Jump to content

MacBook DVD drive & Retrospect useless ??


Recommended Posts

Since getting my MacBook, I have not been able to get Retrospect to use the internal DVD drive to write or READ old backups. Mac OS X 10.4.10, Retrospect 6.1.126, Driver update 6.1.12.101 What is the solution ? Buy an external DVD-R drive ?? Why can't even restore from old backups ?? Most previous backups were DVDs from a dual G5. Help!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

Since getting my MacBook, I have not been able to get Retrospect to use the internal DVD drive to write or READ old backups.

 


 

Retrospect will work with specific devices that have had support added to them by the software publishers (either as part of the program itself or added by the RDU).

 

For drives that are not supported directly, some can gain support by the Configuration option. However, not all drives can be configurated by this method.

 

The simple fact is that not all optical hardware devices are going to be compatible with Retrospect. Of course, if you want help with a specific bit of hardware, it would help if you included the make/model/driver of the hardware you want to use.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a stock MacBook ...... Are you implying that only some of MacBook drives are supported ???

 

Apple Profiler:

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GWA4080MA:

 

Firmware Revision: BE39

Interconnect: ATAPI

Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)

Cache: 2048 KB

Reads DVD: Yes

CD-Write: -R, -RW

DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL

Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes

Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes

Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO

Media: No

 

Retrospect Device Status:

ATAPI-A:0:0 HL-DT-ST DVDRW GWA4080MA B39 ATAPI

 

What else would you like ????

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

This is a stock MacBook ...... Are you implying that only some of MacBook drives are supported ???

 


Yep. That's right. Obviously you haven't been reading the, um, surprised reaction by other Mac owners in these forums.

 

The database of supported devices is here:

Retrospect supported devices database

 

I poked about a bit and couldn't find your drive. You may have better luck.

 

Russ

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

This is a stock MacBook ...... Are you implying that only some of MacBook drives are supported ???

 

Apple Profiler:

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GWA4080MA:

 

 

 


That's a Hitachi-LG drive. I got one in my G4 iMac about 5 years ago. It's STILL not supported by Retrospect, claiming I need a firmware update. But neither Dantz, Apple or Hitachi-LG has released one... frown.gif

 

Get an external drive, they are much faster anyway. And make sure it's Firewire as Firwire is faster than USB (even if the THEORETICAL speed says otherwise).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

Are you implying that only some of MacBook drives are supported ???

 


 

Apple uses various OEM devices in their computers. They buy LCD panels from LCD panel manufacturers. They buy hard drives from hard drive manufacturers. And they put optical disc burners from various manufacturers in their various models.

 

It's not the MacBook per se that's not supported, it's the non-Apple hardware that's in your particular unit.

 

The device database can help guide you to a supported device, which can be put in FireWire case.

 

 

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

Since getting my MacBook, I have not been able to get Retrospect to use the internal DVD drive to write or READ old backups. Mac OS X 10.4.10, Retrospect 6.1.126, Driver update 6.1.12.101 What is the solution ? Buy an external DVD-R drive ?? Why can't even restore from old backups ?? Most previous backups were DVDs from a dual G5. Help!!

 


Well, since you've got the most recent RDU available, you could eliminate all variables except for the internal DVD drive by putting the dual G5 (whose DVD drive is known to work) into Target Disk Mode, connecting it to the MacBook by a FireWire cable, and seeing if the MacBook can use that DVD drive.

 

If it can, then the only solution at present, sadly, seems to be to get a supported external DVD drive and attach it to the MacBook.

 

Two other thoughts for you to try:

 

(1) you may be able to "custom configure" the MacBook's internal DVD drive. Try that.

 

(2) you may have a previous (unsuccessful) custom configuration of the MacBook's DVD drive that is overriding any drivers in RDU 6.1.12.101. To try to see if this is the issue, quit Retrospect, drag any .rdi file in /Library/Preferences/Retrospect to the desktop, restart Retrospect, see if it recognizes the MacBook's DVD drive as supported.

 

Good luck.

 

Russ

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

putting the dual G5 ... into Target Disk Mode, connecting it to the MacBook by a FireWire cable, and seeing if the MacBook can use that DVD drive.

 


 

I think target disk mode only mounts the hard drive at disk0 (although maybe it also mounts other disk devices?). I'm pretty sure it won't simply present the optical drive for use by the host machine.

 

But I could be wrong; have been plenty of times before...

 

 

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys! I just couldn't believe that EMC/Dantz wouldn't support OEM drives. I see the issue more clearly now. WHY doesn't EMC make a CLEAR FAQ, CLEARLY stating this ! G5 I sold, but the target drive idea would have been interesting. Next step is to buy a "listed" FireWire drive and get on with my life. OWC ? Now how can I know that drive I buy is really a listed drive inside the vendor case??? I couldn't' know from an Apple product. Geez, couldn't this be simpler...... EMC listening ??

 

Looks like this is a start:

http://www.emcinsignia.com/supportupdates/technical/retrospect/search/?q=OWC

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In all fairness, sometimes it's because the drive doesn't support the special commands for writing that Retrospect uses so that you can append to DVD/CD backup sets. Retrospect writes differently than the Finder and "entire disk burn" programs (like Toast) do. If a drive doesn't support the needed commands, it can't be supported.

 

But sometimes it's because a particular drive simply was never tested/configured/evaluated to determine the parameters needed for that drive.

 

Good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:

Now how can I know that drive I buy is really a listed drive inside the vendor case???

 


 

One way would be to give your business to a vendor who understands your needs and can help to accommodate them. It's likely that if you call and talk to someone at OWC, they'll have an idea which of their devices is known to work (or not work) with Retrospect.

 

> I just couldn't believe that EMC/Dantz wouldn't support OEM drives.

 

What makes you say that they don't support, as a class, OEM drives? Of _course_ they do!

 

Now, you might wonder why they don't support _your_ OEM drive, and Russ' answers to that question are valid.

 

Testing drives and writing qualifying code into device updates takes man-hours (person-hours?). That's why the custom configuration routines are in the program. You've given no indication if you've attempted to take advantage of this feature of the program or not. I'd suggest starting there.

 

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While I appreciate your constructive input and advice CallMeDave, and knowing some of my questions might be too simple, could you tone down the confrontational vibes. Yes, I have tried the configuration routines several times, I have the coasters to prove it. BTW, I buy and use Mac's so I don't have to be a technical geek to the simplest thing (like backups or restores).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...