Bad Superdrive?

I recently got a core duo mac mini. Everything seemed to be working fine, but now I'm starting to think there may be problems with the superdrive. I've had several dvd fail to rip w/ Mac the Ripper on the Mini - no problems at all when using the same version of Mac the Ripper to rip the very same movie on my Powerbook. The superdrive on the Mini refuses the blank dvd-r media I purchase - the Powerbook mounts the dvd-r media w/o a problem.
Any ideas?

When it comes to reading DVDs make sure they are clean and as scratch free as possible. Dirt and scratches do affect a drives ability to read any disc.
As for writing discs, try a different brand before thinking there's drive issue. Yes the SuperDrive in the Mac mini is more sensitive than some other drives although if you stick to quality media then you shouldn't have issues. I recommend Verbatim and Apple branded media. If they burn ok then you can then start to experiment with other brands.

Similar Messages

Possible bad Superdrive - would like to confirm opinion

The specs:
iMac G5 w/ iSight
2.1 GHz
1 GB RAM
OS 10.4.10
Drive = MatsushitaDVD-R UJ-486
Revision = FA0G
Serial number = this is blank for some reason
Detachable = No
Protocol = ATAPI
Unit number = 0
Socket type = internal
Burn support:
Cache = 2048 KB
Reads DVD = Yes
CD-Write = -R, -RW
DVD-Write = -R, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL
Burn Underrun Protection CD = Yes
Burn Underrun Protection DVD = Yes
Write Strategies = CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Media = No
The symptoms:
When using DVDSP4 to build and burn a DVD, the DVD fails to burn almost every time. When using Disk Utility to burn an image built by DVDSP4, the burn fails about 80% of the time with the error "could not calibrate laser power level for this media".
Also, new symptom: iMac will not start up from CD or DVD. I need this function to repair permissions and run maintenance utilities. Apple logo comes up during startup, but after a few minutes, the No System Folder symbol (or Empty Set symbol). Symptom occurs when using Tiger DVD, original OS DVD and Tech Tool Pro CD.
Burning problem began about two months ago. System startup problem was only recently noticed.
Changes:
Recently, my company purchased Fuji white inkjet hub-printable DVD-R media for client projects. Before then, we used a generic brand from Edgewise Media (may have been unlabeled Fuji), IOMega brand, Maxell and Verbatim discs. All were white inkjet printable, but not all were hub-printable. It seems that the symptoms began with this new Fuji media, as the first one used was the first one to give me the problem. However, other media does not seem to be any better anymore. Only CD burning seems to be 100% effective. It is possible that this particular media somehow damaged my Superdrive. The media does not work in my Dual 1GHz G4 Superdrive, yet it works perfectly fine in another iMac G5 with the exact same specs, and my iBook G4.
The question:
Basically, I would like to know if anyone else has had a similar problem, and what was done about it. To me, it seems like a hardware failure, but since I cannot start up from a CD, I cannot use Hardware Test to find out. As I have been reading the threads, there seems to be a similar "this machine is a year old and never gave me this problem before" theme. My feeling is that I need to replace the drive using the Applecare warranty. The other option would be to get an external drive, which I don't want to do. Any ideas, thoughts or suggestions? Would Target Disk mode allow me to check the hardware?

A few suggestions:
See if your Superdrive needs cleaning. Cleaning kits can be purchased from any store that sells CD/DVDs.
Make sure the CD/DVDs you are trying to use are not scratched and/or dirty.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=50448 How to Handle and Clean CD and DVD Discs
Another help source (if you haven't already done so).
Go to your OS Help Menu. In the search field type dvd
Click on all the troubleshooting topics & Support Articles that pertain to your issue.
You can also do the same in Disk Utility. Open same up.
At the bottom left of the window, click on the purple button w/the "?" in the middle.
This will bring up the Help Menu.
Regarding your computer not starting up from your System DVD, try a 3rd party utility CD like DiskWarrior and/or TechTool Pro. Make sure you use the version compatible to your current OS.
If none of the above works and/or no other user chimes in here, then I suggest that you contact AppleCare & get your $$$ worth before you consider purchasing any hardware. AC warranty covers hardware issues.
You can also use the Chat with a Support Agent for support. The online chat support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
BTW: I would like to thank you for describing your problem & your system in such detail. This makes it easier for the knowledgeable users to properly help you.
Good luck!

