Blind USB Optical Drives

Folks,
I have two, new Apple USB Superdrives.
One was purchased for a MacBook Air. It worked for a week, now nothing.
The system sees it, however no icon appears on the desktop & it will not accept a disc.
The second was purchased for a newer iMac with a broken internal optical drive.
This one never worked, but current situation is identical to the one above.
Any suggestions are more than welcome.
Regards,
Jack

Some external drives don't even work well with Windows, when they were designed for Windows!
Hence, it stands to reason that not all will work with the Mac as well. I know my Dell external DVD drive won't work on my Mac, but my Toshiba external drive works without a hitch.
I bought the Apple external Superdrive, for subjective personal reasons, when I could jsut use my Toshiba drive. It works great (the Apple one), and it looks great too. I'd suggest you just follow Mr Galt's advice.

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iirc, you won't be able to or at least you shouldn't, it will take much longer than using a usb install
CHECKLIST
use only a +8gb USB2 flash drive
disconnect ALL devices except kb, mouse
STEPS
do a PRAM reset
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http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5634
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http://techverse.net/download-windows-7-iso-x86-x64-microsofts-official-servers/

How to launch Apple Hardware Test from a USB optical drive?

Hi all!
First off, and before you guys starting proposing solutions I can't implement, I don't, repeat DON'T have a Firewire optical drive, nor am I going to buy one: I recently had to buy a USB LG optical drive to compensate for my SuperDrive going AWOL on me. I used said drive to reinstall OSX about a month ago, so this LG drive works just fine, thank you.
The thing is, I'd like to conduct an Apple Hardware Test, and I know you have to boot from OSX CD n°1 (in my case) to do that. Alas, since I can't boot from the CD in my SuperDrive by keeping the D key down, all I have is this LG thingy, and I wonder how I can conduct my hardware test with a USB optical drive.
I'll sum it up for you:
1) My SuperDrive isn't working, stopped working about the same time I installed this EFIng (guffaw, guffaw) Security Update 2009-001;
2) I don't have a Firewire optical drive;
3) All I have is a USB optical drive and MacOS X CDs.
4) Booting with the OSX CD in my USB optical drive and keeping D, C or alt keys didn't help.
I read in another forum that you could somehow copy the content of the OSX CD on a flash drive, then boot from the flash drive and conduct an AHT, but I'm not sure how it can be done.

Hi!
Looks like we posted at exactly the same time, Glynn! LOL
Anyway, I did just what you said, drag'n'drop and all. The problem is, when I boot from the USB hard drive, it's exactly as if I were booting from the CD: first I'm asked to choose a language, then the install screen appears, and I can either reinstall on my startup disk from the USB hard drive (that's kinda cool, but I don't think I leave in on my USB hard drive, which can only content 40Gb, because I've almost 25Gb worth of data to retransfer soon...
So, in a nutshell, I couldn't find Apple Hardware Test anywhere. I even explored the CD content, but there are so many files...
What's my best option now? Could AppleJack help me here? Can I install AHT on my startup disk and boot on it using a special set of keys?
Almost time to go to work. A 5 minute walk, though...

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Hello MicroTuFF,
If you cannot get your USB SuperDrive to not mount disks, then take a look at the troubleshooting in the articles below. Start at the Doesn't accept discs section for your specific issue.
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http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201788
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Upgrading Xserve G5 using USB Optical Drive/ Target Disk Mode

Hello Everyone!
I am trying to update my Xserve G5 that is currently running 10.3 (Panther) to 10.5 (Leopard). I have tried multiple methods and cannot seem to get it to work.
I have tried to:
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So what should I do since reformatting the HDD through disk utlity on the Xserve is not an option
Why not???
Boot th xSeve using alt key from Install Disc in MBP, then...
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
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   3. Click the Erase tab.
   4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
   5. Select your Mac OS X volume.
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Quit DU which puts you back to the Installer... Install.

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OK! Got it sorted
Here's how...
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Reboot then hold option to select disc.
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Bootcamp seems a bit buggy.

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My Mac is out of date, I'm still running 10.5.8 but have the Snow Leopard disk to update my operating system to 10.6.3. However, my built-in optical drive is broken so I use a USB powered optical drive. So, when I start the process of installing the new operating software, will the MAC direct itself to my USB drive to boot when necessary?

