll be

Ok Apple realized that they couldnt block out +R's any longer so it fixed the firmware since they knew they were going to make the G5's with +/-R drives because everyone wanted them.

Just like they kept the powerbook panasonic superdrives burning at 1X when the drive was designeded to write at 2X (they introduced in newer powerbook), when they made it so that the DVD player wouldnt work with an external drive on the blueberry ibooks that didnt come with a dvd-rom drive (force people to buy the more expensive one), and when they decided that iDVD should only work if you have an apple superdrive installed(so we have to buy a dvd burner from them). Glad we can bypass all that stuf now, whew!

I love my powerbook but man sometimes steve jobs can be really sneaky

[TugBoat]

Yes, all this software ranting is fine and dandy. But, the simple fact remains that Panasonic didn't release dual format Slimline drives until the 8122. So, if he has an 8121 (like me) or anything earlier, all the software in the world won't help. This thing looks better and better each day.

[ps2daddy]

Yes, all this software ranting is fine and dandy. But, the simple fact remains that Panasonic didn't release dual format Slimline drives until the 8122. So, if he has an 8121 (like me) or anything earlier, all the software in the world won't help. This thing looks better and better each day.

Yep thats true but until panther came out you couldnt even read a + R disk in your superdrive. My panasonic UJ-816 DVD-R drive in my AL powerbook will read +R disks because of panther and I can copy them onto -R disks. If I had jaguar this would not work but this has always worked on PCs.

But with that being said

They need to make a lower priced mac though

I just wish that they would make a headless iMac or eMac G5 without monitor and sold it for about $600-700 and added a standard VGA hookup.

I have seen the g4 imacs with superdrives for $999 though

Viva la mac!!!

[BernieR]

ok,

I have 10.2.8 and toast tit. I am able to burn DVD+R discs but not play them. I have a problem: I have a DVD+R disc that I want to copy the contents. When i put it in the G4 it just sits there ( i have a p-107 burner)
Any way to get a program to read the DVD+R contents and copy to desktop??

thanks

Bernie

[TugBoat]

Have you tried using toast in the copy mode and saving an image of the disc? You should be able to mount the image and then copy from it. The software you really need is Panther .3 or later

[ftroop99]

Alright. I installed 10.3 panther on my powerbook g4 and upgraded it to 10.3.5 and my drive still spits out the dvd+r. Do I need an external dvd drive? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[live4ever]

First, go to System Profiler to determine the make and model # of your optical drive and post it here.

If it is and incompatible drive then yes you will need an external or a new internal drive to read DVD+Rs.

[ftroop99]

MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-815

UNDER THE DRIVE TYPE IT SAYS CD-RW/DVD-R

I DON'T SUPPOSE THERE IS A WAY TO REVERSE THIS?

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

[BernieR]

For me:

DVD-RW DVR-107D
Pioneer
1.13
Disc Burning -- Not supported ---

[ps2daddy]

Alright. I installed 10.3 panther on my powerbook g4 and upgraded it to 10.3.5 and my drive still spits out the dvd+r. Do I need an external dvd drive? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

It might be the brand of dvd+r my powerbook g4 works just fine with reading +R. I am running 10.3.5 on my AL powerbook and using verbatim DVD+R

Model: MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-816
Revision:
Serial Number:
Drive Type: CD-RW/DVD-RW
Disc Burning: Apple Supported/Shipped

It also worked with my pioneer 103 and Sony DVD+-R/RW using my Sawtooth G4 in an external case with Panther running

[BernieR]

Have you tried using toast in the copy mode and saving an image of the disc? You should be able to mount the image and then copy from it. The software you really need is Panther .3 or later

thanks that worked!!

