Is Installing Optical Drive through SATA to PATA Adapter on K8MM-V Possible?

I bought this sata to pata interface with the JM20330 chip and it appears to be connected in the right way:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16822998008
I also bought a Pioneer 111D from newegg because I am having some issues with my Benq 1640.
I have an MSI K8MM-V motherboard which is based on Via K8M800-CE & VT8237R chipsets. My bios has sata enabled and I have its mode running in IDE mode rather than RAID mode. Can my setup handle optical devices on sata ports?
I was able to successfully flash the drive the drive's firmware with this setup.
The drive is recognized by Windows. It sees it as Pioneer DVR 111L SCSI CD-ROM Device.
I can not get it to burn media. It stops every few seconds and says something along the lines of I/O error. Is there anything I can post that can aid somebody in telling me what I am doing wrong or if there is something I can correct. Thank you. I don't really understand why I can flash the drive, but it has so many problems writing to media.
I am wanting to keep this drive on Sata if I can help it because it runs in UDMA4 since I wish to keep my Benq 1640 on the IDE channel which runs in UDMA 2 mode.
I am at work right now, so can't really get more detailed specs. I have posted this image on cdfreaks forum where I posed a similar question there since some people were attempting to use there drive this way by SATA connection. I believe that my Bios is either 1.8 or 1.9. I think there is a 1.A available. My MSI live Update said my Bios is up to date, but that also points me to older files than the ones already installed on my system from the website. I don't recall updating that in late June early July.
I couldn't find any info on the motherboard home page or through a forum search.
Thanks for any help that you can provide.
Athlon64 3700 (754)
Windows XP Pro SP2
1 gig Ram
500 watt power supply
EVGA 6600GT

I have purchased a number of items, including drives, enclosures, and memory from Other World Computing (www.macsales.com) External hard disk enclosures are available include USB only, USB/SATA, USB/Firewire, and all 3, depending upon your needs.
In my opinion it is unlikely that a properly-functioning single hard drive designed for laptop use would exceed the available USB power capabilities of your MacBook when installed in an unpowered enclosure. I have powered external 3.5" drives (iomega and Seagate) for use with Time Machine, but I've had no problems running a single 2.5" laptop drive up to 500Gb in an unpowered USB external enclosure on either my mid 2007 MacBook 2,1 or my son's mid-2009 MacBook Pro unibody without any other unpowered USB devices installed.
Some vendors offer a 'bundle' containing an external enclosure, the proper Torx and Phillips screwdrivers, and a replacement hard drive of your choice.
Whether or not the 'bad' drive will mount depends on what is wrong with it. If it will not ever mount/boot while installed inside the MacBook, it's unlikely that it will work simply by transferring it to an external enclosure. There are advanced disk utility programs such as Tech Tool Pro that claim to help you diagnose and recover data from drives that do not mount. I have not used the program. MacUpdate (mupromo.com) currently includes TechToolPro in a spring bundle for about half the retail price of the program.
Message was edited by: kostby

Similar Messages

Apple store installed optical drive replacement. It plays CD and DVD but will not let me change a DVD to .mp4 without stalling and or going very very slow. Can I fix the HL-DT-STDVDRW GA11NR?

Apple store installed optical drive replacement. It plays CD and DVD but will not let me change a DVD to .mp4 without stalling and or going very very slow. Can I fix the HL-DT-STDVDRW GA11NR? The Apple store is a two hundred mile one way trip.

I didn't imply anything; I simply explained the terms of the ToU here because you had not specified what you were trying to do. Most such related questions are about copying protected content and I would not appreciate having my post removed with the obligatory email from Apple because I violated the ToU. In any case, you can find dozens of threads googling (or here) about the newer burners being slow copying content if it is protected. FWIW, if the DVD was produced by a commercial outfit, they may have used some sort of protection or an unusual file format - that problem has been discussed here previously.
As for your slow burner - since we don't even know what type of Mac/model/year/OS you have, it is impossible to guess. If it's an iMac, those vertically installed burners are known to be less than perfect; the horizontally installed versions are better, but still not as good as an external. I've used an external burner for years.
As for the conversion time: the burner should have nothing to do with that; it is your software and your Mac's processor and amount of RAM that matter for conversions and rendering. I have no idea what you are using to burn the DVD. And, as a last consideration: you should always burn your content at a slow speed so you can avoid burn errors and have better results.
Good luck.

