DOH! ...Is my SuperDrive Bad?

I've had my MacBook for all of a couple of days and I think I already have a major problem. I Inserted the Mac Install disk tonight so that I could run through a reinstall of the OS. I wanted to do this both for the experience/practice and to deselect some software that I didn't need.
To make a long story short....the cd read the install disk the first time I put it in. Half way through the reinstall, the system stopped responding. Now, no matter what cd I put in....the drive makes some noise, and eventually spits the disc back out.
I'm extremely bummed. I haven't even paid for this sucker yet and was really excited about it. Now it looks like I have to bring it in for repair!!!
help!
-john

Hi, It easily could be a flaky CPU, but my best guess is that it's the SuperDrive, they use different Lasers & circuits to do CDs & the DVDs part.
Might think about a newer faster one...
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/optical-drives/superdrives/powermac/
If I had cleaned the dust and the heat sink and applied the thermal compound when I first noticed the failure, maybe the processor could have been saved???
Very likely.
Message was edited by: BDAqua

Similar Messages

Superdrive bad, been replaced twice. Goes out really fast. 2006 macbook pro

I have a 2006 macbook pro 2.16 Ghz, 2GB of RAM, model # A1150. The computer is a hoss except the superdrive. It has been replaced twice and now my current drive is not working. Is anyone else having this issue? It seems to me the superdrive for this model Macbook pro may be a lemon.

Hi,
I have had the same issues... My 2006 Macbook Pro's original optical drive quit burning a year and 2 months ago. It would read discs, but it would not burn DVDs or CDs. I had the drive replaced for $361 CND and the problem seemed to be solved. The other day the replacement drive failed. I got a popup saying "The drive was unable to calibrate the laser power needed for this media."
I went into Apple to see if they could fix it and their response was to replace the replacement drive for another $361. The second drive was 2 months out of warranty and they had the balls to tell me I had to pay full dollar to fix the problem. This would be the second time I would have paid that amount for a drive replacement - ummmm no thank you.
I found a solution online that worked for me: Take a can of compressed air and squirt it into the optical drive's loading slot. I went right along the area you insert discs. After that, the drive seems to be burning again. My guess is that there was some dust accumulation on the write head of the superdrive.
Regardless, a $12 can of compressed air is much more reasonable than losing my work computer for several days while Apple puts in a new superdrive for $361. The solution was so simple I couldn't believe it. A drive cleaning CD did not do the trick with either drive. I wonder, instead of replacing the original drive, if all it needed was a burst of compressed air... I'll never know.
Hope this solution helps you too.

Movies skip in drive/like stop-and-go motion; transcoded FFmpeg do same!?

Hi folks. I have been ripping some DVDs as of late and I am in the midst of transfering them to Apple TV on my network. However I seem to have run into a problem.
Today I went to rip a DVD and then loaded into iTunes and trans to Apple TV. I was noticing that it was skipping a bit on my TV - not smooth playing in other words.
So I went back to my Macbook and started playing a disk in the Macbook DVD player and notices that when I play the movie stops and goes. Will play a second or two then stop then play then stop, almost like arecord skipping without missing any music. The drive seems to be a little noisier now too - making churning or turning noise as it reads and plays (skips).
What could this be from? This wasnt happening yesterday - I was able to rip a couple that didnt have this problem. Is the superdrive bad now? is it a software issue? Do I need ot reset PRAM?
Come to think of it I also was using FFMpeg to transcode some .avi movies into Apple TV compatible files and they didnt come out very well either, had to trash them. Since this is software based and not drive based, coul dmy issue be some setting or PRAM on Macbook itself rather than the drive?
OK I'm confused now!
Your help would be greatly appreciated!! as always...
Jason

So I dloaded VLC to play the movies before I rip them and I am getting the following errors for 2 different movies:
main: decoder is leaking pictures, resetting the heap
and
main: INPUTCONTROL_SET_POSITION(OFFSET) 11.2% failed
What do you think? Since I am not versed in this very wekk, is this a hardware or software issue? And how to remedy?
Thanks
Jason

SuperDrive makes bad audio CD

My MBP is a 15" Core2 2.33GHz with Matshita UJ-875D drive, and it's been making bad audio CDs.
I'm using iTunes to make my CDs, and the CDs always play fine on my MBP. But as soon as I take those discs to my car or my older computers, they start to make static noises or skip. Usually the first few tracks would be fine, then start to get some noise on 5th track or so, then they skip like crazy past 10th track.
I take the same batch of CD-R and use my trusty old PB 12" 1.5GHz to burn the same music, and the CD worked great.
I'm hoping this is just a bad media issue (Fuji Film discs by the way), but seeing how my PB was not picky at all about blank discs I'm starting to wonder. Any thoughts or similar experiences?

