17" combo drive Intel iMac- is this the right external DVD drive to get?

Earlier in the week, I bought a refurbished 17” white Intel iMac from the Apple Store. It came without the Superdrive, only the combo drive.
As this will be a holiday gift for a niece with small kids, I thought being able to burn DVD’s using iDVD would be nice for her. I understand she can attach an external FW DVD drive to do this, and I just want to make sure to give her the right info for buying in case she wants it (she has someone that can put it together for her)-
DVD Drive: PIONEER DVR-112, from here, $32.90 (from ‘lakewoodlawnman’ in an earlier post) http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=AA36700&RSKU=AA36700
Enclosure (recommended in the same post, with instructions for assembly): ANYWARE ME-340U2F USB2.0 & FIREWIRE FOR 3.5" & 5.25" DEVICES EXTERNAL ALUMINUM ENCLOSURE $30.90
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?SCriteria=AA39270&CartID=done&nextloc=
Does this look okay? Do you think there will be any problems with it and the iMac 17-inch 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo?
If you have any other suggestions, I’d appreciate it (these forums rock, btw!)
Thanks!

I own 2 Pioneer 110-Ds that work with iDVD and over at ripdifferent.com there are several people that use the drive and enclosure I suggested and it works with idvd for them.
One of the 110s is in the same enclosure.
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-110:
Firmware Revision: 1.41
Interconnect: FireWire
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)
Cache: 2000 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RAM, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL
Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: No

Similar Messages

  • How do I Install CS5 that is on a DVD/cd that I purchased years ago onto my new iMac that doesn't have a DVD drive? Hoping to avoid purchasing an extern DVD drive.

    How do I Install CS5 that is on a DVD/cd that I purchased years ago onto my new iMac that doesn't have a DVD drive? Hoping to avoid purchasing an extern DVD drive.

    You can download the CS5 installer from Download and Installation Help
    Install then enter your serial number.

  • What is the best external dvd drive for my Mac Mini

    I have a new Mac Mini i5 and i would like to know what is the best external dvd writer to get. I would like to burn mo

    The Apple USB superdrive would be a great choice for you, ( http://store.apple.com/ca/product/MD564ZM/A/apple-usb-superdrive?fnode=5f ) I am not certain but I am pretty sure that it has the same form factor as the MacMini (Not thickness but all the other dimenetions) so it fits just under and looks like an extension of your mac. 

  • What's the best external dvd drive (including Mac software) for an iMAC

    Would like to know.

    Assembly of External Drive Solution
    1) Take out the optical drive (DVR-112D-BK) from its box, and slide it into the tray mechanism, and align the black plastic facia (the front of the drive) with the front edge of the case so it's a flush fit, so it looks like it belongs there. There are 4 small phillips head bright, polished screws in the kit...put those aside for now, but you'll use those to fasten down the drive in the tray after everything's buttoned up
    2) Attach the 40-pin/80-wire ATA/100 cable to the drive. It *only goes on one way*, as you'll see a notch at the top that fits into the notch in the back of the drive...you can't install it but one way, the right way. BE CAREFUL to not bend those pins, and get all 40 pins aligned before you push it on. Secure it well, pushing it *all the way in*; it has to be 100% onto the pins.
    3) Attach the power Molex connector to the drive; it also only fits one way. Once again, push it in *all the way* so it "snaps" a little...you'll feel it do that, and then it's secure.
    4) Attach the 4-pin sound board pigtail to the small 4-pin slot, to the LEFT of the ATA/100 connector/cable. It can be fitted either way, but be sure to fit it with the notch on the pigtail toward the left side of the drive
    5) Make sure that everything's hooked up, and do a final alignment of the drive in the tray (it should move in the tray with a little force from your thumbs, easily), again making the front aligned with the front of the case, so it looks OEM nice.
    6) Now use those 4 phillips screws to secure the drive onto the side of the tray. Don't overtighten the screws! Just a snug torque is good.
    7) Take the silver case cover and slide it over the tray, until it's snug with the back of the tray. It should be *perfectly aligned* and fully compressed so there's no gap between the case and the tray...be careful closing the tray on the LED's power wires by the way...just tuck them inside of the tray so when you close it the thing doesn't get in the way.
    Finally) Use those two long black screws to secure the tray and the case aluminum cover through the two holes *in the back of the tray*, and again...*don't overtighten those screws!*...just a snug torque is all that's needed.
    You're done!
    Now hook it up to your Mac via FireWire, and do an Apple System Profiler report and *make sure it's supported* by your System: highlight "Disc Burning" and see if it says "Apple Shipped/Supported" in the right display window, which it will say if you're using 10.4.3 or higher. If you're running Panther 10.3.9 you have to use Patchburn.
    Basically, what PatchBurn does, is generate a new System Profile for the optical drive in question, and it does so for a huge variety of drives, not just Pioneer drives. Once the profile is in your System, simply restart your Mac, and Viola! Instantly your new drive will be available to work with all the iApps, that is iTunes, iMovie, iDVD etc, and it will be integrated with all Finder functions also. That means the drive will then function with Disk Utility's "Burn" commands in all applications, and Disk Utility itself.
    Please don't worry if you try to use your new drive combo and it doesn't work, or isn't recognized by your Mac...just do the above procedure with PatchBurn v3.x for 10.3.x, or v4.x, for 10.4.x, and all will be fine!
    http://www.patchburn.de/download.html

