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General discussion

apple doesnt like black cd-r's?

Sep 16, 2007 1:57PM PDT

i wanted to see if anyone else had this problem, im on my macbook pro right now and i inserted a black memorex cd-r w/ data i burned on my old laptop and for couple seconds it sounds like its running and about to read it, then it just ejects it. every other cd/dvd works but these black memorex cd-r's do not work on the superdrive. did apple do something where cds with a black bottom dont work or is it really a problem w/ my computer?

Discussion is locked

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Not unusual
Sep 16, 2007 9:55PM PDT

I have a SCSI CD burner that did not like any disk produced by Vertabim.
Couple that with a G3 that would not read any disk that was GOLD and a G4 that did not like reading disks with a white, printable, top.

It's, apparently, something to do with the way that the laser light is reflected back. Not all Optical devices are created equal and yours may be just a little under spec.
If there is an Apple store close to you, or you know someone else with a MacBook Pro, take your machine and some of those black disks there and see if the other machines can read them.

Oh yes, Apple did not do anything to make black bottomed disks unreadable.

P

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And then there's my saga.
Oct 24, 2007 10:32PM PDT

I hasten to add to this story that my iBook failed to read the Panther install Cds until I copied them.

Only CDs it's ever failed to read

Strange thing.

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[blunt] Yes. [/blunt]
Sep 17, 2007 1:18AM PDT

I own some of those and they don't work well in far too many drives.

Lesson? Avoid them.

Bob

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memorex
Oct 6, 2007 2:40AM PDT

My rule when buying burnable CD's is 'anything but memorex.' That is based on one person's experience.