How can a get my iMAC to recognize a newly installed optical drive?

I recently ordered a new Optical drive for my iMAC 12,1 to replace a damaged one. I followed the instructions online to replace the drive with no issues. I restarted the iMAC and it will not recognize the new optical drive. The optical drive won't accept any disks either. The optical drive is
Model GA11N
Manufacturer: HL
Condition: Brand New never used, without original manufacturer packaging
SATA interface, Slot-in loading, 12.7mm in height, without faceplate, no eject button. 1 Year Warranty
with Apple Logo, Special for Apple iMac Intel 20" EMC 2266 A1224 21.5" 2308 27" 2390 2309 2374 Mac Mini Mid 2010
Write Speed: DVD-RAM :5X DVD+R :8X DVD+R DL :4X DVD-R DL :4X DVD+RW :8X DVD-R :8X DVD-RW :6X CD-R :24X CD-RW :24X Read Speed: DVD-ROM/DL: 6X CD-R:24X CD-RW: 24X CD-ROM: 24X
How can a get the iMAC to recognize this new optical drive?

Here are some sources for Mac compatible optical drives that wiil work with your 2011 iMac.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/VLU2SD24XS/
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MR3F82SD24S/
http://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-External-Super-Drive-Apple--MacBook/dp/B007FUDKB4 /ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1392328000&sr=1-1&keywords=mac+compatible+ dvd+drive
http://www.amazon.com/External-Super-Drive-Apple-MacBook/dp/B009XON646/ref=sr_1_ 3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1392328066&sr=1-3&keywords=mac+compatible+dvd+drive
http://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-Portable-External-GP40NB40/dp/B009DS6OFU/re f=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1392328138&sr=1-8&keywords=mac+compatible+dvd +drive

Using a Pinnacle Optical Drive PMO 650 with Mac OS 10.5.2 possible?

I have lots of backup files stored on Optical Discs. Is there anyway to get my Pinncale Optical Drive PMO 650 to work with Mac OS 10.5.2? I looked on Pinnacle site, and they suggested FWB's 'Hard Disk Toolkit', ANUBIS by CharisMac, or going on apple suppport. Has anyone used these? Do they work with OS 10.5.2?
Thanks for any feedback!

I use Macs in my environment, and they run great. My site uses 1131 and 1231's, with EAP-FAST authentication. I did have a couple of strange issues though with Leopard, which I will share below:
1) With 10.5, I would have to turn my radion off & on to get it to associate. Once I upgraded to 10.5.2, it worked great.
2) With 802.1X based authenticaiton, the setup is a bit counter intuitive. I had ot make sure that I was selecting user based credentials for non-domain Macs. I would then delete the entry in my wireless sites that the 802.1X would enter, and recreate it to set the proper encryption scheme.
Hope that helps =)

Will not recognize either of my apple installed optical drives in 10.4.11

G5 2 x 2.66 . what is up with this. i can't burn any discs. any ideas??? both drives spins LOUD. then nothing shows up on the desktop. help!!!

Hi MrConsistent,
Try a different media... try Fuji/Maxell or Sony. My PBookG4 laptop did the same thing after the 10.4.11 update and low and behold it was the media.
Doesn't hurt to run Disk Utility from your system restore disk and verify there are no errors on the drive. Here's how: *Testing and repairing a disk or volume*
When you have problems with a disk or volume, use Disk Utility to test and repair it. Disk Utility also reports the S.M.A.R.T. status, which tells you whether your disk has hardware problems that will cause it to fail.
You can verify your startup disk with Disk Utility, but to repair it, you must start up your computer using another disk. For example, you can use your Mac OS X Install disk.
Close the files and quit the applications on the disk that you want to repair.
Open Disk Utility, and select the disk in the list on the left.
Click First Aid.
Check the S.M.A.R.T. Status at the bottom of the window. If you can't see the S.M.A.R.T. Status, be sure you selected the hard disk your volume is on, and not the volume itself.
If the S.M.A.R.T. Status is "About to Fail," back up your files on the disk as soon as possible and replace the disk.
If the S.M.A.R.T. Status is "Verified" or "Not supported," click Repair Disk to repair the disk.
If Disk Utility cannot unmount the disk, be sure you have quit any open applications and click Repair Disk again. If it still cannot unmount the disk, repair it just like you would repair a startup disk, by starting your computer from another disk, such as your Mac OS X Install disk.
If Disk Utility tells you to look for links to corrupt files in the DamagedFiles directory, some of those files are overlapping on your hard disk and are likely to be corrupt. Examine the affected files, each of which is listed in Disk Utility's output on a line that begins "Overlapped extent allocation". Most of these files have aliases in the DamagedFiles folder at the top level of the affected disk. If you can replace the file or recreate it, delete it. If it contains necessary information, open it and examine its data to make sure it has not been corrupted.
If Disk Utility cannot repair your disk or reports "The underlying task reported failure," try to repair the disk again. If that doesn't work, back up as much of your data as possible, reformat your disk, reinstall Mac OS X, and restore your backed up data. If you continue to have problems with your disk, it may be physically damaged and need to be replaced. See an authorized Apple dealer for more information.
Also, while you have DU open... click, Repair Disk Permissions... always a good thing to try.
Carolyn