Bernie

[ps2daddy]

Alright. I installed 10.3 panther on my powerbook g4 and upgraded it to 10.3.5 and my drive still spits out the dvd+r. Do I need an external dvd drive? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

What brand of dvd+r are you trying to read

[Frobozz]

The Matshita UJ-815 does not support DVD+R media although later models do. Also, here is a link to an unauthorized firmware update that allows 2X burning with the UJ-815:
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/IDE/pb_g4_superdrive/UJ-815_2x_firmware.html

[TugBoat]

Yea, it's either that the DVD+Rs are total crap or his drive is defective. That drive should read DVD+Rs without any problems. Is it normal for the drive to spit out the disc like that? I would think it would accept them, just not mount them if it was an OS problem, like with BernieR. My 8121 spits them out 'cause it doesn't do +Rs period. Maybe it's a Panasonic thing....
He could try resetting Open Firmware, probably won't help.
**************

OK this is weird. I when to the firmware site and it says;
Q: Are there any side effects of using this firmware version?
A: Here are the ones I've noticed and heard about:
-clip-
Problems you may have had before the update, reading DVD+RW disks, and possibly DVD+R disks have been fixed. The drive now is more compatible with these media types.
-clip-

But the Panasonic site doesn't mention DVD+R with the 815
http://www.panasonic.com/industrial/computer/storage/multi/images/pdf/UJ-815.pdf
But does with the 825
http://www.panasonic.com/industrial/computer/storage/multi/images/pdf/UJ-825.pdf

Mmmm, I always thought that all Panasonic Superdrives did DVD+R...
Learn something everyday

[live4ever]

The 815 won't read them, but the newer 816 (2x burning) and 825 (4x burning) slot-loading Pannys will.

[TugBoat]

The 815 won't read them, but the newer 816 (2x burning) and 825 (4x burning) slot-loading Pannys will.

There's no such thing as an 816. Panasonic manufactures an 815b. Apple calls their firmware crippled version of the 815b an 815, and their non-firmware crippled version of the 815b an 816.

So it appears that the non-DVD+R thing is firmware created?
Show me an 815 & 816;
http://www.panasonic.com/industrial/computer/storage/multi/index.html

Also;
http://superdrive.cynikal.net/#q12

-- UPDATE - Dec 12th, 2003 --
It's been confirmed that the UJ-816 is really a UJ-815 in sheep's clothing, so to speak.

From the xlr8yourmac article;

(added 8/14/2003)
"Just to update you, burned a 4 gig DVD-R this morning in 30 mins. That's 2x speed if you ask me. The difference? (he had previously reported 2x selection but 1x actual burn time in a prev. report below.) Media. This time I used a 2x rated Verbatim blank, not the generics I've been using in my pioneer A03 drive. The 815 seems to step down when it sees inferior media - irrespective of speed set.
Another added bonus is the drive now recognizes DVD+RW disks. (No, it won't burn them, but it just spat them before.)
P. "

Update the firmware and your Apple 815 magically becomes an Apple 816, which is really just the same old Panasonic 815B.


It still seems strange that DVD+Rs aren't mentioned on the Panasonic 815B site.

[ps2daddy]

The 815 won't read them, but the newer 816 (2x burning) and 825 (4x burning) slot-loading Pannys will.

There's no such thing as an 816. Panasonic manufactures an 815b. Apple calls their firmware crippled version of the 815b an 815, and their non-firmware crippled version of the 815b an 816.

So it appears that the non-DVD+R thing is firmware created?
Show me an 815 & 816;
http://www.panasonic.com/industrial/computer/storage/multi/index.html

Thats just what I was talking about apple is sneaky sometimes that is exactly what I was referring to in my second post.

They also added a resistor to limit the processor speed 100Mhz on the older emacs so they could sell it at 2 differnt prices and not add more to their manufacturing costs too and they would charge about $200 more for 10GB more of hard drive space and a $.20 resistor

[TugBoat]

Yep, it seems to suck. The theory is they knocked down the burn speeds to avoid heat issues. I'm not sure, but doesn't DVD+R record at 2.4x as it's lowest setting? So this would mean they would have to kill DVD+R burning to avoid the same issues. Just a guess 8)

It still doesn't explain why you can't simply read a DVD+R though....