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backing to CD trouble


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I'm a previous (and happy) user of retrospect 4.2 and OS8.6 and backing up to a Jaz drive. I've recently changed to OS 9.2.1 and Retrospect 5 (5.0.205). Along with the change I upgraded my hardrive (probably not an issue here) and changed my backup drive to a CD writer (I assume part of my problem). I purchased Retrospect 5 with a Norton Systemworks 2 package. Computer is a Mac G3 Yosemite.

 

 

 

Out of the box, when I tried to backup to my CD writer, I would get system freezes. Hard freezes, nothing to do but power down. My CD writer is a QPS PX-W8432T-Firewire and is listed by Dantz as supported. I have Toast 5 with all the newest upgrades installed (5.1.4). I do have the Dantz requested extentions (Retro SDAP, Toast CD Reader and Toast Firewire). Toast works just fine.

 

 

 

I decided I might be getting CD writer "log jams" so I greatly increased the memory assigned to Retrospect. This stopped the system freezes, now Retrospect just froze :-( At least I could do a forced quit out of Retrospect (that is an improvment??).

 

 

 

I just downloaded the Retrospect 2.7 driver upgrade. New problem: now when I go to backup Retrospect reports that the CD writer is "Locked" (shows symbol) and "Not Responding" (words). The CD is brand new / unused, and after this I did write to it in Toast just to make sure it (the CD) was good.

 

 

 

Normal "confused Mac user" steps have been taked (rebuilt desktop, ran Diskfirst Aid and Norton). I'm asking for my normal (from version 4) backup, immediate backup ignore "Cool items". I did create a new backup set (first time this new hard drive has been backed up.

 

 

 

Any thoughts?? Help!

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Try temporarily removing the Retrospect Preferences folder (System:Preferences:Retrospect).

 

 

 

Open Retrospect and go to Configure > Devices. Do CD's still show up as locked? Have you tried different CD's? What brand are you using? Make sure you are using a quality name brand of CD, such as Sony, TDK or Verbatim.

 

 

 

Is this drive plugged into any kind of hub or chained together with any other Firewire devices? If so, isolate the drive, plugging it directly into the Firewire port on the comptuer.

 

 

 

Make sure you have all the latest system updates from Apple.

 

 

 

If possible, try a different Firewire cable and try a different comptuer to see if the behavior is replicated.

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I've updated to the new 2.8 driver. Exact same problems. I did go out and buy a new jaz cartridge. I had NOT wanted to spend money on another one of those. Backup works fine to a Jaz. Something is wrong with the Retrospect to QPS software? Some feedback from Dantz would be appreciated. I called into Dantz, and was told that becuase I was an existing customer (upgrade from 4) I couldn't talk to anyone there! They told me to ask here and a company tech would answer. Help please.

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Thanks for the reply:

 

 

 

I had tried dumping prefferances and letting the software rebuild them, no help :-(

 

 

 

The drive/CD does show up as lock (symbol) not responding (words) in Configure>Devices.

 

 

 

I'm using Sony 24X disks (good quality), I doubt it will help... but will buy another brand (the Sony's work fine on Toast).

 

 

 

The drive is plugged directly into the G3, nothing else on the Firewire chain.

 

 

 

For OS 9.2.1 I believe I'm up to date from Apple (Firewire is 2.8.4 Carbonlib 1.6 I) would prefer not to update the OS to 9.2.2 right now (in the middle of a project) unless that is absolutely needed.

 

 

 

I can't run Retrospect 5 on my other Mac (a very old powerbook).

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While Dantz technicians do moderate this list, it if not an official means of contacting technical support. For quickest results, the best route is to call Technical Support.

 

 

 

Try booting with _only_ Base Extensions plus the following

 

 

 

-Retrospect SDAP Support extension

 

-Toast 4.1 or later CD Reader

 

-Toast 4.1 or later FireWire Support

 

 

 

to ensure that there are no system or extension conflicts.

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Sadly, niether using the base extensions (plus the three needed) nor another brand of CDs (IBMs) change the situation at all. I do have these Apple extensions removed from my system: Authoring Support, Disk Burner, and Firewire authoring support. These (according to the Toast folks) interfer with Titanium Toast in OS9. Any other thoughts?

 

 

 

Perhaps I recieved "bad advice" when I first phone called into Dantz. How does/should an upgrade customer resolve problems such as these?

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  • 3 weeks later...

If possible, try the drive on another computer to help isolate the different variables. The drive has been fully qualified, which means it has passed extensive testing with Retrospect.

 

 

 

Try completely uninstalling / reboot / reinstalling Retrospect to ensure there is no corruption in the Retrospect files.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Sorry to take so long replying, I've been out of town. I did do a complete erase, reinstall, restart. No change. I can try my Que CD writer on a friend's G3 next week, but I do use it almost every day with Toast and have no problems. I am having no problems backing up to Jaz carts. I've also updated my operating system to 9.2.2, no change there either.

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  • 2 months later...

I had the exact same problem ("locked" CD-R disc) for hours and hours now with an identical QPS Plextor mechanism. (OS 9.1) (I'm tired, but am posting in hopes the info will help with future updates)

 

 

 

I tried everything you have as well as various combinations of extensions. Finally, I reinstalled Retrospect Express from the Norton Systemworks 2.0 CD it came on and it worked! (Before, I updated Retrospect Express with latest updates before trying any backups) The version I'm using is 5.0.167 Try reinstalling your earliest version? (I ran the uninstaller from the last update first, though!) Maybe something in the updaters messed up my app, or perhaps the latest versions just break the program for our burner, but all I know is that it works now!

 

 

 

The only extension worth mentioning that I have off now are Disc Burner extension, Disc Burner Firewire authoring support, and Disc Burner USB authoring support. (I don't know if these will interfere, but I won't check 'em out for a while. -need sleep.)

 

 

 

Note that *before* any of my trouble-shooting, I needed to rename the Toast CD Reader extension to "AA Toast CD Reader" due to an extension conflict which caused OS crash. (The "AA" makes it load before most other extensions) Previously, I just left the extension off, but Express requires me to have it loaded. Haven't checked my Toast since turning the CD Reader extension back on though...

 

 

 

Good luck.

 

 

 

JP

 

 

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