  • Is this the right place for me to get started with pdf development?

    Hi, What I am going to do is to write some AS3 classes which will load a pdf file and can extract its data like taking BitmapData shots from all the pages and that stuff...
    so, will you be able to let me know if I'd be able to ask tech questions in this forum along the way? and also, will you be able to tell me where to start to get some helpful information about pdf files so that I can access and read them in binary level?
    any comment is appriciated,
    Hadi

    thanks for the reply, I just downloaded that reference book and will start reading it in a few minutes... I wonder if I'd also need to purchase the pdf library thing later?  http://www.adobe.com/devnet/pdf/library/
    or accesing the pdf in AS3 in binary level will solve my problem of taking bitmapData screenshots from pages?
    Regards,
    Hadi

  • Macbook pro external DVD drive initialization error 70012

    This is an answer to my own question and a comment about finding answers to questions on Apple forums.
    The situation
    I have a Macbook Pro, late-2009 model. In 2013, the internal DVD or optical drive died. I purchased an Apple external DVD drive to be able to read DVD disks, listen to audio, and watch video content. Because the computer I own was built to read only the internal DVD drive, it did not recognize this new external drive. When I plugged it in, I received an error: A valid DVD drive could not be found [-70012]. Or , or DVD could not be found, initialization error[- 70012].
    The question
    Given this situation, my question was, how do I solve DVD initialization error 70012?
    The answer
    Since my Apple Care plan had long since expired, before spending time and money at the Apple store to solve this, I decided to look online. After searching general sites and more and more specific sites, I found several posts on forums about my problem. The most helpful of these, with respect to an external DVD drive, was posted on CNET, by Topher Kessler (June 10, 2011 2:24 PM PDT):
    http://www.cnet.com/news/addressing-dvd-player-error-70012-when-using-external-d rives-in-os-x/
    The key to his advice was twofold:
    1. Hardware: The Macbook Pro was programmed to recognize the internal DVD/optical drive alone.
    2. Software: The preferences in the Macbook Pro were set to open Apple's DVD Player when a disc is inserted into the drive.
    To play audio or video discs on an external drive, the computer needed to be instructed to recognize the external drive, plus appropriate software needed to be opened. Mr. Kessler's advice went from hardware (i.e., get a new internal drive), to software (i.e., use different audio or video software), to operating system (i.e., alter the code in the operating system). Like with Goldie Locks, the first was too expensive, the last was too invasive, but the middle option was just right.
    I searched for free software to display audio and video on my external drive and found two that could do the job quite nicely. There are others, but these seemed to be the most recognized and highly rated:
    1. MPlayerX (http://mplayerx.org/download.html)
    2. VLC Media Player (http://download.cnet.com/mac/media-players/?rpp=30)
    So, I didn't have to buy an internal DVD drive and I didn't have to alter the code of the operating system. I just needed to download free software, install, and play.
    The points to learn
    1. Computers involve both hardware and software, therefore solutions to computer problems can require fixes to one, the other, or both.
    2. The simplest solution, and the least expensive, is to be preferred over the more complex.
    3. What went wrong for someone else is not necessarily what happened to your computer or software.
    4. What solved someone else's problem may not solve your problem.
    5. Just because nobody has posted information on how to solve your problem doesn't mean there isn't a solution to it.

    Hi Duane,
    Thanks for the info! That's some catch-22 for DVD Player... but useful info. I guess I'll just pick up a generic DVD-ROM to replace the drive with.
    As to the external drive, do not USB 2.0 cases run at the same speeds at Firewire 400 cases? (the same drive has no issues on other machines for playing dvds... just the lampshade iMac)

  • How to burn albums in iPhoto with external DVD drive?

