Strangest computer problem... ever.. - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

79CamaroDiva · 07-29-2008, 08:09 PM

Ok, in the 7+ years of working on macs now, I have never encountered any real frustrating problems that make me want to tear my hair out. until now..

Most of you know I do a lot of design work. Back in March I purchased Art Explosion 750,000 because all the artwork in it is completely royalty free, and not many are like that. When I went to install it, all the disks (5 DVDs) were readable, except disk 1 which of course had the install software. So I go and exchange it. Disk 1 is readable

I've had it since, only used a few times, no problems. Today I go to use disk 4 which is the photo/font disk, and my computer spits it out. Hmm... maybe its cuase the cats knocked over the case and it got scratched. I look, no scratches. Put the disk back in, back out it comes. Ok.... so I try another one, they all work, except disc 4. Now I think there's a glitch in manufacturing..

So I go to exchange again. This time, I know i don't have the receipt, i get the runaround from the closest staples, but the one in the next town over says whatever. I come back home, excited to finally get on wtih my life and my layout... disc 4 doesnt work.

ok now, wtf. So I call tech support, because they're in California and are still open, sit on hold for 3 days, and finally someone decides to talk to me, and I'm like.. I have a strange problem. I explain to him whats happening, and he says "yeah, thats actually a known problem with leopard.. Any OS before or since works fine, but with leopard, 1 disc will always not work. I had a call from a guy earlier today that had a problem with disc 1." I told him "yeah, i was there a few months ago.. I've progressed to disc 4"

So since its a known problem, they're willing to give me a full refund. Except this is the only program I know of that's fully royalty free, so I want to try to make it work. So i gotta find an older or a newer mac, transfer the whole CD onto a USB stick, and permanently install it I guess.

Knipps · 07-29-2008, 08:11 PM

Interesting issue to have.

SteveR · 07-29-2008, 08:12 PM

copy all the discs that work in an ISO file and burn the ISO image onto a new cd of each one, so ISO of disc 1 you put on one cd, ISO of 2 goes on 2, etc. Find a working copy of disc 4 and do the same. That should be a work around. It could just be a manufacturing defect as that makes no sense at all.

79CamaroDiva · 07-29-2008, 08:15 PM

I wonder if, since the pictures themselves are just folders with regular images, it'll work on a PC enough for me to copy the files? that might be easier than finding someone with a mac that has something other than leopard.

SteveR · 07-29-2008, 08:17 PM

thats possible

slugger27nj · 07-29-2008, 10:04 PM

Maybe take the CD to an Apple store, tell them the problem you're having and what tech support said, and maybe they'll let you try it on one of their display models to see if it works.

Did you try Software Update to see if there's any updates available for Leopard?

I'd give it a try for you if I weren't so far away.

GP99GT · 07-30-2008, 05:41 AM

build a pc

jims69camaro · 07-30-2008, 06:50 AM

yeah, why are you still playing with macs? get a serious pc and stop playing with toys.

the other way around it is to copy the dvd to an ISO file, like said above, but keep the ISO on the computer and use ISOmagic or the like to mount the dvd when you need it. yes, you can download the ISO to another disc, but i think you are just setting yourself up for more of the same problems, which is why you should keep it as an ISO and only mount it when you need it. manufacturers say you should be able to make a backup copy (well, they used to) so you wouldn't have to use the primary copy all of the time and end up with an unusable disc every once in a while. i say, do it anyway, that way you are safeguarding yourself from future problems. hey, it's not like you are going to be distributing the ISO.

Stevoone · 07-30-2008, 07:13 AM

How old is Leopard? I have one of the newer Mac OS's around somewhere. I'll look around for the disc tonight. If your interested in upgrading you can have it if I can find it.

slugger27nj · 07-30-2008, 07:28 AM

Leopard is the latest OS. There is nothing newer, only version updates.

79CamaroDiva · 07-30-2008, 10:10 AM

wait.. is leopard the newest? I don't have the newest which is 10.5, I run 10.4, and thats what I told the tech guy.. he said leopard, but maybe didn't mean it. Personally I can't keep up with the cats, so I look at my version.

Tru2Chevy · 07-30-2008, 10:43 AM

10.4 = Tiger
10.5 = Leopard

I have 10.5 on my PB Melissa, I'll have it with me at the Nats so you are welcome to try it on mine if you would like.

- Justin

79CamaroDiva · 07-30-2008, 10:55 AM

yeah, problem is i was TRYING to get htis thing done while i had the chance... im gonna see if one of emily's macs has 10.3 on it.. but i do find it hard to believe that a random cd wont work on an os, and it changes from box to box.. sounds like a manufacturing glitch to me

slugger27nj · 07-30-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva

but i do find it hard to believe that a random cd wont work on an os, and it changes from box to box.. sounds like a manufacturing glitch to me

That's what it sounds like to me, too.

//<86TA>\\ · 07-30-2008, 09:35 PM

its funny, i had an art explosion set years ago, 4 cd roms, it was probably 25,000 crappy 8 bit pics, but it had a similar problem, ended up junking it.