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Create data DVDs readable by Mac and PC UNIX
Here is how I went about creating a data DVD that is readable by both a Mac (OS X) and PC. First, install cdrtools. I did this by installing fink. Once that's done, then open a Terminal and type fink install cdrtools. Second, use mkisofs to create an image to burn. The command I used went something like this:
 % mkisofs -J -r -o myimage.iso data_dir
myimage.iso is the name of the image file created, data_dir is the directory containing the stuff you want on the disc. After this command completes (how long it takes depends on how much stuff is in data_dir), use Disk Copy to burn the image to DVD.

[robg adds: I'm not sure if there's an easier way to do this, but I don't want to risk a DVD-R on testing theories; if you either test this or know of an alternative solution, please post your results...]
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Create data DVDs readable by Mac and PC
Authored by: diamondsw on Mar 25, '03 10:25:10AM

Well, considering that the DVD file system (UDF) is cross platform, I'm 90% certain the Finder can burn cross-platform DVD's. And Toast certainly can (burned five of them a week or so ago), and is a lot easier than this (although more expensive).



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Create data DVDs readable by Mac and PC
Authored by: VEGx on Mar 25, '03 10:25:53AM

I'm almost sure that I've burned a data DVD from Finder and PCs could read it.



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Create data DVDs readable by Mac and PC
Authored by: bark on Mar 25, '03 10:37:27AM

Toast definitely does it. The finder will only burn a data DVD that can be read by macs, not by PCs. I haven't tried it with 10.2.4, but it didn't work in 10.2.3

Apple tech support told me that toast would ruin the Superdrive, anyone else have issues with that?



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Create data DVDs readable by Mac and PC
Authored by: dfbills on Mar 25, '03 11:33:43AM

re: toast ruining superdrive

That's ridiculus! I use it all the time with multiple superdrives. Even two drives at once!



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Create data DVDs readable by Mac and PC
Authored by: mm2270 on Mar 25, '03 11:56:27AM

Wow! What hogwash! I've used Toast on Apple SuperDrives now for quite some time, and have NEVER had a problem with it. I can't believe some of the crap Apple tech support can conjur up sometimes! Where do they get this stuff? It's prolly just the "official" statement of Apple that they only support burning with their own built-in sw, even though the SuperDrive is nothing but the Pioneer DVR drive. Unbelievable!



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Create data DVDs readable by Mac and PC
Authored by: Goober on Mar 25, '03 05:54:38PM

Maybe you have some type of error or problem.
I've been burning data DVD's on a 733mhz first generation Superdrive only from the finder for PC use for over a year with dozens of discs seeing daily PC use.

I am only using Apple blank media. No real variables here. My office of 300 people are using 2000, NT and XP and no problems yet. The dvd's seem to read/load data a lot faster when put into a PC.

Best of luck.



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Create data DVDs readable by Mac and PC
Authored by: krpan on Mar 25, '03 06:00:22PM

According to AppleCare Knowledge Base Article ID 107416:

DVD-R discs burned in the Finder are Mac OS Extended (HFS Plus) format. Windows users may not be able to view the contents of these discs.


That being said, I have also successfully used the very same method described in this hint to burn dozens of DVD-R's. However, I would recommend that you let Disc Copy verify the burned disc (especially when using cheap DVD-R's)

I would add that if you just want to stick to command line you can use 'hdiutil' to burn the ISO image you created, eg:
hdiutil burn myimage.iso

Also, you can create a label for ISO image you create using the '-V' option with 'mkisofs', eg:
mkisofs -V "My Image" -J -r -o myimage.iso data_dir



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Create data DVDs readable by Mac and PC
Authored by: VEGx on Mar 26, '03 02:35:52AM

In the KB 24451 it says:

"DVD disks use the UDF format. The difference between a DVD-ROM title and DVD-Video title is only the data that is stored on the disc."



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Create data DVDs readable by Mac and PC
Authored by: krpan on Mar 26, '03 08:02:02PM

UDF is just a filesystem! DVD-Video disks do indeed utilize UDF filesystem to store audio/video data. Most DVD-ROM titles one can purchase likewise use UDF filesystem due to the fact that it can be read on multiple OSes.

In case of KB 107416, it states that Finder burns HFS+ (MacOS Extended) filesytem on the DVD.

iDVD or DVD Studio Pro burn UDF filesystem on the DVD.

In contrast, this hint here talks about burning an ISO 9660 (with Rockridge and Joliet extensions) filesystem on the DVD.

DVD is just like a harddrive. It is not limited to a
single filesystem that can be used on it.

Also, when I burned a DVD data disk using Finder under 10.2.3, the filesystem written was HFS+. I cannot speak for prior (or later) versions.

KB 24451 is out-dated, no question about that. You should think of KB 107416 as an errata for it :-)

It would be nice though, if Apple would allow users to chose the filesystem type (e.g. to at least allow UDF) when burning with Finder.



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Use MissingMediaBurner for a nice GUI to do that
Authored by: elmimmo on Mar 26, '03 03:17:17AM

The MissingMediaBurner (search in versiontracker.com) has a GUI for creating disc images using mkisofs of any size and burn them into CDs or DVDs.

I am not sure what mkisofs settings it uses, but long filenames seem to work just fine in Windows.

And you do not have to deal with installing the whole fink thingy if you simply want that tool.

BTW, using the MissingMediaBurner is, also, the only way to do overburning in a Mac AFAIK, and works just right. (I've used it to burn several CDs that stated a capacity of 850 MB but were recognized by either the Finder and Toast (and MMM, but it is the only one with a 'force' option) as 230 or something, and every computer I've tried them on read those, once burnt, perfectly.



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Use MissingMediaBurner for a nice GUI to do that
Authored by: sebastienb on Mar 26, '03 07:11:17PM

urgh! Last time I tried that thing it didn't even know how to use the SuperDrive. Gave up on the 'Missing*' software titles long ago - command line stuff was actually more useful :)



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