[kjbee]

I am semi new to macs (used one at work for the past year and a half and finally got a macbook for home. NOT lured by the commercials, but by my lovely Mac Pro at work ). I may be missing something completely obvious but...

I do some graphics work, and I made a CD(RW) of the artwork to turn in to the printer. I was going to print a nice color copy to give them from work with the laser printer. So I put the CD in my Mac at work, and the files/folders on the CD show up OK, but when I go to click on them it tells me it can't find them (I wish I could remember the exact error message, but I can't). I thought maybe it was a bad burn, but I checked when I got home and it works fine on my MacBook. The files don't appear at all on any Windows computers. Any ideas?

The only thing I can think of is the burn method. I wanted to leave the disc appendable (which is kind of annoying to do in OSX apparently - it's automatic in XP!), so I used the disc utility and a disc image per what I found online. Could this have something to do with it?

Regardless, I'd LOVE to find an easier way to leave discs appendable and, if possible, not make them show up as separate volumes when loaded. I like to leave a CD in my drive and then every time I add photos, immediately back up those new photos. From what I've found out, if I do that on my MacBook, I have to do it the complicated way (rather than simply dragging the files and choosing write CD), AND I'll end up with a bunch of volumes showing up if I leave the CD in until it's full. (Also, sort-of-related- is the fact that I'm not sure I like how iPhoto groups/uploads my photos. I want to name them right when they're uploaded, not after...) Currently, I've resorted to networking my MacBook with my Dell and burning CDs through the Dell.

Don't get me wrong, I love the MacBook for pretty much everything else, but this is driving me crazy!!

Again, I might be (hope I am!) missing something obvious and easy...but any help is greatly appreciated!

[ibook_steve]

The thing about leaving a disk appendable (multisession) is that you are creating separate volumes so each one will mount. Is this different in Windows? Toast from Roxio will probably solve all your problems but I don't see why the disk wouldn't work in Windows. Try creating a non-multisession disk and checking in Windows to make sure you can see the files there.

Steve

[Chaoticjoe]

It could be the program you're using to burn. Your using the default burner program right? Maybe you should try another program. Maybe "Burn." What may be screwing up is the way the disc is formatted, and I assume different programs do it differently and give you more choices.

[kjbee]

ibook_steve: Yeah it's not the same on windows. It's all on one CD, shows up as one volume, no problems. Not really a multi-session CD so much there, you just add until it's full and that's that. The only time you can't add files is if you make a music CD (not mp3 files, but one that will play in a reg CD player). That's the kind of ease of use I'm looking for. Add to CD till it's full, then start new CD.

You have to pay for Toast, yes? I'm not looking to buy a program for something the comp should be able to do...I have used BurnX free at work, but don't love it. I guess there's no easy way to do this on the mac without a 3rd party?

I can create non-multisession disks ok, I do believe (could before at least).

Chaoticjoe: And as I think I said in the first post, I burned using Disk Utility via a disc image. The weirdest thing to me is that the files SHOW UP on the work mac, but it can't read them. By using "Burn" I assume you mean dragging the files to the disc and clicking the burn icon in finder? Can I do multisession that way for backing up my photos as noted?

ALso, I DO NOT want to burn photos via iphoto bc i still want them to be windows compatible.

[ibook_steve]

Originally Posted by kjbee 

ibook_steve: Yeah it's not the same on windows. It's all on one CD, shows up as one volume, no problems. Not really a multi-session CD so much there, you just add until it's full and that's that.

That's the definition of a multi-session disk. And Windows just must be hiding the separate volumes since you have to close each burn whenever you add new files.

Steve

[kjbee]

yes, I realize that it is still a multi-session CD, but I guess dealing with such a CD is not as much of a pain there...I am looking for the same kind of functionality and convenience for backing up files (am I the only one who thinks the mac way is kind of annoying?). Or just an answer as to whether or not it exists...or a concrete answer about why the disc does not seem to work as it should...

(and what do you mean by "close each burn? Just curious...)

thanks for your help.

[kjbee]

still looking for answers on this one.....no one??

[kjbee]

yes, but as i said above, I'd really prefer not to have to install (and definitely won't buy) 3rd party software...

someone must have an answer.....?