"insert disc" error when using cd-r on messiah

[charlie_ps2]

Arakon is absolutely right. If it boots DVD-Rs, the PS2 is fine. It is unlikely that the lower power CD laser diode is in difficulty unless you've overdone a recalibration.

You need a Plextor or Yamaha with Running OPC to try burning at that speed and it usually slows down to 4x anyway, maybe 8x on CD-Rs with a short write strategy (see my post "CD-R Burning Speed".)