Mac OS X 10.4.8 Special Report: Burning media issues

Users have reported various issues with burning optical media (CDs and DVDs) in some applications -- including Toast, iTunes and more -- after updating to Mac OS X 10.4.8. The issue does not appear to be model-specific.

Possible solutions

Change language setting Oddly, some users have reported that the following process works to restore burn capabilities:

1. Pull down from the Apple Menu to "System Preferences."
2. Click on International.
3. Drag and drop a foreign language to the top of the list.
4. Then, drag and drop English back to the top of the list.
5. In the lower right where it says "word break", choose "English (United
6. States, Computer).
7. Close that window.
8. Restart your computer.

Reset NVRAM/PRAM For some readers, resetting NVRAM resolves this issue. In order to reset both NVRAM and PRAM hold down the Command, Option, P and R keys at startup until you hear three startup chimes (this resets both PRAM and NVRAM).

Reader reports

MacFixIt reader Richard writes:

"I applied the update to Mac OS X 10.4.8 and shortly thereafter noticed that I could not burn any media with Toast 7.0; burning with the Finder would start but stop after about 10 % completion. I have an intel iMac 1.83 and both the internal DVD writer (DVRK05) and the external USB DVD writer (Pioneer DVR110D ) behaved the same. Further, I would try to stop the process, but could not. Logging out and back in again would still not release the burners. I would have to restart. I then applied the combo update for 10.4.8 with the same response.  Booting from an external FW HD drive running Mac OS 10.4.7 both the Finder burning and Toast 7.0 would function properly on both the internal and the external burner."

One reader writes:

"Having just gotten a new MacPro 2.6GHz, 1G RAM, I was burning my first dual-layer disc using iDVD and the Apple Superdrive. I'm not sure exactly when it choked (this is the sort of thing you leave for lunch), but it was stuck in the burning phase at about 75% completion.  The Finder was sluggish, drop-down menus were tricky and the mouse (Graphire) action irregular.  I finally managed to quit other applications, and the burn resumed, I assume successfully.  (It was a three-hour movie; I haven't checked out the ending [and wreck the suspense?],) Before the OS upgrade I ha* successfully burned regular DVD with Toast from iDVD disk image. (The coding was faster than real-time!)."

Another reader, Michael Mathew writes:

"I'm running 10.4.8 on the 800 MHz G4 iMac PowerPC with 768 MB SDRAM. I've experienced similar problems with toast and iTunes. The burn would go to writing the lead out and hang. The only way to stop the burn is a complete restart."

Index:

• Release Notes: Delta vs. Combo; Enhancements in this release, more
• Update procedure recommendation: How to apply Mac OS X 10.4.8
• Common workarounds: Resolving typical incremental update issues

• Adobe Illustrator: Problems with pathfinder function, other issues
• Audio issues
• Black border around cursor 
• Burning media issues
• Classic: Problems starting up; launching apps
• Closed-lid portable functions broken
• Display coloring issues: Blue tinting and more
• External devices (USB/FireWire): Not recognized; can cause issues after system updates
• Finder Crashes, other issues
• Flash: Slowness caused by new version
• Incomplete update: Installing Mac OS X 10.4.8 stalls or otherwise fails
• Increased fan activity
• iSight difficulties: "In use," won't turn on, more
• Math problems in Rosetta applications
• Menu items: Disappearance, other issues
• Mighty Mouse problems: Scrolling, more
• Non-launching applications (including Rosetta apps): Fixes
• Printing issues -- fixes
• Safari Issues: Bad plug-ins, caches, more
• Spotlight issues
• Startup problems: Stalls, extremely slow booting, more
• Universal Access: New features, processor usage questions
• Wireless connectivity (AirPort, etc.) issues and fixes

Resources