    I have the new iMac which doesn't contain a DVD drive... so I bought an external DVD drive and I am trying to burn albums from iPhoto but in the "share" option, the "burn to disc" option doesn't come up. It's as if iPhoto doesn't recognize a DVD drive available, but it is. Anyone know a fix to this? Thank you!

    open the album and select all - export to a desktop folder (see the user tip on exporting for the various options available) and then in the finder right click on that folder and burn to disk
    LN

  • AT100: can i connect external DVD drive & can I get a car charger?

    I recieved one of these when my friend bought a laptop.
    I have never used one before.
    I've read all the literature and surfed the net but I'm still a bit confused. Both a newbie and older I'm afraid.
    *1*-- I want to use it in the car for playing DVDs in the rear seat. Can I use the Toshiba external dvd drive?
    *2--*Is there a car charging plug/adaptor or anything?
    *3*--My stereo has bluetooth, USB and ipod access - what options are there for storing & playing music on the tablet via these
    *4*- Is wifi possible? I have it already connected to my wireless modem; would I need a separate modem in the car?
    Anything else I should know for maximising in-car use
    Anyone with the patience to help me it would be a much appreciated Christmas present.
    Cheers,
    Jeff

    Hi
    > *1*-- I want to use it in the car for playing DVDs in the rear seat. Can I use the Toshiba external dvd drive?
    No, you cannot connect an external CD/DVD drive to the AC100.
    The USB port supports the external USB HDD (FAT12/16/32/exFAT) and USB flash memory (FAT12/16/32/exFAT) for data copy.
    > *2--*Is there a car charging plug/adaptor or anything?
    Yes, google for AT100 Thrive car adapter. Otherwise you could order a comatibel part from ASP in your country.
    > *3*--My stereo has bluetooth, USB and ipod access - what options are there for storing & playing music on the tablet via these
    Take a look in Android market and search for Android HiFi app.
    But as far as I know if you want to stream a music from tablet to hifi equipment, both should be connected to the same network.
    > *4*- Is wifi possible? I have it already connected to my wireless modem; would I need a separate modem in the car?
    AT100 supports Wireless LAN

  • My 2006 iMac running Snow Leopard won't boot even after erasing and re-installing Snow Leopard (via my MacBookPro), either from the HD or DVD drive.  Can't get it to run Hardware Test.  Disk Utility says disk OK - files are there. What can I do?

    My 2006 iMac running Snow Leopard won't boot even after erasing and re-installing Snow Leopard.   I erased and re-installed by putting the iMac in Target Disk mode and usin my MacBookPro as the host.  But after numerous attempts I still can't get it to boot either from the HD or DVD drive. I just get the white screen after the wheel stops spinning.  I can't get it to run Hardware Test - just get the white screen.  If I use Disk Utility via my MBP it says the disk appears OK. All the Snow Leopad files appear to have been installed. What can I do?

    Hi-NRG Bwoy wrote:
    I erased and re-installed by putting the iMac in Target Disk mode and using my MacBookPro as the host.
    Reet the SMC and the PRAM
     Cheat sheet to help diagnose and fix your Mac
    Perhaps you installed the wrong version OS X onto the iMac, you can't use the disk from another Mac.
    clean the disk.
    If it's not working then use this method to create a bootable 10.6 USB from the iMac machine specific 10.6 disk or the 10.6.3 retail disk on your other Mac, use it to boot the iMac with.
    http://www.maciverse.com/install-os-x-snow-leopard-from-usb-flash-drive.html
    How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6

  • What is the best external hard drive for iMac?

    The two external hard drives I am looking at are the Seagate GoFlex 500 G for Mac and the Seagate 500G formatted for Windows, but can reformat for Mac.
    The first one is formatted for Mac at the factory  and has both USB and firewire connectors, is upgradeable plus it is ready to use with Time Machine. ($139). The second is very similar, but does not say anything about firewire and would have to be reformatted to work with Time Machine/iMac. ($59, Costco). I want the external hard drive mainly to back up my iMac program data and to store photos and other media. I have put off getting an external hard drive, but feel I need one to keep things backed up. One that would automatically back up would be great. Other suggestions than the above two would be fine, too. I know so little and am looking to this group for some knowledgeable feedback. Thank you.