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Put a second drive inside the Mac Pro, then you need only one external drive.
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<http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/optical-drives/>
<http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MRSFW8U2/>

S10e freezes at BIOS witth USB optical drive connected

Hey folks,
I have been messing with this for a couple days and thought I'd post this here for any input.
I have been using my s10e mainly for work (and play at work lol) and it's turning out to be very fun and useful.
I had to break down and get a portable DVD drive for it and got one for an OK price. It's an IO Magic IDVD8P and is powered by USB. I plugged it in and started burning right away - it worked fine in Windows.
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Hi. Try this to see if it works (i don't have an optical usb drive, so I can't verify):
When computer boots up, press F12 (Fn + F11) to bring up the boot order menu. You should be able to select the HDD from there as the boot-up disk.
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Thanks
John

Mac Mini not recognizing USB optical drive - when Windows 7 in the drive

This is a really strange situation. I purchased a DVD writer in order to install Windows 7 on my Mac Mini (the SuperDrive stopped functioning some time ago). I've been able to boot from this optical drive to install Snow Leopard, but the Win7 disk isn't recognized when I try to boot from it (just get the folder with the "?"). Holding down "Alt" just shows me the Macintosh HD. I've tried multiple DVDs, including a genuine MSFT printed one with no success. I've attached this same drive to my Lenovo laptop and it booted to Windows 7 setup without a problem.
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* boots up Windows 7 on the Lenovo laptop
* fails to boot Windows 7 on the Mac Mini
The Samsung model is Super WriteMaster Slim External DVD Writer, SE-S084
Any help would of course be greatly appreciated. Chocolate is possible for a really good answer.
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Hello hoppingboy,
Just an FYI for you.
It is always best to check with the software manufacturer FIRST. They will tell you if they have tested the product and the version, as well as whether or not it will work with Windows 7.
Check out the Windows 7 Compatibility site: (There you will find out about hardware and software compatibility.)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/en-us/default.aspx
There is a pulldown from which you can choose "hardware" and "software".
There are also some great articles, instructional videos and such to help with your Windows 7 at our Springboard site:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/default.aspx
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As stated previously, it's best to have the Windows 7 certified drivers installed.
Thanks again,
John M.
Microsoft Windows Client Support

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hmmmm. do you have "Error correction" switched on in your Importing preferences? if so, does switching that off help with the importing issues?
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Any thoughts on how I can get this to work?
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Steve

For it to show on the desktop check on Finders menubar. Finder > Preferences > General > check CDs DVDs and iPods. Do the Same in the sidebar tab if desired.

Please suggest on USB Optical Drives for u460

Just ordered a U460 this morning and I am looking to buy an external USB powered optical DVD Burner. My question is, Do I have to buy only Lenovo brand or any other brand would work with it?
I personally liked the sleek and stylish HP USB DVD Burner, but I am not sure if it works with U460. Also, it is cheaper than the lenovo product. Will it work with my U460?
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Satheesh
Solved!
Go to Solution.

no need to buy only lenovo brand, feel free to buy hp usb dvd burner or any other usb dvd rom, it'll work with your computer.

Can "Refit" Be Used for USB Boot From External Optical Drive?

Since the new Mac Mini 2011 has no optical drive, how would one make a generic USB 2.0 optical drive act as a boot device? I have heard that a utility called "Refit" can alter the boot loading order and device choices in Macs. I suppose it is also possible that the new Mini may already be set up to boot first from USB. I would appreciate any comments. It would be nice to have some kind of optical drive boot option for Windows installation and other possible utilities that need to boot before the OS in order to work. Maybe I will have to take my external optical drive to an Apple store to find out. Hope not. I also suspect that a USB keyboard will be mandatory for "Refit" and the boot drive to be used before Mac OS X is loaded.

No utility should be needed.
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Also pressing and holding C boots to the optical drive.
There is reportedly a pretty broad number of USB optical drives that people have been able to use as a boot device, as inexpensively as $30. I don't know that there is a specific list though. I would research whichever model you wish to buy with a quick google search or searching that model here in the forum.
Or maybe somebody will have a recommendation which one they have.

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BC is short for Bootcamp Drivers. These drivers support Apple-specific hardware on your Mac. They can be found at Boot Camp: System requirements for Microsoft Windows operating systems - Apple Support . Assuming you have a 2014 rMBP - Boot Camp Support Software 5.1.5640 should be installed on your MBP. Do you have a Boot Camp option in Control Panel -> System? If yes, then you can Boot Camp: Install or repair Boot Camp drivers and test the devices?
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Blind USB Optical Drives

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