Bootcamp, MacBook 3,1, usb optical drive issue.

I'm trying to install Windows Vista 32bit using Bootcamp on my late 2007 MacBook 3,1, the internal optical drive does not function so I have to use a usb optical drive but when I use bootcamp to start the installation it does not work and I'm presented with a folder question mark icon, I have installed Vista using my internal drive before.
Even if I hold down option and choose the DVD I either get a no operating system found or no media error.
Any suggestions?

OK! Got it sorted
Here's how...
Boot the OSX Install disc, use "disk utility" to format the bootcamp partition.
Reboot then hold option to select disc.
Press eject replace the OSX disc with Windows disc then boot the Windows disc.
Bootcamp seems a bit buggy.

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How can I install winxp to bootcamp on imac with bad optical drive?

I have a mid-2007 20" aluminum Intel-based iMac and I'm having trouble getting a clean install of MacOS10.5.8 and Win XP (through Bootcamp) on a new drive.
The problem stems from the fact that I have no internal optical drive. My Superdrive began acting up a while ago (couldn't recognize, read from, or write to DVD). I replaced the drive, but the problem persisted. Calling Apple Support, they determined (guessed?) the problem was the logic board, and, as the machine is out of warranty, isn't worth replacing. No big deal - I've been using an external USB optical drive when needed.
However, my hard drive is beginning to experience issues (SMART Failure), and I want to reinstall everything MacOS, Bootcamp/Win XP on a clean new drive. The problem is that I cant resinstall Win XP to Bootcamp without an internal drive (which seems unlikely to ever work). I've tried creating a bootable USB key with the XP installation files going through the Bootcamp installation process using the WintoFlash/rEFIt method, but to no avail (won't recognize boot from USB).
Is it possible to remove the internal hard drive, boot from MacOS (10.5.8) on an external drive, and connect the optical drive to the sATA port where the internal drive was? Or is there a second sATA port on these logic boards? Or can I somehow connect the USB optical drive in a way that the iMAC thinks it's internal? I'm not afraid of digging into the iMAC (changed HDD and Superdrive already).
Is there anyway to test the pATA connection on my logic board to find out if it's really the problem? If it's not, maybe I can install WinXP on a second Windows formated drive, to take the space of the internal Superdrive.
There must be some good ideas out there somewhere. Barring that, my only other option is to use Parallels and take the performance hit that comes with running a virtual machine. UGH!

Actually, when I followed that link, one of the related links in More Like This was a real find! An actual download of Aperture, albeit a trial, but that would have solved my problem too. I tested it and although it's embeded in a support article, the link to the trial version of Aperture still works.
Thanks! Great info here if you can find it.

Usb optical drive not mounting

Usb Optical Drive not mounting via MacBook Pro (13inch 2013) since update to 10.10.1. Any positive solutions?

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.
Get help with the slot-loading SuperDrive on your Mac computer
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201788
Regards,
-Norm G.

How do install Windows 7 from a USB optical drive?

I have a 27" 2013 iMac with no optical drive so I borrowed an Apple USB portable optical drive. How do I install Windows on BootCamp from the USB Optical drive?

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
open disk utility, confirm you have 1 partition (‘mac HD’ unless you renamed it) and repair permissions TWICE
dl a windows ISO
insert your usb flash drive and open boot camp assistant, choose all options making sure you used the new ISO just dl'd
if you get an error that the windows support software is unavailable, manually dl it here, put it on a separate USB2 drive and install by clicking setup.exe after windows is installed
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5634
w7 ISOs
http://techverse.net/download-windows-7-iso-x86-x64-microsofts-official-servers/

External Optical drive issue.

I bought the Value Line Slim USB Optical Drive from OtherWorldComputing and when it is hooked up to my older MacBook Pro I can see it in disk utility and the system profiler, but as soon as a put any kind of disc in the drive it disapears from both and sounds like the disc stops spinning then it continues to try. I'm not sure what to do. I have tried the optical drive on other computers and it works fine.

Does this drive come with a power source, or is it powered exclusively by the MBP's USB port? If the latter, does it have a power supply port? If yes, try connecting a separate power power supply to it and then connecting it to the MBP. It sounds like the drive needs more power than the MBP provides through the USB port.
If you have a powered USB hub, you could also try that one. It's conclusive if it works; but it's not conclusive if it doesn't work, because, more often than not, such drives do not work correctly when connected through a hub.