    Just setup a USB GoFlex with my Son-in-Law's new iMac and it seems like a fairly sturdy drive. However it is hard to tell at this point how reliable both the drive and enclosure hardware will be long term.
    I use both FireWire and USB drives and while USB drives are slower, they will work just find for both Time Machine and bootable clone backups
    Personally I suggest using 2 External HD's, one for Time Machine (if you like using Time Machine) and one or both for cloning with either CarbonCloner or SuperDuper.
    In addition see > The no-worry backup plan | Business Center | Working Mac | Macworld
    Other highly recommended External HD's here in the forum's are, OWC's and LaCie's

  • Trying to wipe the hard drive on a G5 iMac, using an external DVD drive as the one in the iMac is broken.

    I'm trying to boot up with the OS (or install) disk, from an external DVD drive as the one in the iMac is broken. When the computer boots up, my normal desktop appears, but also the Mac OSX (Tiger) install disk. When I double-click on the "Install Mac OSX" icon, a screen comes up that says: "Click the button below to restart & begin the install process". The iMac restarts, but just goes back to where it was, & I'm prompted to:  "Click the button below to restart & begin the install process".
    So far there is no way to "begin the install process", I just keep going around in circles with this. I'm doing this so I can sell the computer. I hope I've made it clear, and TIA for any advice.

    I looked at the disk utility erase option.  The wording looked a little vague.  Seemed to me to erase all the disk  including the data if you pick one pass, but I am not sure.
    but that is contradicted when you see you have to pick the correct option.

  • I want to take files from my PC (using a Seagate external hard drive) then plug this Seagate External hard drive into my Mac Book Pro and move the files from the Seagate External Hard drive onto my Time Capsule. I do not want to put these files on my Mac

    I want to take files from my PC (using a Seagate external hard drive) then plug this Seagate External hard drive into my Mac Book Pro and move the files from the Seagate External Hard drive onto my Time Capsule. I do not want to put these files on my Mac. How do I do this? Where do I put these files on my Time Capsule? Will it affect the functioning of my Time Capsule?

    Mixing files with data is not always great idea.
    See info here.
    Q3 http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html
    Why not just connect the PC directly to the TC by ethernet and copy the files over?
    It is hugely faster and much less mucking around.
    In windows load the airport utility for windows.. if you have not already as this will help you access the drive.
    There is more info here.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1331

  • I am not much of a computer technician. I bought a time capsule thinking I could use this for an external hard drive and keep my MAC hard drive free. Was I mistaken? One I back everthing up on the TC, can I delete everything off of my MAC?

    I am not much of a computer technician. I bought a time capsule thinking I could use this for an external hard drive and keep my MAC hard drive free. Was I mistaken? Once I back everything up on the TC, can I delete everything off of my MAC and then use my TC as my hard drive??

    Once I back everything up on the TC, can I delete everything off of my MAC and then use my TC as my hard drive??
    TC was designed to backup your Mac. The TC literature is pretty clear about this:
    If your Mac's hard drive has a problem....it will sooner or later....you can use your backup on the TC to rebuild your Mac.
    But.....if you move all of your data to the TC from your Mac....you only have one version of that data now, and it is on the TC.
    Have you thought about what will happen when....not if....the TC has a problem?  Since the only version of your important data was on the TC, and the TC has failed......you lose all of your data.....because you have no backup.
    A much better plan would be to add a USB or FireWire hard drive and connect it directly to your Mac. Move the data on your Mac over to the hard drive.
    Then, the TC will backup both your Mac and the hard drive.  So, you have original data on on one drive and backups on another drive.
    That would be a minimum backup plan. Most of us have more than one set of backups.

  • My hard drive crashed on my Imac 24" 2009, i put in a new hard drive 2TB and a SSD drive 240 GB and removed the opticdrive. What external DVD can I get to work with the IMac? The Apple super drive is not compatible.

    My hard drive crashed on my Imac 24" 2009,  I installed a new hard drive 2TB and a SSD drive 240 GB and removed the optical drive.
    What external DVD can I get to work with the IMac?                              The Apple super drive is not compatible.

    Virtually any DVD burner that can connect to your Mac will work. They start at $40 on Amazon.

  • My imac is not recognizing any external dvd writer drive. I have imac with Core i7 and Mac OS 10.6.8. I have tried external dvd writers from Samsung and Amazon Essentials but the computer does not recognize any of them. Which Dvd writer is compatible?

    My imac is not recognizing any external dvd writer drive. I have imac with Core i7 and Mac OS 10.6.8. I have tried external dvd writers from Samsung and Amazon Essentials but the computer does not recognize any of them. Which Dvd writer is compatible?

    I have an external firewire burner; it never shows on the desktop unless I insert a CD or DVD - that icon will then show (if I have my preferences set to show those on the desktop). Hae you checked in Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities) to see if it is listed under drives?

Maybe you are looking for