From what i recall in these forums, the superdrive is really picky about CD models. Im using HP CD-R and they work fine. Its probably the type of CD you're using. And another way to prevent this is to not touch your computer at all while it burns, back in the old old old old old old old old old oldo ldo ld old days, remember when we had to basically not move the entire house we were in and let the burning soak up all the CPU% to get a good burn? XD. Id try a differant type of CD, just trade off some with someone else and test them.

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!

Is bad if I disconnect the superdrive of the MBair with the CD inside??

happend i just want to recorvery some things in the cd but i dont know the superdrive later no let me take out the CD so i disconect and conect again. but of course i no disconect when the CD is workign inside. when stop to work me disconect and conect again. can have some problem the macbook air? or the super driver? i just buy all this today huhu

No problem with that, as long as you remember you left the CD in and you don't unplug it while it's spinning (working)!
Congratulations on your purchase and I hope you enjoy it!
Cheers!

Using SuperDrive at an angle - risky? bad?

hey, I read somewhere in my MacBook Pro's manual that you shouldnt insert or use discs in your SuperDrive when the laptop is being used at an angle or slant and also that Apple is not responsible for damages inflicted on the drive due to this. Is this true? Is thi really a danger? I always have my macboo pro on a laptop stand to keep it cool on my desk, and whenever I want to use a disc, I always have to take it off, remove the stand and THEN insert the disc. Am I taking too many precautions?
Thank you all for your speedy response, I'm pretty new to all this. I did have to have my superdrive replaced a week ago because mine was defective.

I keep mine on one of those Podium Pads and have never taken it off to use the SuperDrive. I don't know how much of an angle your stand provides, but I have never had an issue with running mine that way.

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

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.

How can I find/fix bad USB Port on MBP 2012 ivy 15' WITH SUPERDRIVE

I have a 2012 15' ivy bridge macbook pro with the super drive. I am a DJ and I get terrible static and other audio problems when the mixer/soundcard is connected to one of the USB ports, how can I determine which one it is and how can I fix it?

You'll just have to test your USB ports and see if you have a 'good' one - if not, take your machine and your equipment into your local Apple Store and let them 'hear' the problems with the USB port(s). There have been a number of posts here with problems using the USB 3.0 ports with various devices - usually USB 3.0 devices. Since the release of Mountain Lion, I've not read of many USB problems, though, with the 2012 machines. There have been some other problems reported with ML (not enough time on battery seems to be the main glitch but it's a problem that is not tied to certain models - just seems hit and miss).
You might want to try the ML upgrade and see if that fixes the problems - if not, it's time for a trip to the Apple Store.
Clinton

Snowleopard broke my intern Superdrive on MacBook Pro (Original)