4 Questions re installing a second Optical Drive in a Mac Pro (Harpertown)

For years I have owned and used a Sony DRX-810UL-T optical drive as an external unit with my Mac Pro "Harpertown" purchased on February 19, 2009. It was connected to the computer using the firewire cable and it worked correctly.
Some Background
Today it dawned on me I had an empty optical drive bay in the Mac Pro so I should move the Sony drive in there and eliminate a bit of the clutter on my computer desk. I read the section on installing optical drives in the little Apple manual that came with my computer but it only discussed a single drive installation.
Checked on line and found several sources describing how to do this and a couple of YouTube videos also showing how to do this. (Oddly only one of the videos mentioned the need for plugging in the power cable).
I made sure I plugged the cables into the proper units as both had helpful legends on them indicating which was for the top drive and which was for the bottom drive.
After installation I powered up and found neither drive would appear.
Checked the About this Mac item in the Apple menu and got confirmation that the system didn't see any drives. Opened the computer again and unplugged the Sony's power and data cables then closed the computer and fired up again.
The original Super Drive again appeared and worked correctly.
The Questions:
1. Since the Super drive came with the Mac Pro and was in the top space can I assume it needed to stay there and not get moved to the lower space?
2. Since the Sony DRX-810UL-T has the correct connectors does this indicate this drive can be used with the Harpertown Mac Pro?
3. If it can, did I miss setting some jumpers? I noticed both drives have one jumper in place but each appears to be in a slightly different spot than the other.
4. Since the Sony drive worked correctly with my current OS (10.6.6) using the firewire cable can I assume it does not need a firmware update to be used internally.
Wrap up
Since the original Super Drive is working properly I am sure I did no damage to it or the computer. It would be nice to be able to get the Sony DVD drive to work internally, however.
Thanks, in advance, to anyone who can offer some help with this situation.

hatter,
Thank you for this added information. Here's the current status of things.
Just to check that the Sony drive would work internally I disconnected the superdrive (ata cable and power cable) and made the Sony drive the only drive plugging it in as if it was the top drive. The jumper for it was set to cable select.
The Profiler found it and listed is in both the ATA section and the disc burner section.
I checked the jumper on the superdrive to be sure it was also set for cable select and plugged both drives back in using the top connections for the super drive and bottom connections for the Sony,
Again only the SuperDrive appears in the ATA list and and the disc burner list.
I am beginning to wonder it the problem may actually be with the ribbon cable that snakes back to the motherboard.
Since that cable has a set of dual outlets at the drive end and has them labeled for top and bottom, is it possible to plug in only one drive using the bottom connector as a test to see if data flows to the motherboard?
Is it possible some part of that cable has somehow become disconnected at the motherboard?

