Combo drive slow

recently, my combo drive has been importing and burning cds slower than it used to (about half the speed). i have repaired permissions, and i use onyx and macjanitor often. i wonder if i need to clean out some preferences or something, but i am at a loss. any ideas?
14 iBook, 933 MHz Mac OS X (10.3.9) 640 MB, Airport Extreme card

Have you seen the same results with a lot of different disks?
It wouldn't hurt to run a drive cleaning CD in the drive. It might be slow because the laser is having problems reading the disc and is forced to do a lot of error correction. I have not seen any reports of system updates causing optical drive slow-downs.
One way to test if it was caused by software update is to find another mac that does not have the same problem (and possibly hasn't been updated), boot it into Target Disk mode by holding down T while booting. Connect the two computers using a firewire cable. Then start up your computer while holding down the Option key. You should then see a few little icons of your HD and the other computer's HD. Click on the other computer's HD and then the arrow to boot from the other system. Now you can try to rip a CD using the other computer's system and your optical drive. If the drive reads faster now then problem is software and you'll possibly have to find a way to un-install some updates. If the drive acts the same then problem is likely hardware. Be sure to post your results here.

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Combo Drive reads suddenly slower

I have a 12" iBook G4 with a Combo Drive (+ Tiger), the drive is suddenly much slower reading from CD-R data disks I have burned. Copying a full 700MB from CD to the hard drive used to take approx 3-4 mins, now it takes approx 12-14 mins.
I don't think it's a media issue as I've tried it with several discs (the exact ones which used to work faster). All current software updates have been installed and I've run the maintenance script at
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/automator/maintenance.html
Does anyone have any ideas? Is this a sign that the drive is on its way out?
Thanks.

I haven't tried that yet but will give it a shot - actually the problem seems to have gone away for the time being, so perhaps there was some piece of dust etc. causing the problem that got knocked loose??

I have a G3 700 MHZ dual usb combo drive TRYING to install 10.4 TROUBLES!

hello
this is my first apple mac and i bought a ibook g3 powerbook which is:
700mhz processor 512k level 2
128mb SDRAM + 256mb stick
20GB ultra ATA hard drive
combo drive
400mpbs firewire port
video VGA
originally i tried to do a COMPLETE new install of 10.4 which the CD install completely wipped the laptop for before new install. the 10.4 disks installed and showed as installed on the hard drive as it took up about 3GB of space... i then went to restart computer like it requests but i got an UNHAPPY face and a QUESTION mark! i tried booting up from OS X cd selecting the hard drive but kept getting the same results...
can anyone help or say why it wont load???
i then reinstalled the original 10.1 disks i got with the laptop and i then tried to...
...update it to 10.2.4 from 10.1 and it worked absolutely great :O)
(i thought i'd try going though all the upgrades to get to 10.4...
i then got a 10.3.4 disk this is when problems happened again, i loaded disk first time i did an upgrade install and i did custom install (i didnt want printer drivers and languauges on so disabled them) about 10 mins later came up with error while installing so i quit install, restarted G3 and reset cd off again to upgrade....
the second time i forgot to deselect printer drivers and while installing them 'narna' froze. so i had to put power plug out to get it to restart up.
i switched back on and got a grey language screen telling me to press power button to restart. thats all i got...
i've tried option button with disk so i can select the drive from which to start it up and my drive is there with 10.3 on it with a red cross on the box. if i selected that drive to boot G3 up from it restarts computer and then while it loads i got the grey apple screen and then it freezes again but this time i got lots of grey/white lines across the screen...
so i THEN AGAIN wiped it and i am now back to 10.2 version and wanting to try upgrading to 10.3 if anyone knows reason it wouldnt work
OR
if someone can help me get 10.4 on it. i know the RAM may seem low but it is enough to install as the cds/books say it is...

hi ronda,
i've 1GB RAM in the mini. but that's not the problem.
even on my G5 1,6GHz powermac with 3GB RAM you can't play any of those heavy flashgames like farmville, frontierville or treasure isle. takes forever until they've been loaded by the browser and when you try to move your avatar and do some game action it will at best move in slow motion or you will get the spinning beachball until finally browser or flash plugin crashes.
so that's for a G4 mini and a G5 powermac. the OP asked if farmville could be run on a G3 700MHz ibook. it's a no go. sorry.

