[AMBarbero]

HI, I just got a brand new iMacG5 (1/1/06), downloaded Mac the Ripper & Handbreak to I could rip and format my movies for my video iPod. This I did successfully (so flippin' cool)!! But thought, while I'm at it, I may as well make a copy too for backup.

Using the ripped files ala Mac The Ripper, and Toast 6, and can't remember the brand of dvd's - but they're the dual layer, I burned the disc. It was in the finishing mode when suddenly it gave me a fatal error, and quit. Of course it didn't work. I don't want to waste anymore dvd's until I can find out just what I'm doing wrong (then I'll go ahead a waste more . Any advise would be appreciated!!

THANKS!

[ism]

Have you played through the Video TS folder using Apple's DVD Player to check everything is ok? In Toast I'm sure there is an option for doing a test-burn (i.e. not actually burning) have you tried this?

Otherwise, I don't know. Could have just been a glitch. I've never done any dual layer DVDs so can't comment as to whether this sort of thing is the norm or not.

[Spoffo]

Sometimes when writing DL disks, Toast seems to hang at "writing lead-out" and then crashes. I've never figured out why, tho it probably has to do with bad media. However, If you get to this stage, the disk will actually play fine, despite the crash. (At least mine do)

One secret in genereal with DL disks is to keep the VIDEO_TS folder a bit small - under 7.5GB. Most of the cheaper DL blanks seem to have coating imperfections out near the edge that cause dropouts, freezes etc. Keeping the total folder size a bit small pulls the layer change in a bit from the edge and keeps you out of this danger zone. The only disks that don't benefit from this seem to be the Verbatim DLs, which seem to be 100% reliable right out to 8.0gb.