Toast 9 gets stuck forever at writing DVD lead-out

[soundchaser]

Hi,
I've been having a continuous problem when burning files to DVD in Mac & PC mode with Toast 9. Either it gets stuck in mid-process, or -more frequently- stays in the Writing lead-out phase until I abort, turn off the burner, and turn it back on. The discs seem to be ok, but I don't like this kind of unreliability. I cleaned the lens with alcohol and q tip and it did ok for a few dvds and then went back to the same failure. Should I replace the burner, or is there anything else I can do ?
Thanks !

[terryj]

Well, What happens if you burn the discs in the Proper UDF (DVD-ROM) format?
Mac & PC mode is for CDs, in Toast, not for DVDs.
DVDs should always be burned, regardless of video or data,
in DVD-Rom (UDF) format.

[Frobozz]

See if the same thing happens using Verbatim brand discs. Oftentimes this sort of thing is a media issue. Also, choose Save as Disc Image and then burn the disc image using the Image File setting in the Copy window.

[soundchaser]

terryj/Frobozz, thanks for the quick replies.
terryj:The thing is, this never happened for over 150 data DVDs, and started happening every time now. Besides, when I use DVD-ROM/UDF format for video DVDs (to burn a VIDEO_TS folder) they sometimes get stuck halfway through too...
Frobozz: I'll try the Save as Disc Image option next time; I already use Verbatim.
I'll let you know guys
Thanks a lot,

[terryj]

Verbatim discs being used, is the DVD Burner internal or External?
if Internal, things I would look at...Available HD space on Main Boot Drive
(where Toast writes its temps files)....is it full? within the 20% threshold
of being full?

Unless you got some really bad Verbatims, and continually using
A LOT OF really bad Verbatims, I'd look more internally than not.
( you said this had been going on for a while, not just now)
Easiest way to test, go get a couple of blank Sonys or TY media,
and try to burn one of these. IF the problem is the same, then
you know it isn't the media.

Also, do you run regular maintenance ( Disc utility, clearing off old
files, etc)?

[soundchaser]

The burner is external, connected via Firewire with a brand new Apple cable, so connection failure is highly improbable.
As for the boot drive, it's an 80GB which often has between 5gb and 10gb free...anyway, doesn't Toast write temp files only when it's encoding movies ? It doesn't when it's just burning data, does it ?
Media: it also happened with Imation media and I think (not sure) that even with Sony once...

As I said earlier, I cleaned the lens and it worked fine for a while. Don't you think it's more of a burner thing...? Anyway I posted this before going out to buy a new one and then finding out it's something else, but I'm thinking about it more and more !
Thanks,

[terryj]

Burner is external...is this a Custom built job, or an off the shelf
all in one unit ( Lacie, OWC, etc.)? Connection failure,
meaning mounting and recognizing the drive may not be improbable,
but burst rates through the Mac's FW port, through the FW Cable aren't unlikely.

Just to rule it out, Your specs don't tell us much...What type of Mac
are you using? Are you connected via onboard FW or an add on
PCI FW card? Are there any other FW devices ( an older iPod, a
Digital Camcorder) connected to this mac as well as the DVD burner?

On an 80GB drive, the 20% threshold is 4GB.
( 80/20=4gb) so if you maintain at least 5GB free,
that helps both VM and Toast's Buffering ability,
which is what I meant, not the temp files for encoding.

The fact your having problems with various media across the board
could be indicative of two problems: Either your Burner is seriously
in need of a Firmware upgrade ( most likely, as only diehard Burning
fanactics worry about this sort of thing) to enable it to play nice
with newer media than was out when the drive was manufactured;
or your Drive is slowly dying, and it's time for a new one.

Google for your firmware for your -110D.
IS this the firmware your running?

I would try flashing the firmware to get it current, and then try
burning the Verbatims again. IF the problem still persists,
then I'd get a new drive. But I've seen up to date firmware
for an older drive make things right with new on shelf media,
so......your choice.
I did and found that the last firmware released was 1.4.1

[soundchaser]

terryj, thanks a lot for the link and for your knowledge. I did flash the firmware when this started happening and the one running is 1.41, so I guess we come to the "slowly dying" option. It was my initial feeling, since it worked perfectly for quite a while, with different Toast versions, different Firewire cables and different media and suddenly began to get stuck at the lead-out, 9 out of 10 times. Anyway, I'll take that tip of burning in UDF instead of Mac&PC when burning files. Now of course I'll face a research phase of either DVD or DVD and Bluray burner...I'll keep you posted. Cheers,

[soundchaser]

Well...got a new burner, but the problem persists...happens less often, but still. If anyone has suggestions, they are welcome. Thanks,

[soundchaser]

[quote="terryj"] I would look at...Available HD space on Main Boot Drive
(where Toast writes its temps files)....is it full? within the 20% threshold
of being full?

terryj, you might have hit the nail with this. I made a cleanup of the HDs and I think that with the new space in the boot drive, which now oscilates around 12gb of its 80gb size, I got good results. Though today, a DVD got stuck at 95% verification process of Toast 9... But I think that since I made some room all burnings ended up successfully. I replaced the burner, but as the old one is also external it comes in handy to use with other computers and they come rather cheap these days anyway...
Thanks, and I'll let you know anything significant.
Cheers,

[soundchaser]

Well, since I've taken care of leaving about 10GB free in my boot drive, it hasn't happened, other than the occasional freeze at the end of the verification. Which doesn't bother me that much.
Thanks terryj

[terryj]

U r welcome my friend!