Dv9820us Optical Drive Missing

This is a little lengthy so please bear with me. I want to get all the facts out there so you know what I've done so far and what I'm dealing with.
I bought a dv9820us for parts but found it actually booted into the installed Vista OS. However, it did not show an optical drive installed even though a BlueRay/DVD was installed. Light on the optical drive lit as the laptop was booting. It did not appear in the Device Manager. I pulled it and reinserted with power on, no change. I tried another optical drive, no change. I suspected the optical was turned off in the BIOS.
Upon rebooting I noticed the BIOS was the factory original and about 6 upgrades behind. I also noticed there was no option to actually turn the optical off in BIOS. When I rebooted, I selected F9 boot order and the only option is 2. Internal Hard Drive. So I proceeded to boot into Vista and went to the support files and ran the BIOS upgrade to the latest F.34. I turned around as it started and turned back a couple of minutes later to see the laptop powered off. It shouldn't power off but reboot upon successful BIOS flash. I rebooted and the laptop BIOS was bricked and stuck in a boot loop.
I built a crisis recovery floppy loaded with the latest BIOS and booted to it. I was able to reflash the BIOS and get the laptop back up and running Vista. I wanted to upgrade the laptop to Windows 7. Again, there was no optical drive detected. So I connected an external DVD and ran an upgrade from there. It almost finished but sat in Completing Upgrade for over an hour. This is not right so I powered the laptop off and back on to force it to finish the setup. It now fails the Windows 7 load saying insert disk and restart.
Again, there is no optical drive detected. I'm stuck once again.
CAN I force a boot from an external DVD? I want to start the Windows 7 load from scratch. If I pull the hard drive and reformat it from another computer, will it THEN find the installed optical drive? I'm stumped due to the fact that no optical is detected by the BIOS.
Any help or suggestions is GREATLY appreciated!!!!
Dave

....oh, and also tried the FixIt process to repair the upper and lower limit registry values. No help there either.
Problem I see is before Windows even kicks in, the optical is missing in the BIOS.
I took the hard drive out and put it into another HP laptop and did a format and am loading Windows 7. My thoughts are to get the install done on the hard drive, reinstall it in the dv9820, boot in safe mode and allow it to load the drivers for THIS laptop from an external DVD.
If this doesn't help, next step is to disassemble the laptop and look for anything out of place. Not sure but holding out hopes that disconnecting everything and reconnecting MIGHT help. And by disassembling may discover the reason for this, like possible spill damage. Hope not...

System Profiler will not recognize installed hard drive if drive is in use by VMWare

System Information will not recognize installed Hard Drive (Boot Camp) when in use by VMWare.
I work in IT for a School District and I am creating a Script that system information about the computer. I am testing this on a Mac Pro with two internal hard drives. One drive is Mac OS 10.8 and the other drive is a Boot Camp Drive that is used by VMWare Fusion.
When I run System Information via the GUI or system_profiler via Terminal, both drives show up just fine. However, if I launch VMWare Fusion and run Windows from my Boot Camp drive, then run System Information via the GUI or system_profiler via Terminal, the Boot Camp Drive is no longer listed as an installed drive.
Example:
In the Terminal, I enter the following command.
system_profiler SPStorageDataType
Then it returns this information.
Storage:
    Lion Client:
      Available: 217.84 GB (217,836,306,432 bytes)
      Capacity: 639.28 GB (639,275,270,144 bytes)
      Mount Point: /
      File System: Journaled HFS+
      Writable: Yes
      Ignore Ownership: No
      BSD Name: disk0s2
      Volume UUID: CCB501BF-AF24-30E7-A938-5A4E52DF14D7
      Physical Drive:
          Media Name: WDC WD6400AAKS-41H2B0 Media
          Medium Type: Rotational
          Protocol: SATA
          Internal: Yes
          Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
          S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
    BOOTCAMP:
      Available: 255.58 GB (255,575,560,192 bytes)
      Capacity: 319.79 GB (319,790,510,080 bytes)
      Mount Point: /Volumes/BOOTCAMP
      File System: NTFS
      Writable: No
      Ignore Ownership: Yes
      BSD Name: disk1s2
      Volume UUID: D4B39D4E-E244-403C-AE4D-4D58397130DE
      Physical Drive:
          Media Name: WDC WD6400AAKS-41H2B0 Media
          Medium Type: Rotational
          Protocol: SATA
          Internal: Yes
          Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
          S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
Then I launch VMWare, which uses the Boot Camp drive. The once again run the same command from the Terminal Command and I get this.
Storage:
    Lion Client:
      Available: 213.39 GB (213,392,244,736 bytes)
      Capacity: 639.28 GB (639,275,270,144 bytes)
      Mount Point: /
      File System: Journaled HFS+
      Writable: Yes
      Ignore Ownership: No
      BSD Name: disk0s2
      Volume UUID: CCB501BF-AF24-30E7-A938-5A4E52DF14D7
      Physical Drive:
          Media Name: WDC WD6400AAKS-41H2B0 Media
          Medium Type: Rotational
          Protocol: SATA
          Internal: Yes
          Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
          S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
The Boot Camp Drive is no longer listed.
I assume this is due to the the fact that the drive is "In Use" however is seems odd since the Mac drive is also in use and it appears without problem. I assume there is no "fix" for this, I was just wondering if someone may have an explaination why?
Also, I do realize that I can query the various interface types like system_profiler SPSerialATADataType to get all the properly installed phycial drives, but then I would have to query all possible interface types, isolate only devices containing Volumes, then consoldate the information to just the information that I need. I was hoping for a cleaner query.

