Mac Mini no longer reads or writes DVD-R DL discs

My mac mini stopped reading and writing dual layer DVD-R disks about a year ago for no reason, even ones that IT created in the first place. Is my drive faulty or is there some setting that got changed when I upgraded to Lion and then Mountain Lion?

It's unlikely that the upgrades had anything to do with the problem, slim superdrives are just not all that reliable.
You might try a few tricks before taking it in for service or springing for a Mac compatable external DVD drive.
1. Reset the SMC > Resetting the System Management Controller
2. Reset the PRAM > Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
3. Clean it, for example with a > Memorex OptiDisc CD/DVD Laser Lens Cleaner

Similar Messages

  • Mac Mini no longer reading DVDs...

    Hi everyone,
    I'm having a problem with my Mini. As the title states, it won't read DVDs anymore. I don't think it's the drive, as it still reads CDs, and it's definitely not my 100 or so DVDs, as they all work perfectly on my 360.
    The only thing I have recently changed on my Mini is I installed iTheater, and MediaCentral to see how they are... Now my Mini won't read DVDs.
    Any help is greatly appreciated.
    Edit: It turns out it was MediaCentral buggering up my system. Did a reboot and uninstalled it and now everything is fine. Beware of this product!

    No more problems.
    Re- Installed printer driver. It now works.
    Ian

  • Why does my mac mini not read or write DVD's?

    Why does my mac mini not read or write DVD's? I have tried different5 brands of media, checked firmware  and followed every 'fix it' available. HELP.
    It is a late 2009

    See my FAQ*:
    http://www.macmaps.com/cdrfailure.html

  • Installation of leopard from one mac mini to another with dead CD/DVD drive

    Is it possible to install Leopard on to an older mac mini that has a nonfunctioning CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive but otherwise works fine for what it is
    Hardware Overview: Machine Model: Mac mini
    CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (1.1) CPU Speed: 1.25 GHz
    L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB Memory: 256 MB
    Bus Speed: 167 MHz Boot ROM Version: 4.8.9f1
    Serial Number:
    TOSHIBA MK4025GAS:
    Capacity: 37.26 GB
    Model: TOSHIBA MK4025GAS
    Revision: KA100P
    Serial Number:
    Removable Media: No
    Detachable Drive: No
    BSD Name: disk0
    HARD DISK:
    Capacity: 37.13 GB
    Available: 9.02 GB
    Writable: Yes
    File System: Journaled HFS+
    BSD Name: disk0s3
    Mount Point: /
    MATSHITA CD-RW CW-8123:
    Manufacturer: MATSHITA
    Model: MATSHITA CD-RW CW-8123
    Revision: CAD4
    Serial Number:
    Drive Type: CD-RW/DVD-ROM
    Disc Burning: Apple Supported/Shipped
    Removable Media: Yes
    Detachable Drive: No
    Protocol: ATAPI
    Unit Number: 1
    Socket Type: Internal
    FROM a mac mini that HAS a functioning CD/DVD drive
    Model Name: Mac mini
    Model Identifier: PowerMac10,1
    Processor Name: PowerPC G4 (1.2)
    Processor Speed: 1.42 GHz
    Number Of CPUs: 1
    L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
    Memory: 512 MB
    Bus Speed: 167 MHz
    Boot ROM Version: 4.8.9f4
    Serial Number:
    MATSHITA CD-RW CW-8124:
    Firmware Revision: DACD
    Interconnect: ATAPI
    Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
    Cache: 2048 KB
    Reads DVD: Yes
    CD-Write: -R, -RW
    Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw
    Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds
    I thought maybe I could do it with firewire but no luck...
    any help would be greatly appreciated
    Message was edited by: Moderator

    k...
    Boot the mini into TD mode
    Connect it to the "other" Mac
    Insert the install disk in the "other" Mac
    Start the installer which will reboot the "other" Mac
    Once the "other" Mac has restarted and is running from the install disk, you should be able to select the Mini's drive (the FW disk) as the install destination. If not, go into the Disk Utility (under the "Utilities" menu) and check out the FW disk. You may need to "repair" it, repair permissions or reformat it depending on the condition of the disk and the type of partition it contains.

  • My Mac Mini doesn't recognize my Avengers DVD--it keeps saying "Supported disc not available." I've tried other DVD's which work, but not this one. itunes and everything else has been updated to the newest versions. Help?

