xcdroast is really just a front-end for cdrecord. Debian patch their cdrecord. 2.6 kernels can be problematic. xcdroast doesn't seem to be happy on 2.6.9 kernels, so you're stuck with cdrecord anyway. Try:

cdrecord dev=/dev/hdc isoname.iso

It's usually easier if one is root whilst burning things.

Ubuntu is similar, except it wants

cdrecord driveropts=burnfree dev=/dev/hdc isoname.iso

on at least standard gradpc hardware.