EMac Combo drive for a DVD burner ( superdrive)

Hi . I have purchased a used eMac 1 ghz . it has a stock combo drive . i burn a lot of DVDs .I have a external plextor DVD burner ( super drive ) and i was woundering if it would fit in the eMac ? do i need to remove the little bezel at the end of the tray ? I have always owned a older Slower G3 type mac , this will be my fastest mac i would ever have . So i want to be happy with it .
Thank you kindly

I guess burning to external is not so bad . i have been haveing problems when OSX tryed to verifi the burn and it fails so i though putting it into the computer would resolve that . I will keep the burner in the external case if it means i have to take the top off the optical drive itself .
eMac G4 1 ghz 1GB Ram 40 GB HD || iMac DV G3 400mhz 512MB Ram 12 GB HD Graphite Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Burning iDVD to DVD disc with i Book G4 combo drive and external DVD drive

7/6/2006. After much recent experimentation with iLife, iMovie and iDVD, I found how to use themes and set up movies in my iBook G4 purchased two years ago near Chicago (updated to OS 10.3.9). To burn an iDVD file to a DVD disc on a "combo drive" (that is, it has no DVD writer drive) iBook or other comparable Mac, go to File on the top horizontal tool bar and down there to "burn to DiscImage." Depending on the size of the file, it will take about four hours for every hour of movie file to encode it. I just set it up that night, went to bed and woke up the next morning with it finished. Once encoded, it doesn't need to be encoded again and can be used in the future. But Toast 7 Titanium will not burn it to an external DVD writer as "video." but it will burn the video file as "data." And pretty fast. The 'data' file still remains a video file and will do everything the video file does, only now from an external round DVD disc, too. I discovered this by accident, although Matt (tech support) reminded me about DiscImage. Later, David (also in tech support) told me to download newer versions of iDVD and iMovie, but that did not work, nor had he ever tried it. Remember for a combo drive and using iDVD, and also iMovie, under File burn to DiscImage and save on an external disc as "data." My external DVD write is by LaCie. Best wishes. Chuck Yopst [email protected] Chicago area.
iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)
iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Like altero said, you're not using Toast properly... Follow these directions:
Suggest you create a disc image from iDVD and then burn the DVD. In iDVD: File/Save as Disc Image...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=164927
This will isolate any encoding/burning issues you may encounter. Once the disc image is created, double-click the .img and burn the virtual disc that should appear on your desktop, using Toast to burn the DVD. Disk Utility to burn the .img file. Usually, you can select a burning speed in Disk Utility.
There are variations to this process based on which OS X you are using...
Open Disk Utility (in Utilities folder in Applications folder), click on the virtual disc (maybe the .img) in the left-hand window. Click the Burn icon. A new window should drop down and your SuperDrive tray will open after clicking the Burn icon. Insert a recordable DVD. (Verbatim DVD-R preferred by me.) Click the Close button. Wait. Select a burn speed. If you hold your mouse cursor over the pop-up it says: "Select a slower speed to work around burn failures," so select 4x or slower for best results. Then click the Burn button.
-->If the virtual disk selection won't allow you to click the Burn icon, use the .img file instead. This may have changed in 10.3.9 and did change in Tiger.
Also, you can use DVD Player to play the virtual disk to check your iDVD project before burning to DVD. Launch DVD Player. File/Open VIDEO_TS (Open DVD Media... in Player 4.6). Find the VIDEO_TS folder and open that. (The audio folder is for DVD-Audio disks.)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93006

Doen't play DVDs -either internal Combo drive nor external drive

Hello There,
When I try to play a DVD with Combo Drive of my iBook G3, sooner or later the picure stops and the computer is frozen– cannot quit the software "DVD player", no reaction given to any button and mouse.
Once I brought my computer to the service, where they said it was a hardware problem and they only could exchange the drive.
Now I've got an external DVD Writer and still have the problem.
(So I suppose it's not the hardware.)
Using VLC instead of DVDplayer, anything is the same. But VLC showed error messages : ffmpg : more than 5 secounds of late video ->dropping frame (computer too slow?)
I cannot believe that the computer is to slow, because it WAS showing DVDs before.
If this information helps : Power PC 750, Processor 600MHz, Memory 384 MB, SDRAM, Bus 100 MHz.
By the way, another problem I´ve got with my Combo is, that it can burn audio CD but no data CD-any trials comes out with an error.
Can anybody help me ?
iBook G3 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

I guess I'll just have to put a new MoBo in it.
Don't waste your time or money. You'd still be stuck with that tiny low-resolution screen and the wrong aspect ratio for DVD movies. The logic board from the slightly faster FireWire-equipped clamshell is the only other LB that might fit, though from what I've just read at iFixit, it won't. I doubt that it would do much (if any) better than the LB you've got, even if it did fit. A clamshell iBook just isn't the machine to play DVDs on.