Hello,
As by Thomas A Reed sugested (in my first thread, maybe someone can delete the one), i start a new thread, to keep it oversight and clear. Right now, i'm convinced, my case belongs to the 10.6 thread. The main threads about this problems seems to be in the Hardware MacBook Section:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1918925&start=405&tstart=0
But, because they are mixed up with other superdrive problems there. The problem itself seems to need more diversification as you'll see here.
INVENTORY:
• WHATS THE PROBLEM
• CONFIGURATION
• WHAT I'VE CHECKED
• WHY AM I SURE THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY SNOWLEOPARD?
• WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW (What to do, how to react)
WHATS THE PROBLEM:
Last sunday (the 10/4/2009), i installed 10.6 (and right after that the imediately followed software actualisation to 10.6.1). It's the first new system i installed after 10.4.11. (i was and am still happy with 10.4.11, because it is stable). Apple does not say, SL would not work to use it on a system, where another system (like my 10.4.11) is installed. Instead, they say in their manual: "If you'll install it over (what i didn't) an 10.4.10 to 10.5.x, you'll have to read the Firmwareupdate Article" that i read. It was belonging ONLY to MacBook Air's !! and thats why this specific Firmware-Update did not wanted to proceed!!. last week i've found an Apple Store in my country, where i thought i may buy and try the SL. U never know, when u'll need it one day, so i wanted to become some experience with it. So I choosed the third partition, because it was free.
Right after the installation and the software-actualisation, my superdrive began to eject all DVD's and CD's (comercials, as own burned ones) right after inserting and clicking twice. In other words, it does not accept any optical media anymore. I never had any problem with this superdrive under 10.4. But after the SL-Installation, also 10.4.11 does "NOT ACCEPT" any CD's and DVD's anymore!
CONFIGURATION:
It's a Mac Book Pro 17" Intel (Original), 2.16 Ghz Dual Core Duo, 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, 10.4.11 on the first partition & 10.6.1 on a third partition, Localisation: Swiss/German.
I did My intern SAMSUNG HD format as a GUID (as the OS X Installer said it has to be, if I would like to use OS X on a INTEL-Mac) and the partitions were HFS+ journaled.
1. Partition (OS X.4.11): 49,68 GB / 11.11 GB FREE
2. Partiton (Data): 149.68 GB / 7.69 GB FREE
3. Partition (OS X.6.1): 32.97 GB / 27.46 GB FREE
The third partition was free. I used it as a spare place, for temporarly backups or cases, i need more space. Thats why i choosed it to try out 10.6.
In the System Profiler the drive is still availabe. So it's present. It says under: "Hardware/Medium brennen":
MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-846:
Firmware-Version: FQ3T
Verbindungstyp: ATAPI
Brennen möglich: Ja (Laufwerk von Apple geliefert)
Cache: 2048 KB
DVD lesen: Ja
Beschreibbare CD: -R, -RW
Beschreibbare DVD: -R, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Schreibstrategien: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Medien: Um die verfügbaren Brenngeschwindigkeiten anzuzeigen, legen Sie ein Medium ein und wählen dann „Darstellung“ > „Aktualisieren“.
and under ATA:
ATA-Bus:
MATSHITADVD-R UJ-846:
Modell: MATSHITADVD-R UJ-846
Version: FQ3T
Seriennummer:
Absteckbares Laufwerk: Nein
Protokoll: ATAPI
Einheiten-Nummer: 0
Socket-Typ: Intern
Low-Power-Polling: Ja
Ausschalten: Ja
WHAT I'VE CHECKED:
• i repaired the rights both on 10.4.11 and 10.6.1
• i started fsck (both, in 10.4.11 and 10.6.1)
• i resetted the PR-RAM
• i resetted the OF
• i resetted the System-Management (5-button, as apple suggested)
• i checked the RAM. Result: "BANK 0/DIMM0 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667 MHz OK
BANK 1/DIMM1 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667 MHz OK"
• i created new users (in both, 10.4.11 and 10.6.1), it still did not work.
• i checked for a hanging Firmwareupdate in the Account/Startup on both systems. (there was nothing)
• i tried an old CD-Cleaning set, but it did not help too.
• i do wether use Bootcamp, nor VM-Ware (as some minors with that problem did)
• i searched for other related Firmwareupdates, but they all only would work on a 10.5.x!
WHY AM I SURE THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY SNOWLEOPARD?
• First you can say its a bad coincidence. But I've seen a lot of coincidences in between. More likely i would have won a Jackpot in Lotto, than that something like that would not happen exactly right after (seconds/minutes) a major Software Update that includes a hidden Firmware-Update or new Hardware-Limits-Specifications for a specific hardware! (as we had it in the past several times). Do U agree?
• This drive worked allways well and was heavely used (reading, burning, watching DVD's, listening to Audio-CD's, everything). There was absolutely no other harm to this Drive and i handled it carefully and it's the same old as the MacBook Pro Intel itself (in other words: new enough, but old enough, that the guarantee ran out). Last I could install SL from the Retail-DVD from the new Apple Shop.
• The drive is still listed in System Profiler, it tries to read, but does not seem to "know" the inserted discs anymore (makes twice a try to read)
• There are hints (from Apple itself on their support-webpages), that 10.6 tried to update a superdrive firmware what caused some problems for others. In my case the FW-Update seems to have proceed successfully, but now the drive don't recognices any CD's and DVD's.
• last but not least under Google you'll find a lot of articles related to that (or a similar problem) right now. Type in "Superdrive Snow Leopard Problem" and you'll see what I mean. And I've found out, that apple is investigating the SUPERDRIVE-Problem with the Snow Leopard at least since the 14.September 2009 now, after the 10.6 came out.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW (What to do, how to react):
1. Waiting for a new FU-Update that corrects the error with the Superdrive?
2. bring my MacBook Pro to a certified Repair place and demand for a new Superdrive for free?
3. bring my MacBook Pro to the AppleStore where I bought 10.6 on sunday and demand a new Superdrive for free (but it's a long way to there)?
4. send my MacBook Pro to Apple Ireland or somewhere in Europe is no option, i need it exactly heavily this week
5. try to install an older Superdrive (from an old, damaged PowerBook G4) on my own?
Until then i "temporarly solved" the problem by buying an extern USB-DVD/CD burner. But I don't want to carry that thing everywhere with my Laptop.
Cheers,
Tazmandevil