Replaced bad superdrive with used ifixit model now burning not supported

Hey,
After using our computer as a dvd player for a year or so the superdrive was shot. I ordered a replacement from ifixit. It plays cds/dvds fine but will not burn. When I press the "burn" button in iTunes my computer says NOT SUPPORTED. ifixit sent me a TEAC DV-W28SLA that was SUPPOSED to work in my iBook.
Does anyone out there know if this drive will even work in this computer and if so, how to make it happen. If this were a Windows machine I would try and find a driver online somewhere. But with OS X, I wouldn't know what to do with the driver if I found one!
iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)
(NOTE: the Mac OS X (10.3.9) is just a guess, I have no idea what operating system I have. I can replace a superdrive but software gives me hives!)
iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

housingbubbble, Welcome to the discussion area!
Checkout PatchBurn.

What Should I Do About Bad Superdrive?

My CD/DVD drive will not burn DVD's or play some commercially produced DVD'S. From what I have found out, I'm not the only one in that situation. What burns (yeah, ha, ha) me is that the drive has been used so seldom.
If it were not an iSight iMac, I would have popped off the back and replaced the drive by now, but the iSight takes a bit more fussing around, so . . .
Which is the best INTERNAL drive to install? And, which is the best EXTERNAL drive to use?
I'd like to keep the all-in-one form of the iMac since that is the reason I bought it, but, if a new internal optical drive is just going to queef out after burning a dozen cd's then I'd sacrifice the aesthetics for functionality.
Any input will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rich

VJS wrote:
my matshitsadvd-r uj-846 Revision FA06 superdrive will not recognize bland dvds for recording. i have tried every suggested remedy. in searching out resolution i see that this problem seems to be prevalent. is there a mac recall or offered replacement for this apparently faulty drive? thanks.
(1) A look at Apple's http://www.apple.com/support/exchange_repair/ page shows no special service programs related to your issue.
(2) Having "tried every suggested remedy" with no success, contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider for service on your Mac.
(3) If you want to try other things first, one of the following may be worth reconsidering:
• Be certain that you are using supported blank media as explained in the following links:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh837.html - and -
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/cdb_dscknd.html
• You will need help from an Apple Service Technician if you unsuccessfully tried a firmware update such as this one:
http://support.apple.com/downloads/SuperDriveFirmware_Update_v20
• If the problem remains after restarting your iMac and using a DVD cleaner as suggested in an earlier post in this thread, try resetting PRAM. (Hold down these 4 keys: ⌘ option P R while restarting. Release the keys after you hear the startup chime for the third time.)
• Your system info shows you using Mac OS X (10.4.5). Unless you have compelling reasons otherwise, use Disk Utility to repair permissions. Then download and install the OS X 10.4.11(PPC) Combo Update:
http://support.apple.com/downloads/MacOS_X_10_4_11_Combo_Update__PPC
Immediately after the restart that completes the update, repair permisssions again.
Although your Superdrive should certainly work in Mac OS X (10.4.5), the latest 10.4 version offers many improvement over Mac OS X (10.4.5), and properly applying the Combo Update has corrected a wide range of strange problems for many users.
• Unless you are confident that there is NO problem with your Mac OS X System software, you may want to reinstall OS X (and immediately update to 10.4.11) to see if some of the software that operates your Superdrive has been damaged or lost.
• If you get no solution here, an Apple Service Technician is my only remaining suggestion.
EZ Jim
Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.1) MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.1)
LED Cinema Display G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11) iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9) External iSight

My Superdrive cannot be detected by both my Macbook Pro Retina and MacBook Air. It used to be working perfectly. On the same token My USB stick cant be detected by My MacBook Pro Retina. But It can be detected by my Macbook AIR

My SuperDrive cannot be detected either by MY MBP Retina and my MBA. it was working perfectly till a month ago.
To add to this issue my MBP Retina is not able to detect my USB stick either. Is there anything to do with the firmware?!!

