IMac is no longer recognizing DVDs.

I have a mid-2010 21.5" iMac and my Superdrive is not recognizing DVDs. I have burned DVDs which work just fine. CDs work just fine and my DVDs are pristine, but the iMac spits them out continually. Repairing disc permissions worked temporarily, but the problem persists. What can I do?

Last night I read several threads on this topic. There is a lot iof information to digest and then decide what route works for you. You get to benefit from all my searching around!
My  drive spits out my media as well, and because my iMac is out of warranty, I gave it a cleaning myself. I used a glasses wipe, the lint-free kind that comes with a glasses cleaning kit, some alcohol, and a very thin card (skinnier than a credit card) and inserted it into the drive. I read earlier that it was a mistake to use the compressed air, as it would only blow the existing dust & dirt further into the drive. When I pulled out the cloth, there was some dust residue. However, my drive, although i could hear it turning/operating better, still after a few moments, spit the CD and then a DVD out.
I ended up ordering an external drive off amazon for $30: a Samsung SE-208AB/TSBS External DVD-Writer and a high speed Belkin USB multi-port hub.
MacWorld addresses the issue pretty well:
http://www.macworld.com/article/1166312/cures_for_an_uncooperative_cd_dvd_drive. html
Have you seen this response?!
Troubleshooting the slot-loading SuperDrive
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2801
you can:
Reset the System Management Controller (SMC).
and zapping the PRAM
You can try resetting your SMC and pram/NVRAM but it's quite possible that your optical drive is failing.
Give this a try :
To reset the SMC
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord.
Wait fifteen seconds.
Attach the computer's power cord.
Wait five seconds, then press the power button to turn on the computer.
To reset PRAM/NVRAM
Shut down the computer.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.
There's this one as well:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/18697413#18697413
and this one:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/18380045#18380045
Best of luck to you 

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