I do repairs on a weekly basis, but I do not do warranty work for Apple. I do have an opinion about your drive failure.
As far as I can tell, all of your logic is self-serving and wrong. If a drive quits working after you install Snow Leopard, and won't work with Tiger or Leopard, the drive has failed. Snow Leopard does not change the firmware on the drive, or motherboards. The fact that the drive shows up under Profiler does not mean that the laser optics in the drive itself are still aligned properly or that the motor is spinning the disk at the right speeds. You can try to use a cleaning disk. I've had some luck on occasion.
Booting from a known good disk will prove the issue. Booting happens before an OS has time to run software drivers, and the drive is under control of the motherboard's firmware.
4 Options:
1 - Warranty Replacement - you will need to ship or deliver the laptop for repairs.
2 - Pay for Replacement
3 - Replace the drive yourself, with the proper drive.
4 - Use a cheap external drive until you can take the machine off-line long enough to get the repairs done.
I've seen these drives fail by accidental abuse (machine was dropped and bent the aluminum frame around the slot and warped the drive), over-use (a client decided to make hundreds of copies of disks for friends at a school - too much heat), dirt build-up (cleaning disk can work here), and other unknown failures (some drives quit working and a replacement fixes the problem). Replacement drives are available for around $150 US, and there are YouTube videos that demonstrate how to change the drive.
I had a MBP have an optical drive fail after upgrading from Tiger to Leopard. I used an external drive for a year or so. Fortunately, I purchased the 3 year warranty, and after I got a new iMac I was able to take the Laptop in for repairs by a certified Apple repair station (less than a week turnaround). The new drive boots a Tiger DVD, Leopard DVD, and of course, Snow Leopard.
Hardware like this, that quits working with earlier versions of an OS that the machine is designed to run, are never fixed by a System Update because it's a physical problem with the drive.