Thank you for your response.
VMWare may be the cause, but the actual issue I am having is with Apple's System Information. I anticipated resistance from VMWare if I went to them with a question about an Apple software issue (even though VMWare software is part of the equation). I was trying to avoid the inevitable finger pointing game. I thought I would try with Apple Forums first since the issues presents itself within the Apple Software. However, you are correct that VMWare may have an explanation on why Fusion might be interfering with System Information. I will check with them next.
To answer your question. Yes, In most cases I do use Fusion to run Windows side-by-side with the Mac OS. However, that is not always the case. There are a few reasons why I have it setup using a Dual Boot configuration.
One, in some cases, due to the intense programs I occasionally run (graphic applications), I prefer to simply boot straight into Windows via Boot Camp so I may allocate all hardware resources to Windows. Additionally, some graphic applications like to have direct access to hardware and the extra layer of the VM environment can cause problems when an application is trying to directly access specific hardware like a graphics card.
Second, I often use either side, both Mac and PC, for testing. There is an advantage to not having to rely on the Mac OS to run Windows. If, for whatever reason, my Mac becomes unstable due to testing, I can still jump right into Windows to do work if necessary.
Third, I love the Mac OS, but I work in a PC centric organization. If there is a "problem" with my system, it is too easy for other system admins to say, "it's because it's a Mac". Having the definitive separation of the OS's allows me to prove that the Mac OS is not a factor.

How to install hd4000 driver and control fn key??

Hi, there
I want to ask you what I have to do for resolving this problem
I have done clean installation windows 7 home > win 7 enterprize_kor
so I have installled drivers by myself but I couldn't hd4000 drivers and saw a message
"This system is not satisfied needed minimum requirement for installing driver"
Of course, I can install hd4000 driver through windows update
but I am not sure whether fn + volume or light up/down key work on display or not
I want to install hd4000 driver and work fn + key on display
Thank you
model : t430s
os : win 7 enterprize kor
cpu : i5 3320
vga : hd 4000 + ndivia 5200

Hi, sungmin
THe HD4000 driver should already be installed, since Windows update found it for you. As for the Fn key working in the manner you described, the driver you likely need is the Hotkey Features Integration. You can also find any drivers for your system on this page here.
Hope it helps,
Adam
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OPTICAL DRIVE SUDDENLY NOT AVAILABLE

Hi -
Hope Paul reads this post and has time to respond....
Well, from 1 day to the next this NICE HP tower (running Window 7 PRO - factory installed) has decided it does NOT want to deal in ANY WAY with the factory installed OPTICAL DRIVE.
Computer specs:
   > S/N: [Personal Information Removed]
   > P/N: XX093AV
Optical drive specs:
   > Model name:  DVD Writer
   > Model #: TS-H653
   > S/N: [Personal Information Removed]
Attempted solution:
   - Removed it from this computer, connected it another computer = WORKED.
   - Went to HP Support site, used software there to determine prcise model of this computer, clicked link to Software section of HP's site, looked for updates or drivers for the OPTICAL DRIVE in this computer = NOTHING.
Hmmmm.
What to do... What to do....??????
Device (Optical Drive) seems to work, just NOT IN THIS COMPUITER...... :-(
Maybe you'll be able to tell me what to do to fix this unusual issue, eh, Paul.
Thanks - in advance.
Patrick
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Paul -
Sorry for the delay in get'n back to you on the optical drive issue.
Turns out NONE of the attempts to fix it worked. The drive is GOOD. Connected it another computer = worked. Put it back in the original HP = doesn't see it.
FIX = provided client with an EXTERNAL USB DVD/RW drive. Worked perfectly.
Client happy. Patrick happy. Paul ---- hope he's happy too.
Ciou
Patrick