Is this the Apple USB 2.0 SuperDrive (I'm assuming that it has to be...). Likely a problem with the drive, if neither computer recognizes it. Take it to your local Apple Store and have them look it over and see if it will work with any of their display models. If you're still under warranty, they should replace it for nothing. If it's out of warranty, you may just have to buy a new one.
I would also carry along your rMBP and the USB stick that's causing problems. Have you tried another USB device in the port? Another USB flash drive? Or is the problem with the one flash drive?
I don't know of any firmware updates for the 2012 models that have come out specifically tied to USB problems. There were some earlier in the year... have you kept up with all of the updates via Software Update?
Good luck - sounds as if you've a bad SuperDrive and (possibly) a problem with your USB ports (or maybe just this one USB flash drive).
Clinton

I have a mid 2009 macbook pro with a bad dvd drive. Can I use an external drive?

Is there an external CD/DVD drive that will work on a mid 2009 macbook pro with a bad SuperDrive?

Hi parrotdawg,
Please look at this post first:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/25385804#25385804
If that doesn't help, I have a Samsung SE-208AB/TSBS External DVD-Writer that works well with my mid-2007 MBP 15". Note this this drive requires 2 USB ports but doesn't use an external power adapter. Also, the above trick worked for me after I got this drive, so now I use it a Region 2 DVD player.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KQ0S8S
Regards,
Ira

Positive Superdrive replacement experience

I just wanted to post my superdrive replacement followup.
I sent my macbook in last Friday for a bad superdrive (after only having it for 24 hours). My problem was that no matter what cd/dvd I inserted, the drive made some noise and spit it back out. I recieved it back today after only being away for 5 days. The service document said that my superdrive and the plastic piece where I rest my wrists was replaced (not sure why).
So far so good. I tried a bunch of cds and dvds. No ejecting and no problems reading. (also no scratching). I know that there are people out there who got the superdrive replaced only to have it go bad a few weeks later again, but I will try to stay positive. I ran an entire Mac OS X install tonight and it never hiccupped.
I really just wanted to say that as bummed as I felt a few days ago, my experience with apple support has really impressed me. I never would have got that kind of service with my HP computer.
This was my first experience with apple support, and I couldn't be happier.
-john

Good morning-
Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know about your great experience with Jaevel! I'm glad he was able to make sense of the billing confusion in such a friendly, kind manner. I agree with you completely- agents like Jaevel are exactly the type of people Verizon should keep around!
I'm going to track Jaevel down and pass along your kind note to him and his manager- I know it'll make his day!
Have a great day!
-Heather

Adapter SATA Superdrive to IDE Logic board

Anyone know of such a device? This could simplify replacing a bad superdrive in 1st generation macbook.
You may have already guessed, my superdrive UJ-857 now only ejects any disk I load.
Interesting thing is my superdrive had only very light occasional use.

Just for completeness of info, the link shows an adapter to use a laptop style IDE optical drive with a standard 3.5" hard drive cable connector.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ADP2535S-BULK&cat=CCD
As you can see, no circuitry on the adapter. So a laptop style IDE optical drive is electrically the same as a standard IDE device. Since the standard IDE device needs an adapter with circuitry to connect to a SATA controller, that means that a laptop style IDE optical drive will need a circuitry based adapter as well. And vice versa. A SATA optical drive will not work on an IDE controller without a circuitry based adapter.
Therefore, if you have an IDE based Macbook, you need an IDE type optical drive unless you can find an adapter that's small enough to squeeze inside the case, or you don't care about reassembling the case and are only going to use the Macbook on your desk.