Combo Drive Problem - External Replacement - iDVD Help

Recently the Combo Drive on my flat panel iMac went bad. It no longer does anything. I see that this is a common senerio.
I just purchased an external CD/DVD multi recorder (HP 940 - USB). It works great went burning CD's (from iTunes) and Burn folders. However, whenever I try to burn from iDVD the computer doesn't seem to know that it is plugged in. It just ejects my internal combo drive drawer which doesn't work. Does anyone know how to get the iMac to recognize an external burner when burning from iDVD?
Thanks.
iMac Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Hello and Welcome to Apple Discussions.
The Patchburn (link) driver might help but iDVD isn't the best for working with any old 3rd party burner.
It could also be a USB thing. Most iMac G4 have USB1.1 which is really too slow for proper DVD burning. If it has it connect the device via the much faster Firewire connection.
Let us know how you get on.
mrtotes

Help with combo drive

recently, my combo drive has been importing and burning cds slower than it used to (about half the speed). i have repaired permissions, and i use onyx and macjanitor often. i wonder if i need to clean out some preferences or something, but i am at a loss. any ideas?

Hi, J.F.R. I suspect that when you connected the new drive's flex cable to the main logic board, you may not have pressed it securely into place, with the result that the drive is not comunicating properly (or at all, perhaps) with the computer. Double-check that connection by disconnecting it and then pressing it solidly down again; it should snap slightly into place when properly seated.
If that doesn't help, call MCE, explain the situation, and ask for advice. That flex cable is the only electrical connection between the drive and the Powerbook, so if it's solidly connected and the drive still doesn't work, the drive itself is suspect.

Combo Drive Problems

I just installed the IDE CDRW/DVD combo drive and the PowerDVD software that came with it. Unfortunately I cannot seem to get my DVDs to play correctly. After about 10 minutes the playback goes buggy on me. It sort of crashes. By that I mean the DVD will go start over at the beginning (the studio logo part). I played the disc on two other players and it works fine. I also tried using another disc, and I experienced the same problem. The thing kind of resets. Further attempts have resulted in crashes and lock ups. I attempted playing the disc with PowerDVD and Windows Media Player. I made sure the drive was set to DMA and I did flash the drive BIOS. The hardware manager for the OS says the device is functioning properly. Anybody have any suggestions? Is this a hardware or a software issue?

Okay, I reinstalled the OS, installed WinDVD 4 and tested the discs. So I concluded that the problem was solved by reinstalling the OS. I assumed it would be safe to install PowerDVD 5. I did that and tested the disc and look what happens. Same old problem. I uninstalled it but still have the same problem! All that hassle of backing up my old data, reinstalling the OS...and the suffering. Oh the suffering.
At this point I think I'll just roll over and play dead. Fine...I can't watch Underworld on my deskbox past chapter 3...strangely, Matrix used to skip backward too, but that problem seems to have gone away.
I saw Wonkanoby's post about the new Nforce drivers...I picked those up...no help. I've pretty much done everything I can think about. At one point I've even taken the drive back and exchanged it for a new one. All updated drivers...DirectX 9...WinUpdated all current...really, nothing I can think of short of getting a new drive. But...it works fine for some discs?!
I think I'm going insane...man...look at this thread...I must be insane...I've spent a great majority of it talking to myself...

How can I remove a CD in Combo Drive of Mac Mini?

This is a Mac Mini operating on OS 10.58. I have a CD in the combo drive, and it apparently has something recorded on it. I think this CD had started to be burned and I stopped it. The computer indicates that this CD is not blank. The result is that it will not eject, even after several attempts using the small eject arrow at the top of the desktop, the use of apple-E, and after repeated efforts with a complete shutdown -- still the disk is stuck in the drive. I suspect that it's in a loop situation, where it tries to run the CD with not effect, but it also cannot eject it.
I notice a small black square, appearing to be black plastic, at the far right end of the CD/DVD player slot at the top of the Mac Mini. In the old days there was such a hole into which one could stick a straight wire, like a heavy duty straightened paper clip, and it would physically eject a stuck disk. Is there such a thing on this Mac Mini?
Any good suggestions, please!? Thanks!!
George

Five ways to eject a stuck CD or DVD from the optical drive
Ejecting the stuck disc can usually be done in one of the following ways:
1. Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the left mouse button until the disc ejects.
2. Press the Eject button on your keyboard.
3. Click on the Eject button in the menubar.
4. Press COMMAND-E.
5. If none of the above work try this: Open the Terminal application in your Utilities folder. At the prompt enter or paste the following:
/usr/bin/drutil eject
If this fails then try this:
Boot the computer into Single-user Mode. At the prompt enter the same command as used above. To restart the computer enter "reboot" at the prompt without quotes.

