A few days ago, I bought a new MacBook to replace my aging 12″ PowerBook. I want to use Final Cut Express to edit my own HD videos. Ivan lent me the tutorial book he used to learn it, which comes with a DVD containing about 4 Gb of practice materials.
I tried to copy the contents of the DVD to the local disc as the book requested and about half-way through I got “Error Code -36,” which is a generic message for an input/output error. I think, OK, the disc is dirty, clean it and try again. Which I do, twice, but observe the same behavior. I start researching the issue online only to find this is a common problem with Macs and OS X. Go ahead, google it, I’ll wait. Many of the hits described problems with with larger files, often with media files – which was exactly what I was trying to copy.
Hmph.
One of the links I found explained that going under the UI to UNIX might help, so I did that. I launched Terminal and tried to copy the CD to the new MacBook using the cp command. It was working! Then … same error at about the same time.
Hmph.
I decided it must be the DVD. Then I realize – I have two other Macs to try it on. So I pop it into the three year-old Intel-based Mac mini running Leopard. Not only does it copy the entire DVD without a hiccup, it copies it about 50% faster.
Hmph.
Next I tried the four year-old G4-based PowerBook running Tiger. Not only does it also copy the entire DVD without a hiccup, it also copies it about 50% faster. Plus, it also worked fine on Ivan’s new iMac, which naturally has Leopard. So, I conclude that the problem isn’t the DVD, it’s the MacBook. But it is the OS? The SuperDrive?
Hmph.
Since I had copied the files to the PowerBook during my testing, it occurred to me that I may be able to copy them to the MacBook via our network. This worked like a charm, so the original goal was at least accomplished. But I still don’t know what was causing the “Error Code -36,” not to mention that it wasted about four hours of my time.
I haven’t experienced a problem with the few other DVD’s I’ve tested, so maybe the SuperDrive in the MacBook is simply finicky. I don’t know, but I can report that the MacBook is otherwise fabulous so far.
Breathe! In and out, in and out. That’s right… everything will be okay.
I have heard of this issue too. However, I have not experienced it myself since I am still hanging on to my G4 iMac. I recently put in a 400GB hard drive and the latest OSX on it. Everything is fine and in fact the G4 is running faster with the latest OS version!
The only thing that went wrong was when I updated my iWeb, which is what I use for my blog. It somehow created two copies of my blog and when I wasn’t paying attention I deleted it and all the comments left on my blog since I moved it to iWeb last year. Hell!
Do you know someone else who has a MacBook? If so try connecting the two via firewire and then load the DVD through the other persons MacBook.
My hard drive just crashed on my 1.5 yr old 24″ iMac (WD Caviar 320MB) last week. On top of that, the external drive I’ve been “Time Machining” to also shit its biscuits at the same time. I’ve had to buy a new hard drive, new backup external, and the old hard drive is with a data recovery company that is going to charge $300 if they can get the data at all. [The data recovery company recommended by the Genius Bar quoted minimum $1,500 up to $3,000 after a 20% discount.] I was able to get my client’s files off the backup drive before it completely went tits up so it hasn’t been a total loss.
Advice to all who read this…burn important files off to CD every once in a while, including your email database file. You’ll thank me for all the tears and stomach aches I save you. Having a back up drive won’t necessarily protect you.
One thing I’ve noticed is that these CD/DVD drives are sensitive to the speed at which the discs were burned. The faster the burn, the more sensitive they seem. (I burn with Toast which allows me to select a slower speed to burn.)
Kevin-Andrew: I was able to load the DVD through the network so I’m good.
Gavin: Oh, geez, that sucks. I just got an Apple time machine but I think I will back up on DVD every few months!
I’ve always burned at slower speeds – just seems safer that way…
I’ve been doing lots of video editing with Final Cut, and would continually get error code -36 on my PowerPC based iMac G5, and my Intel based macbook. However last week I migrated both machines onto a new Macbook Pro, and loaded it with Toast Titanium. In the past week I’ve loaded and copied several DVDs (in various condition) with no problems. Toast Titanium seems to be the best Apple-based disc burn / copy / image out there.
No, Apples are not perfect. Case and point: While syncing my ipod and iphone to my five year old iMac, all three address books were wiped. Gone. Kablewy. I have, over a two week period been re-entering addresses from other sources and have not experienced the problem again. But, I am now ready to go and buy an external drive and Leopard and start using Time Machine to prevent such accidents from ever happening again.
Still, considering that the issues I have had over the 25 years as a dedicated Mac user are nothing compared to everything I have seen at various jobs with their PC’s, Apple’s issues are relatively minor.
(PS: Rob this means I need you to resend your address and phone as they went into the ether with all the rest.)