Superdrive and CDs

I just purchased a 20" iMac Core 2 Duo a week ago, and I've been having an ongoing problem. Installers and files saved to DVD come up and read just fine in the SuperDrive - both store-bought and burned media.
However, about 85% of the time, CD media (audio, installers, OEM or burned) are not recognized and are ejected without mounting.
My gut feeling is that it's a bad Superdrive. I've zapped the PRAM multiple times, restarted from a bootable external drive with 10.5 on it, and get the same results with the drive.
Any other ideas? I'm a little bummed - first new Mac I've bought since 1989....yeah, I'm a cheapskate. <grin>.
Chris

Hello basstbn
Welcome to Apple Discussions
Sometime simply rewriting the DVD & CD preferences will solve the issue! Go to *System Preferences / CDs & DVDs* and change the preference *When you insert a music CD:* to Ignore then back to *Open iTunes.*
Dennis

Both Superdrives won't burn DVDs or CDs

Hello everyone. I'm having a serious problem. Both of the Superdrives in my MacPro (1.1) will not burn DVDs or CDs. They read discs just fine. They just won't burn -- in ANY program (DVD Studio Pro, Finder, iDVD).
I have scoured the forums to answers to this problem, and NOTHING has worked. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this issue.
Here is a list of things I've tried:
Disc cleaner
Reducing burning speed
Different DVD media. I've tried every brand and speed out there. Verbatim, Memorex, Sony, generics, etc.
Re-install operation system. The issue started on Leopard. A reinstall didn't help. I'm not on Snow Leopard and having the same problem.
Checked connections. (all plugs are snug)
Some thoughts:
I find it hard to believe that this is a case of bad superdrives. They both stopped working at the same time.
I have an external firewire burner that works just fine.
Thanks for whatever help or advice you can provide!

I'm not sure if we can post links to other mac forum threads, but I found this:
Open System Preferences.
Click on "International"
Under "Languages": Drag any of the other languages to the top,
then drag English back to the top.
Set "Order for sorted lists" to English
Set "Word Break" to English (United States, computer)
Close System Preferences
Restart computer
What you can try is typing the exact phrase of the error message into google... in parentheses, and you will find a lot of hits, and maybe the answer. Good luck!
PS... I know the "fix" above sounds like nonsense, and it might be, but several claimed it worked...

I have a photo cd from photographer that was burned on a mac but it will not open on my mac. It goes in, makes some noise, then ejects. My system pref. is set to open iPhoto when a photo cd is inserted. She has sent me 2 disc and both do the same thing

I have a photo cd from photographer that was burned on a mac but it will not open on my mac. It goes in, makes some noise, then ejects. My system pref. is set to open iPhoto when a photo cd is inserted. She has sent me 2 disc and both do the same thing. Any ideas?

NOt an iPhoto issue - either a bad CD or a bad Superdrive on your computer - no way for us to tell try the CD in a different computer
LN

Music CD won't read on my iMac but will on my husbands. I've looked in system preferences and it is set to open music cd in iTunes. What else do I need to do?

My iMac spits out two, new CD's I purchased today that I'd like to add into iTunes. They will play on my hubby's iMac (his is newer but same 10.8.6). Under help it recommended checking CD/DVD settings which I did. Any other ideas? Evidently my system has a MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-875 (assuming I have that right for what also plays the CD's).
Thanks for any help y'all can provide.

NOt an iPhoto issue - either a bad CD or a bad Superdrive on your computer - no way for us to tell try the CD in a different computer
LN