How to load OS if optical drive not working

Hi, I'm just thinking ahead to deal with a possible crisis as sometimes I work in remote areas of Asia. Is the only way to load the complete Mac OS onto a machine via the DVD install disc or via a lengthy download? I'm probably revealing the depth of my ignorance here, - but can you not somehow copy the install disc onto an external drive and load it that way, or does it not work like that?
My current superdrive will no longer burn disks but is still managing to read them, but if this facility too fails when I'm in the middle of nowhere how can I reinstall the OS should this become necessary?
I suppose I could carry an additional external optical drive for this contingency but much easier if its possible from a drive.
A stop-gap measure would be to use a bootable backup of the machine that I have on an external hard drive but that does not solve the whole issue.
thanks
Simon

Hi there, can you explain in more detail how to install Leopard from the disk image of the Leopard install DVD that I got Disk Utility to create please?
With the actual disk you just hold down c and it forces the machine to boot from the disk, I dont understand how to get the machine to boot from the disk image when it is not appearing as a bootable volume. If I click the disk image it gives me the option to restart and begin installation, if I agree to this it restarts the machine but just as normal, from whatever startup disk is already selected - it does not restart from the disk image.
Sorry if I am being dim,
Simon
I have it on a separate volume of an external HD, another volume of this HD contains a bootable SuperDuper backup.

Adding Optical Drive to MDD

Hi, I'm finally getting around to replacing the power supply and fan from the "wind tunnel" and would like to install an additional CDRW. I looked at the optical drive carrier and the lower bay has a metal plate in the front. Do i just force it out, or is there some clever, smooth way to make that happen?? Also, how do I select which drive opens with the eject button and how do I then open the drive that doesn't open with the eject button?? Sorry, after installing a backup hard drive, thought i was on a roll Thanks in advance, Dan

To the expert contributors, this may sound like deja vu all over again, but, given the similarity of my configuration and what I'm considering, it seems like the correct place to continue a thread started a few years ago at: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=581660, where replies are no longer allowed, since the topic has been archived.
Like the original poster, I have a PowerMac G4 with mirrored doors, two internal hard drives, and two Apple-installed optical drives: a SuperDrive and a ComboDrive. I am now thinking about buying a DVD-RAM burner, and I wish to explore my options and ask for viewpoints on the optimal way to go.
Given the current state of the market, I have narrowed down my choices to the LG GSA 4167B and the Panasonic SW-9585, each of which comes from the original manufacturer as an IDE / ATAPI drive. Based on reviews I've read at CDFreaks.com and at hardwarezone.com, the drives are rated very good (LG) and good (Panasonic), so I could go with either one of them at this point.
I have also located two vendors who have packaged those drives in FireWire enclosures. Advice I have received in another forum informs me to make sure that the converter chipset ("bridge") used in the FireWire enclosure is Oxford, not Prolific, to ensure compatibility with a Mac. The vendor for the LG drive uses a Belkin FireWire, which fortunately contains the Oxford chipset, but the jury is out on the Panasonic vendor, who has to check with the supplier of his Firewire enclosures.
Of course, there is an additional cost to get the drives in a FireWire enclosure, but that is not the issue or the obstacle. I am partial to the added functionality and flexibility offered by a portable FireWire drive instead of a fixed internal drive, so I have expended a lot of effort to identify suitable drives that also are available in FireWire devices. However, since this is a good time to consider an upgrade to my currently installed optical drives, specifically, the ComboDrive, I am asking for input on which option would be most efficient, most productive, and most trouble-free from all aspects.
I am not necessarily scared of opening the PowerMac G4 and replacing the optical drive (if it's not going to turn into a messy or impossible task!), but I also want to avoid converting my currently very stable, high functioning configuration into a zone of technical problems by introducing a "foreign" (i.e., non-Apple) element into its gut.
Additionally, I have concerns about the physical installation problems I might encounter by trying to install a different optical drive into the space so comfortably designed by Apple for its own products. Experience tells me that there always an unknown glitch around the corner, like something that won't fit properly, or a face plate on the LG or Panasonic drive that won't come off, etc.
So, before I make my purchase, I just thought I'd float out these thoughts to see if anyone who has been there and done that might have some words of wisdom of which course of action --the FireWire path (with its possible incompatibility due to a converter bridge), or the internal drive path (with its possible problems occurring in the physical installation phase and later in any software/hardware conflicts with the Mac OS).
bowlerboy_JMB
PowerMac G4 Mirrored Doors. Mac OS X (10.3.9) 2 GB RAM. 2 hard drives. SuperDrive; ComboDrive. LaCie DVD burner. LaCie FireW drive.

