DVD copy won't mount ?

[the posse]

I have been burning DVDs for ages now and when my brother asked me for some I thought it would be easy to just put the copied DVD in and copy it using toast 6.
Unfortunately when I put the DVD in it doesn't show up in toast 6 or as a desktop icon and then my imac G4 just spits it out.
I tried reseting disc permissions but it didn't make a difference.
Any help in this matter would be greatly apreciated.
Thanks Scott

[pluche]

some potential causes of your problem :

- the "original" copy is either a DVD+R or a DVD-R of poor quality
- your DVD writer/reader is getting a bit old or maybe a dirty laser

[the posse]

How do I clean the laser properly,but i've only had this apple a couple of years so i don't think the laser is getting old.
Thanks Scottie

[TugBoat]

Are these DVDs the ones that you burned or ones from your brother? Do they work in other Players? Which DVD burner do you have? Are the copies DVD-R or DVD+R?

My Pioneer 105 lost the ability to consistently write 'good' DVD-R/Ws after a mere 14 months. It will still read all CDs/DVDs but writing one now is hopeless. I just tried moving it from my FW800 machine to my Parents Sawtooth and it's the same story. When you can get it to write, the DVD will not mount or be seen by anything even though it just passed verification. It will play all previously burned Video DVDs just fine.

You could try resetting Open Firmware, but that probably won't help. The best way to clean the laser is by disassembling the drive, a daunting task on an iMac. You could try the 'cleaner' CDs that have the bristles on them, but, I wouldn't hold my breath...

[bbrelsford]

I'd be interested to know if you upgraded to mac's latest update 10.3.6
I unfortunately did, and my iBook wouldn't mount dvd's made with Toast.

I unistalled 10.3.6 and went back to 10.3.5. Well dvd now mounts.
I don't understand it either, but know there are some definite problems with 10.3.6, just check out some of the apple discussion forums.

Brian

[TugBoat]

I'd be interested to know if you upgraded to mac's latest update 10.3.6
I unfortunately did, and my iBook wouldn't mount dvd's made with Toast.
I unistalled 10.3.6 and went back to 10.3.5. Well dvd now mounts.
I don't understand it either, but know there are some definite problems with 10.3.6, just check out some of the apple discussion forums.
Brian

Did you try resetting Open Firmware with 10.3.6? You would be amazed at the number of seemingly random problems that can be solved by simply typing reset-nvram, reset-all. I have three machines running 10.3.6 with 4 different DVD drives, not to mention the thousands of other people, no problems. Except with that stupid 105, but that's been a problem since April 8)

[pluche]

if, as you said, your machine is "only" a couple of years old, your DVD reader/writer may well be aging - depending on how the usage intensity was (reading and writing)
best way to find that out: try those DVD's on another machine or an external DVD

[terryj]

if you bought AppleCare at the time you made your purchase
( a shame if you didn't, esp. on an all-in-one),
a new superdrive could be easily replaced by an AppleCare service Cernter. I've had two done on to imac G4 700's
because of the "mount" problems described here.

[the posse]

I have recently upgraded to 10.3.6 and I don't use my burner that much maybe 4 movies a month I burn so I don't think its the burner.
How do you open this "firmware" and reset it .
How do you go back to 10.3.5.
Thanks for all the advice i really appreciate it .
Thanks Scott.
By the way all my DVD-Rs play fine in any DVD player.

[TugBoat]

Well I certainly hope that a Firmware Reset will solve it;
1) Hold down the Com-Opt-O-F keys at restart until you see the white screen.
2) Type: reset-nvram
3) Hit Return
4) Type: reset-all
5) Hit Return, it will restart.
6) After restart, you will need to open the system preferences and reselect the startup disk.

But,

Your problem sounds a lot like these;
http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?128@84.MkAIaxL5DbM.3@.689bf474
Like Terry said, it appears there is a problem with some iMac 'Superdrives'....