IMac G5 won't boot in normal and safe mode, but will from single-user mode

Hello everyone,
I'm quite new here, so I try to do my best if you have a question.
Yesterday, someone nearby me had a iMac G5 (Powermac8,1), and he sayd, that the computer sometimes will boot, sometimes not.
I did test it, I thought it was running fine, but when I played some music in iTunes, it was stuck on 9 seconds, and crashed (with a kernel panic). The guy also sayd, that there was nothing important on the computer, so a clean install was fine.
Now, the problem is, that it will not boot in normal mode (without anything pressed on boot), also it won't in safe mode (shift-boot), but it will, when I enter single-user mode, mount the hard drive and exit from single-user mode so it will go futher on booting. Sometimes it will not, and immediately gives you a kernel panic in single-user mode, but it will 90 percent of the time.
Then you've got another problem: when it's running in the normal desktop from single-user mode, it'll be stuck after some time again. If I look into the Kernel Panic file created, most times it's because of Spotlight indexing, so I disabled that.
He also gave me the disks (Apple Hardware Test and Extra Applications, and iMac G5 Mac OS X Install Disks 1-3) that came with the Mac. He sayd that I could use them, but I think he didn't test out the SuperDrive, because when I insert a disk, it will try to read, but it will make 2 same sounds, and quits after 10 tries, when it will spit the cd out. Also normal (audio) disks.
Also, I must hurry with the commands for mounting and exiting in single-user mode, or it will just not boot.
In all cases, after 30-45 seconds from pressing the power button, the fan will start blowing at full speed, and it will stop after the exit command in Single-user mode. That's weird.
I can't do anything with the SuperDrive, I can't normally boot in Mac OS X except for Single-user mode (but I don't think he would like to do that every time the computer boots up), and I have very limited time when Mac OS X arrived on the desktop.
When booting in Verbose mode, it will be stuck on this:
AppleSMU::PMU vers = 0x000d004c, SPU vers = 0x15, SDB vers = 0x01,
(and sometimes ends with a kernel crash by fsck_hfs)
Things I've tried (without any success):
- /sbin/fsck -fy (in single-user mode)
- Disabling Spotlight and mds
If you want some more information, feel free to ask!
Greetings
-MrYoranimo
PS: My main language is Dutch, so my English can be bad at some points.

Thank you for your support! This reply is a little bit late, because I was to the camping this weekend.
The only thing I sure do know, is that the iMac has a bad SuperDrive. That's one problem, but I don't really wanna use it, and you fix everything by Single-user mode and when I get to the desktop to test things and change stuff in the Preference Panes.
What also came to my mind was that there also is a problem with the videocard (driver), because sometimes when I boot into Single-user mode, I can see some white pixels which aren't supposed to be there. And when booting from SUM you can see that some of the colors are different and there are weird patterns on the screen.
I also tried to setup a NetBoot server on this computer (MacBook Mid 2010) with just Lion 10.7.4 on it, but I'm not that expert and I didn't really find the good posts on the Internet, although I tried it with the Server applications and both Server applications and DeployStudio. But I didn't succeed.
I don't really like buying a new FireWire hard disk or external FireWire dvd reader/writer, except if it has USB support, because my MacBook doesn't support FireWire, and I really wanna make use of it then.
If I know more or have fixed it, I will surely post again here with what I did to fix it (if no one else has posted here already ).

"Laser Power not calibrated" error??

I just upgraded my Mac to a 24" 2.4GHz Aluminum model last week. I went to burn a DVD this morning and got an error message that said "The laser power level has not be calibrated to burn this media". I'm using Toshiba 8x DVD-R media - the same media I have used for years with my previous Mac.
Does anyone know what this error message means??
Do I have a bad SuperDrive??
Did I miss something on the setup concerning the SuperDrive??
Any help or thoughts on the subject would be appreciated.

I had issues with two different methods of burning -
FINDER - popped in a DVD, it recognized as blank DVD. I moved some photos and files over to the DVD, then went to burn the DVD - got an error.
DVD2one - I was trying to burn a short home movie I had made, it processed the video and audio, then I got another error.
I found some older Memorex DVD-Rs someone had given me a few years ago because they wouldn't work in their PC's DVD+R burner. When I used the Memorex DVDs, I could burn using both of the methods above.
I'm guessing the issue is with the Toshiba DVD-Rs I was using. I'll have to give the remainder of these DVDs to someone else and go buy some Memorex DVD-Rs instead. I guess I'll go find this week's adverts and see if I can find a deal some place.

My DVD drive doesn't work. It stopped working after I upgrade to the new OS. What can I do to fix this?, My DVD drive doesn't work. It stopped working after I upgrade to the new OS. What can I do to fix this?

Is there a way I can fix this problem without going to the store? It seems that my macbook pro was okay untl I upgraded. It doesn't read DVD nor any CD.

I've not heard of any updates that caused optical drives to fail. Best thing you can do is to make an appointment at the Apple Store. They will run diagnostics on your computer free - you only pay if you choose to have it repaired.
If it does turn out to be a bad SuperDrive and the price to replace from Apple seems high, you can always replace the drive yourself. Try OWC for listings of replaceable drives and the toolkit and instructions on how to replace the drive.
Clinton

Bad Superdrive?

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