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:
Use a USB Optical Drive - I tried using a USB optical drive because the Xserve G5 has a CD drive not a superdrive. It recognizes the Leopard Installation DVD as it pops up on the desktop. I open the installation and click the restart button, but it restarts again and goes to my desktop as if I just turned on the Mac. I have tried doing this in Safe Mode (Holding down Shift on Start Up) and trying to select it from volumes (Holding down Option on Start Up). These two do not work.   I believe it is because I am using a USB optical drive and that it wont recognize the drive unless you are logged on in the OS. Could this be it?
Use FireWire Target Disk Mode - I also tried to use target disk mode by hooking up my Xserve to my MacBook Pro 2009. Everything work fine. I put the Xserve into target disk mode by holding down T on start up and it goes into target disk mode. It pops up on my MacBook Pro desktop as a FireWire external device (I can access all of my files on the Xserve hard drive). My only problem is that I do not know how to run the installation disk of Leopard off of my MacBook Pro so it installs it on my Xserve.
Any Suggestions or Ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
- Ryan

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.)
      *Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
   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.
   6. Highlight the drive, select Partition Tab, then Format type... MacOS Extended Journalled, APM Partition.
Quit DU which puts you back to the Installer... Install.

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...

G5 using Macbook as an external optical drive

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to use a macbook as an external optical drive for a G5 powermac to update the system software?
My optical drive on the G5 no longer spins discs for some reason.
I was thinking it might be possible to use a firewire and mount it as an external drive with the CD inside.
any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Hi Jaaniekregg, and a warm welcome to the forums!
If your MacBook has Firewire & you have a cable, then boot the MacBook into Target Mode, connect the two via Firewire, boot the G5 with the option key held down & you should be able to select the DVD in the MacBook to boot the G5 from.

New Macbook Pro Optical Drive Issues

Okay. So I'm new at college, and had to buy a computer from the University, which I did. I got a Macbook Pro, because I really do like the Mac OS much better. However, I am having constant problems with my Optical Drive. When I first got it, the drive wasn't even recognized in the System. So I turned it in to the Help Desk, they say it works, I get it back and it doesn't. So, I opened it up and re-seated connection to the board and it works. I burned a couple CDs, installed printer, etc it's all working.
Now, for some reason, the drive is constantly doing something when nothings even in there. It's constantly making noises and such, and it will freeze my computer every couple minutes, locking me out. Even while I'm typing this, it's constantly freezing and stuff. When I put a disc in, it's not recognized. I just checked in the Profiler and now the drive isn't seen anymore. What's going on?? Please help!!

After taking it in to the tech department, I gave up on them and opened it myself. Re-seated the connection from the Superdrive to the main board, and it works fine.

Installing Boot Camp on MacBook Air with no optical drive

Hi,
Recently the hardnesses of life forced me to use some Windows-only software. I'm on MBA with model identifier MacBookAir3,2. Don't have optical drive.
How can I install BootCamp and Windows 7 on it without optical drive? I could, using another computer, copy installation disk on to USB-disk if this can solve problem, but I'm stuck about how the process would go. I understand my Air should boot from something Windowsy when it has BootCamp installed, from where will it boot in this case, from USB-disk?
Regards,
Eskr.

Hi,
have a read at Apple BootCamp Setup Guide for MacBook Air http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Boot_Camp_Install-SetupLate2010.pdf
And the procedure is described here http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31012_7-20020513-10355804.html
For preparing the USB-Stick you have to have access to a Windows-PC.
Regards
Stefan

Snow Leopard Install problems on Macbook Pro with bad optical drive

I've tried this (refer to article below) to install Snow Leopard on a Macbook Pro with a bad optical drive, but I am not able to choose a wi-fi network, or install disk after startup. Is there something else I need to do?
To use Remote Install Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server:
Insert the Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server Install Disc into the optical disc drive of the other computer.
If the other computer is a Mac, open /Applications/Utilities/Remote Install Mac OS X. On Windows, choose "Remote Install Mac OS X" from the Install Assistant.
Read the introduction and click Continue.
Choose the install disc you want to use, and click Continue.
Choose a network connection: AirPort, if you are using an AirPort network, or Ethernet, if the other computer is on an Ethernet network and you have an optional Apple USB Ethernet Adapter connecting your MacBook Air or Mac mini to the same network. Click Continue.
Restart your MacBook Air or Mac mini and hold down the Option key as it starts up, until you see a list of available startup disks.
Click Continue in Remote Install Mac OS X.
If you chose AirPort as your network in step 5, on your MacBook Air or Mac mini choose your AirPort network from the pop-up list.
If the network is secure, you will be prompted for a password. You can enter a private network name by choosing the ellipsis (...) and typing the name.
If you chose AirPort as your network in step 5, when you see the AirPort status icon indicating signal strength, click Continue in Remote Install Mac OS X.
You can now reinstall software, reset your password or run Disk Utility using instructions from the User's Guide.

