206 errors even after firmware update

[Mussauman]

I had a new Combo drive installed in my original PowerBook G4, which was advertised as "100% compatible with Retrospect". Using Retrospect 5.0.238, driver update version 3.5.104, I had sporadic 206 errors, such as this one:

 

Trouble writing: “1-Documents CD [002]” (4286244864), error 206 (drive reported a failure: dirty heads, bad media, etc.).

Additional error information for device "Panasonic CD-RW" [0:1],

Sense >

(MATSHITA|CD-RW CW-8121 |AZ16)

 

I downloaded and applied the firmware patch, and things seemed to be no better, and perhaps worse. With a CD-RW disk (and I tried four of them), the 206 error came up immediately, before writing anything:

 

Couldn't write CD/DVD header to “1-Documents CD [003]”, error 206 (drive reported a failure: dirty heads, bad media, etc.)

Device trouble: “1-Documents CD [003]”, error 206 (drive reported a failure: dirty heads, bad media, etc.).

Additional error information for device "Panasonic CD-RW" [0:1],

Sense >

(MATSHITA|CD-RW CW-8121 |AA21)

 

Trying a CD-R disk, it wrote most of the first disk, and then I got an error:

 

Trouble writing: “1-Documents CD [003]” (4281772032), error 206 (drive reported a failure: dirty heads, bad media, etc.).

Additional error information for device "Panasonic CD-RW" [0:1],

Sense >

(MATSHITA|CD-RW CW-8121 |AA21)

 

So, what's the story? Am I ever going to be able to backup to CD-R or CD-RW with this drive? Or is there something else I can try to get it going?

 

John

[AmyJ]

Make sure you are using name brand media, such as TDK, Sony or Verbatim.

[Mussauman]

I was using Verbatim CD-RW and CD-R. Any other possibilities for getting things to work?

 

John

[natew]

Hi

 

Amy is right- when it comes to built in Apple drives media is everything. Taiyo Yuden are excellent and TDK does a really good job as well.

 

Nate