Matshita UJ-816 Superdrive: Blank CD-R / DVD-R fail to mount; Error Code 13

Greetings all,
*deep breath* This will be a long question, but I want to be thorough and informative. Sorry.
My machine is a 1Ghz 12" PB with a Matshita DVD-R UJ-816 DXJ3 Superdrive. It's basically worked fine for reading & burning all common brands of data, video, or audio CD-R & DVD-R media using Finder, iTunes, or iDVD--until now. As recently as 2 weeks ago, I successfully burned an Audio CD with iTunes (although I did get a "could not verify disc" error at the very end, the disc still plays fine).
As of last night, I can suddenly no longer mount blank CD-Rs or DVD-Rs. The same problem manifests for both in Finder: upon insertion, the standard "Choose Action" dialog box appears. When I select "Open Finder", the disc immediately ejects, and I get "Sorry, the operation could not be completed becuase an unexpected error occurred (Error Code 13)".
If, on insertion, I choose to open iTunes instead of Finder, the disc does not eject immediately, but does eject as soon as I start a new burn from iTunes.
The drive still reads and mounts burned CD-Rs and burned DVD-Rs, as well as commercial discs. Otherwise, .DMG mount fine, as do flash drives.
Here's a list of fixes I've tried thus far, which I culled from these and other forums:
- Disc Utility: Repair Permissions
- "zapped" PRAM
- reset PMU
- Delete:
/System/Library/Extension.kextcache
/System/Library/Caches/com.apple.kernalcaches (folder)
- downloaded 'Panther Cache Cleaner' & did a 'Medium Cache Cleaning'
on all Local, System, All Users Caches
- Open Firmware (cmd-option-O-F at boot-up), entered the
following commands:
set-defaults
reset-nvram
eject-cd (just for the **** of it)
reset-all
- Created a new Admin account and tried to mount a disc from there (I already had 2 accounts on my machine, both of which are Admin, but just to try)....no luck.
The only thing I know of that I HAVEN'T tried yet is a laser-cleaning disc, but I'm wary of that, since they're apparently not recommended by Apple for slot-loading drives...?
Meanwhile, there were two other issues that just manifested, which I wouldn't have thought related except that all of it happened around the same time:
1.) The latest Software Update wouldn't install. After downloading, I got
"The update 'XXXXX' [e.g. iTunes, Quicktime, whatev] could not be verified and expanded correctly. Make sure you have permission to write to /private/tmp/501/TemporaryItems/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate, then try again."
I was able to solve this in Terminal (n00b that I am) using info from:
<http://www.cybmed.com/macinblog/2004/02/software_update.html>
2.) The latest Virex 7.5 "eUpdate failed", and "try again" was no help.
I solved this by just manually d/l-ing the DAT update from:
<http://www.mcafee.com/apps/downloads/security_updates/virex.asp?region=us&segme nt=smb>.
Keep in mind that I haven't installed any new software or hardware or made any system changes recently to explain this confluence of malfunctions. Those other issues could have been coincidence, but who knows?
As you might guess, I'm well out of warranty. Furthermore, I've been reading other horror stories here from people who shelled out for a new drive, only for it to go bad just like the first one--so I really hope it doesn't have to come to that.
So, suffice it to say I'm getting quite frustrated and desperate. If anyone has further suggestions or ideas for my drive problem, I'd really appreciate it.
- cgp
PS
Is it just me, or is it ironic how the drive manufacturer has "sh*t" right in the middle of the name?
12" Powerbook G4 1GHz Mac OS X (10.3.9) Superdrive: MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-816 Rev. DXJ3

Without going into a huge disertation, on this let me just say you are not the first and won't be the last that has had issues with the Matshita 816.
I did find a work around, that I will explain.
If you do a lot of burning your drive stores everything in cache files and then all of a sudden will start giving you an error message.
I found running 3 different utilitys, I run them 1 time a week need to or not and haven't got any errors since.
Macjanitor.
http://personalpages.tds.net/~brian_hill/macjanitor.html
Cache Out X.
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14850
Onyx
http://www.titanium.free.fr/pgs2/english/download.html
These all three do similar thihgs but some do different things.
Now lets talk media.
I have had the same problems everyone else has had burning 1X and 2X with some of the poor media out there.
After doing a little leg work and trying a ton of different media I have found that Maxell 16X DVD-R will burn at 1X through 16X and works very well.
Be sure to read the packaging and it will tell you this. I opt to use the 3 packs with the individual Jewel cases.(Much Better Quality).
http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm
So You try those 3 free and shareware programs and go spend 4 dollars on the Maxell discs and see if that doesn't solve your problem. I sure did mine.
Cheers Don

Superdrive in G4 no longer working

Since I upgraded to 10.5, the original superdrive in my G$ is no longer workig. It does not read DVDs that I insert. I can put them in the Panasonic drive I installed in the lower bay and they work fine. How can I tell if the Superdrive is bad or if there is a software problem? I would like to know before spending money on a new Superdrive. Also Any suggestion for a replacement superdrive?

Does system profiler see the drive? If it doesn't then that's a hardware thing for sure.
I'd be willing to bet it is a problem with the drive itself. I think those original drives were Panasonic drives anyway, with a different sticker so it should work. New drives are so incredibly inexpensive these days ($30) that after spending more than 30 minutes messing with it you might as well get a new drive. I've seen a number of postings about original G4 drives and I am under the impression that after about 4 years you can pretty much expect to have to replace it.
I replaced my drive with a Panasonic 112D last November, but I think they're up to 115D now.

Superdrive not working on brand new imac

Bought my imac 27 inch two months ago and the superdrive won't play dvds and barely read cds. I just updated the memory would that have anything to do with that? I doubt it. I have only used the drive a handful of times. So I can't figure it out.

I bought a new 27 inch iMac last week and the SuperDrive was bad, wouldn't burn DVDs. I returned it yesterday for a new one. Today a cd got stuck in the SuperDrive so back I went with the second new one. Two new lemons in one week. Needless to say I asked for a refund. Apple had their chance. Never again!

DOH! ...Is my SuperDrive Bad?

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