Random optical drive noise

I have a 1.33 mhz powerbook that I purchased a little over a year ago.
Twice now I've had a strange occurrencethe optical drive has made the noise that it makes when it's ejecting a disc, without a disc being present.
I tried searching for a similar posts on this board but couldn't come up with any. Is this the sign of an impending problem?

Perhaps your PowerBook is bulimic!
As long as your optical drive is still functioning properly with discs in it, then you shouldn't worry. Your warranty is up, and you don't want to worry about fixing something unless it's broken, especially with Apple laptops. Unless you have AppleCare, calling Apple is going to be about as helpful as bringing sand to the desert.
If your optical drive stops working, you have a couple of solutions. There are companies that install optical drives for PowerBooks, such as http://www.mcetech.com. If you want to stick to internal, that's your best course of action. Or, if you can't part with your PowerBook for that long (you ship it to them and they install it for you), you can just pick up a FireWire optical drive.

How do I disable my dvd optical drive on my MacBook Pro (Mountain Lion)?

Hey,
I have dvd stuck in my optical drive and it keeps on making a noise-non stop. I've tried everything to remove it, ATM cards, rebooting whilst holding mouse key and eject botton, terminal command etc etc.-nothing works! I'm stuck in North Africa with no Apple services available anywhere close by.
I don't really use the dvd drive that much anyway so I would like to just disable my dvd optical drive all together. I saw that it is possible on Snow Leopard and Lion but the option to go to /Library/Extensions and removing (IODVDStorageFamily.kext) and removing it is not available on Mountain Lion.
Help please!

Light source. Straightened paper-clip. Insert straight (no wiggling around) to find the mechanical eject hole on the edge of the DVD drive.
Hold the MBP trackpad down during a cold reboot. I know you said you used a mouse like this.
In Terminal, type drutil eject
Try ejecting the DVD with the MBP flipped upside down. Sometimes all you need is gravity. If the credit card didn't pry it up off the drive spindle, maybe this will.
Because of your location, you may not have the tools to take the MBP apart and remove the DVD drive.

Nforce 15.46 installed, network driver still shows 71.0.8.0

On my P7N Diamond, The nvidia download page http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_winxp_15.46.html says the package contains Ethernet Driver (v73.10) WHQL but after installing it driver details on my network adapter still says 71.0.8.0. Anyone else having this?
I'm gettting weird UPnP behavior.

There is some stupid ongoing crap going on with Nvidia's ethernet drivers. Basically 15.46 installs an old driver in despite the readme saying it will install 73.10, and 15.45 doesn't offer to install an ethernet driver on my xp pro 32 bit p7n diamond despite it having an ethernet driver, apparently it doesn't recognize the nic or something. I have installed multiple nforce ethernet drivers so its not like the p7n has some unrecognizable hardware.
Here's a thread over at nvidia forums talking about it. I uninstalled just the nvidia ethernet driver in add/remove programs and used this guy Fernando's customized nforce drivers from the nvidia forums (just ethernet is what I installed)which got me 73.1.40 and seems like the only way to get an ethernet driver newer than 71.0.8.0 for me and maybe for other p7n diamond xp 32 bit users other than screwing with the inf files and hoping you get things compatible.
Edit: update OMG and that did solve my crazy problem of not being able to load the config page on my dlink dns-321 when it's wired to my dlink dap-1522 and the p7n diamond is wired to my dir-655 and of course the router and bridge are communicating wirelessly. Which is the only setup where that problem occurs,but the setup I need to use and bought the dns-321 for.
Edit except this driver seems to be 10/100 :(_

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