Tiger no longer recognizes my Combo Drive

While watching a DVD, my laptop had a bad crash. I was able to restart the computer, but since then, the OS no longer recognizes my Combo Drive.
When I start the DVD Player app, it gives me the message "There was an initialization error. A valid DVD drive could not be found. [-70002]"
And in System Profiler, the DVD player no longer shows up.
Two questions:
1- how can I restore the OS's recognition of the DVD drive?
2- how can I get the DVD drive to eject the DVD that is stuck inside my laptop?
Thanks in advance.

To eject the disc, hold the Mouse button down, (left one if you have more than one), while it's booting up.
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc that came with your computer, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
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 First Aid 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. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
At step 4 or 5, does your optical show? Or did it even boot from it?

External Combo Drive doesn't work after installing Snow Leopard

This Mini was bought used with a defective combo drive. I purchased a "No-Brand" external Combo Drive (USB connected and powered) off eBay. Everything worked fine under Leopard. I used the external drive to install Snow leopard but could not eject the DVD at the completion of the installation process. I manually ejected the DVD and discovered the external drive now doesn't work with either DVD's or CD"s.
Any ideas what the problem is?
Ken

Mark this up to "cockpit' trouble on my part. The external combo drive now works.

I need to refresh my iMac's OS but I can't use the combo drive

I need to upgrade the OS on an old iMac G4 I bought and the internal combo drive is dead. Is there a way to do this using either a Flash drive or a HD drive? I have SuperDuper so I thought I would copy my system from an existing iMac G4 to this computer, but SuperDuper isn't being so Super right now and is coking on some files.
Any other ideas? (I don't have an external DVD drive but do own a MacBook and have a wireless network if that helps.) THANKS.

Does the "new" iMac have Firewire (I think all G4 iMac had FW ports)? If so, you can connect it via a Firewire cable to another Mac and boot the iMac G4 into "Target" mode which will make it appear as an external hard drive on which ever computer it is tethered to.
You can then run the install DVD on the computer and install the system to the "Target" which is the old iMac.
Patrick

Using eMac Combo drive in a PC

G'day All,
I have an old, old PC which I would like to install my Combo drive into. It is the Philips CDD5301. WinMe recognises the model number etc, but it does not have any CD-RW or DVD capabilities, just a bulk standard CD-Rom. I have dowloaded a copy of FlashTool P3.7.2.1 which should get it going, but I am hesitant about doing so and ending up bricking the drive. Has anyone ever used their old Mac hardware in a PC after they upgraded their Mac??

You can read the contents of CD-ROM or DVD-ROM ?
If that is OK the player is working on the PC.
Win95/98/ME/2000 have no burning and DVD player capabilities by itself.
You must use a program such as Nero Burning ROM or alike, to burn CDs and another program like VLC
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html
to be able to see a DVD.
Alberto

New mac mini won't accept dvd's/cd's in the combo drive

Hello friends:
i have a new mac mini that I bought about 2 months ago (Intel, 2.0 ghz). Everything was working fine until I went to put in a DVD today. The combo drive won't accept a disc. It's not that it won't read the disc, it physically won't suck it into the drive. Instead it just sits there. If I try and push it in, nothing happens... it just bounces back out at me as if pushed by a spring. And, no, there isn't already a disc in the drive.
Can anyone suggest how to get my combo drive to work again?

Hi jrm27,
I have an older Mac Mini 1.66 GHz, but I haven't seen this problem.
I take it that the disc does go in a little way. I would think that that rules out that the drive thinks there's a CD already in the drive. I know that when I have a CD or DVD in the drive, the little doors (they're really there) are closed and won't let me insert a 2nd CD.
I presume that you have restarted your system since this started to occur?
When the system is rebooting, hold down the mouse button. This is supposed to force eject a CD. It might also trick your system into thinking there's no CD there, or resetting something.
Try different types of CDs or DVDs, just to make sure that there's not something screwy with the media that you are using. Try an old-fashioned music CD or something.
Are there any sounds the drive makes?
David

Combo drive slow

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