[pmsphoto]

Suddenly my relatively new MacBook Pro* has decided to stop burning CDs and DVDs for some reason. The reasons it tells me are:

"The drive reported an error
Sense Key = MEDIUM ERROR
Sense Code = 0x73, 0x03"

and later

"Interface Error - 16434
The connection is not stable"

Now, I don't have time to trawl through hundreds of drive error posts here or to lose my laptop for two weeks (it's still under warranty) for a fifteen minute repair.

Does anyone immediately know whether these are a drive (a standard MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857E) or perhaps problems with the software Toast Titanium 8.0.3 ?

I am searching the web while you read this, but would rather replace a failing drive immediately than spend days finding a solution only to have to replace the drive anyway.

Any immediate help would be appreciated...before again

Cheers,

Pete.

*2.4GHz Intel Core Duo 2 c/w 4Gb 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM and running OS X 10.5.2

[mduell]

What part of this makes you think it's not a hardware problem?

[imitchellg5]

It's a hardware error. It sounds like a cable is perhaps loose? If it's under warranty, take it in to Apple, they'll run their magic

[pmsphoto]

Hi mduell...The first part, apparently could be a firmware problem....

From Apple support comes:

"Sense Code = 0x73 0x03 means there is a problem with the laser power calibration.

Every disk has section that calibrates the drive's laser to match the media being used. This is done everytime you burn a disk ... and give you some more info. I hope they help."

and

"I have the same problem. One program says the laser error similiar to yours as the error. Toast will say it's a sense key = MEDIUM ERROR. Sense Code=0x73, 0x03. This does this on multiple mediums; Verbatim, Sony, etc.
The drive will burn c.d. and regular dvd with no problem. This is probably a firmware issue but I haven't found anything to fix it yet."

I've only had the 'connection is not stable' message once so far and to me that says loose cable. the other error message is more difficult.

I could probably fix a loose cable, but invalidate my warranty. Like everyone else it just takes too long to get anything repaired. The more dependent we become on this equipment the harder it is to work without it.

Pete.

[Cold Warrior]

You don't want to void your warranty unless you have plenty of money to spend if/when something else breaks. I recommend sending it back to Apple. They'll ship you a pre-paid box for you to use.

[pmsphoto]

Thanks Cold Warrior,

I think I'll try the guys at the local Apple reseller tomorrow where I bought it. They have a service department. A spot of sweet talking..... considering I've bought six or seven different Macs from them, plus at least sixteen external hard drives, software and accessories over the last eight or nine years. They owe me a favour !

Cheers,

Pete.

[Cold Warrior]

A lot of the Apple Stores I've ducked into don't have full-service. They send it off to Apple's repair centers for all but the most user-serviceable things. But if your local one tries to do it there, more power to you. Good luck.