Are you able to connect the two via Firewire cable? If so you can boot the MBP into Target Disk Mode. Then boot the other computer from the OS X installer disc. The installer should detect the hard drive of the MBP as an eligible target destination.
If you have a spare hard drive or at least 10 GBs of usable space on an external drive, then you can create a small 8 GB partition on that drive. Then clone the installer DVD to that partition using the Restore option of Disk Utility. You can then boot the MBP from that partition using OPTION boot: Start the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager appears. Select the icon for the cloned DVD then click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Clone using Restore Option of Disk Utility
1. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder.
2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
4.Check the box labeled Erase destination.
5. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
6. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to the Source entry field.
7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external partition.
Source means the OS X Installer DVD.
Message was edited by: Kappy

USB Flash Drive Issue On iMac - 1.1 on iMac, 2.0 on any other Mac

I have a Core i7 27" Late 2009 iMac.
I just noticed this issue today.
I have a couple of Patriot XPorter XT USB Flash drives that I use among my Macs to transfer big files around.
Hooking one of the 8GB flash drives to my iMac, the one listed above, it shows the device operating at USB 1.1 speeds, whether it's in a powered hub, or one of the 4 USB ports in the back of the machine. This was odd, because this was the first time it had ever done this. I only noticed this due to the painfully slow transfer rate the Finder was reporting to me. Restarting the iMac, cold starting the iMac, resetting permissions, PRAM and SMC did nothing. I thought it was a bum drive.
So I grabbed a 16GB flash drive (same brand and model family, different capacity) and it works perfectly fine on the iMac at USB 2.0 speeds. Hmm...
So I boot the iMac into Win 7 Ultimate x64. Both drives are listed at USB 2.0 speeds. Something is definitely afoot here.
To make sure I'm not losing my sanity, I grab my MacBook Pro and test the drives in there. Both drives are listed at USB 2.0 speeds.
I then run to my Mac Pro. Both drives are listed at USB 2.0 speeds.
Did something go wonky on my iMac?
Machine specs (for comparison above)
iMac 27" i7 2.8GHz - 16GB RAM
MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz - 4GB RAM
Mac Pro Xeon 2.66GHz - 12GB RAM

I think that you are just running into a communication blip between the thumb drive and the controller for the USB ports on your iMac. It is obviously reading the 8 GB drive as older and slower and is assigning that lessor priority to the bus serving the drive.
Have you tried attaching the drive directly to the iMac with no other device connected to a USB port? If it is the same, then I doubt there is anything that you can do, that is going to be the way the USB controller reads this thumb drive.

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.

Dropped macbook making noises from optical drive, won't accept CD's/DVD

Hi,
I am new to the forum, and unfortunately I am posting because I have a problem. I dropped my MacBook (which I've had since August 2006) from a desk, about 2-3 feet onto tile floor. Luckily, everything turned on and is working just fine, except everytime I turn my computer on and everytime it wakes up from sleep, the optical drive makes lots of noise. It sounds like it is trying to eject a nonexistent disk, except it makes that typical noise 3-4 times in a row before stopping. Also, it will not allow me to insert disks (I can get them almost all the way in, but it won't go completely in). I checked in my system profiler and it shows the details of my optical drive, and it is a Matshita DVD-R UJ-857. I called Apple and told them what was happening, and they told me to bring it to a local authorized dealer. However, I am a college student and it's really hard for me to find time to give up my computer for an undetermined amount of time while they wait to diagnose it. Also, I have a feeling it is going to be really expensive, considering they want at least $100 just to look at it, before the cost of labor and parts to actually repair it. Has this happened to anyone else? Any advice on alternatives or experience with this type of issue would be very much appreciated!

My computer just started having the same problem, only I haven't dropped it. I did, however, inadvertantly knock a hot chocolate over, and a little got into the optical drive. I turned the computer off immediately, cleaned it, and left it to dry for a couple hours. But now, whenever I close the lid & the computer goes to sleep, the optical drive keeps making an eject noise (every TEN SECONDS, incredibly annoying). When the computer is open and running, this doesn't happen.
Also, I just popped a DVD in there to test the functionality of the drive, it recognized it and went straight into DVD Player, so that's fine. However, it's hard to get discs to come back out ... it looks like the spilled liquid has dried but stiffened the felt(?) along the insert slot for DVDs/CDs ... when I try to eject, it makes a noise like it's trying to get the disc out, but can't. I used a paperclip (gently!) along the opening and that loosened it up enough to get the disc to eject, but it's still dirty... any ideas on how to clean that without taking the whole computer apart?
I'm having one other issue now, and I don't know if it's related... when I use the trackpad, it won't recognize it if I use my fingers to tap & select items instead of clicking them with the button. But I can still use two fingers to scroll. I checked in System Prefs, it says I should be able to do all the mouse functions by tapping the trackpad, so I don't know what the problem is. :-\

Bought Lightroom 5 on disc last year. Never used it. Now have MacBook Pro w/no optical drive. How do I download it.

I bought Lightroom 5 on disc last year. Due to health issues with my 96 year-old Dad (I'm his live-in caregiver), I never installed it onto my iMac. Now I am able to install it and have a brand new MacBook Pro, but it doesn't have an optical drive. On this site it specifically says if you have a previous version on disc, you can't download, but my disc is Lightroom 5...How do get a digital download? Thanks for your help. Larry

Google "adobe lightroom mac"and you'll get the following link
Adobe - Lightroom : For Macintosh

Bootcamp, MacBook 3,1, usb optical drive issue.

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