    My Mac Mini doesn't recognize my Avengers DVD--it keeps saying "Supported disc not available." I've tried other DVD's which work, but not this one. itunes and everything else has been updated to the newest versions. Help? Also...It doesn't recognize the digital copy DVD.

    I have ALL the exact same symptoms as on my home computer.
    It sure sounds to me like something on the iPod is broken. If it's under warranty then I would send it back for repair. If not, check out some of the web repair services, such as iPodResQ etc.

  • Mac Mini won't read external hard drive

    Hello, I have an external Toshiba hard drive and my Mac Mini will not read it.  It was originally used on Windows.  I plugged the hard drive into my Macbook and it worked as a read-only device.  I can take stuff off of it but can not write stuff onto it on my Macbook.  I want to use it so I can back up files on my Mac Mini, but it will not read it.  I know I have to format it to make it writable with Mac, but I want to make it a read only device on my Mac Mini because I want to back up all the data already on it and my Mac Mini has 400gb of its hard drive available.  How can I get my Mac Mini to read the Hard Drive? 

    If the drive has more than one interface (USB, FireWire, Thunderbolt, eSATA), try one of the other interfaces.
    Check that the data cable is securely inserted at both ends.
    Try a different cable.
    If you're connecting the drive through a hub, connect it directly to a built-in port on the Mac.
    If you're connecting it directly, try a different port.
    Disconnect all other devices on the bus, or as many as possible.
    Test the drive with another Mac. Test another drive with this Mac.
    If the drive is bus-powered, but has an AC adapter, connect the adapter.
    Boot into Recovery and launch Disk Utility. Is the drive recognized?
    Start up in Safe Mode and test.
    Reset the System Management Controller
    If the drive doesn't work under any of the above conditions, and if another drive does work with the same Mac, then the drive has failed. You may be able to salvage the mechanism by removing it from the enclosure and installing it in another one, or in a drive dock.

  • Mac Mini (Mid 2010) Unable to write to external HD

    Hey All,
         I have a Mid 2010 Mac Mini that becomes unable to write to a drive after an extended period of the drive being connected. HD is an external HD with it's own power supply connected of USB. Both iTunes (Using the drive to store Library) and Finder fail to write to the drive with error (-50) after around 10 hours. Tested multiple times, unmount and re-mounting drive temporarily fixes issue.
    Trouble shooting so far:
         • HD has been replaced.
         • Mac Mini has been re-imaged multiple times. Tried server 10.7.2 and client 10.7.2
         • Multiple USB ports have been tested.
    Thoughts? Drive is a 2TB LaCie Porsche Design.
    Thanks in advanced,
    Tim.

    If you use Parallels then you will need at least 4 GBs of RAM. Otherwise, what makes you believe you need more RAM? What typical RAM usage do you observe using Activity Monitor? Also, see:
    About OS X Memory Management and Usage
    Reading system memory usage in Activity Monitor
    Memory Management in Mac OS X
    Performance Guidelines- Memory Management in Mac OS X
    A detailed look at memory usage in OS X
    Understanding top output in the Terminal
    The amount of available RAM for applications is the sum of Free RAM and Inactive RAM. This will change as applications are opened and closed or change from active to inactive status. The Swap figure represents an estimate of the total amount of swap space required for VM if used, but does not necessarily indicate the actual size of the existing swap file. If you are really in need of more RAM that would be indicated by how frequently the system uses VM. If you open the Terminal and run the top command at the prompt you will find information reported on Pageins () and Pageouts (). Pageouts () is the important figure. If the value in the parentheses is 0 (zero) then OS X is not making instantaneous use of VM which means you have adequate physical RAM for the system with the applications you have loaded. If the figure in parentheses is running positive and your hard drive is constantly being used (thrashing) then you need more physical RAM.
    Adding RAM only makes it possible to run more programs concurrently.  It doesn't speed up the computer nor make games run faster.  What it can do is prevent the system from having to use disk-based VM when it runs out of RAM because you are trying to run too many applications concurrently or using applications that are extremely RAM dependent.  It will improve the performance of applications that run mostly in RAM or when loading programs.

  • My mac mini doesnt start. i cant write my password. the box dialogue doesnt apear.

    my mac mini doesnt start. i cant write my password. the box dialogue doesnt apear.help me please!
    nicolas

    What does apear on the screen?  You could start up in safe mode by holding down the shift key while starting up. You should then go to a login screen. Or you could hold down the R key, which should get you to the restore  option. Then you could use the utilities to repair permissions and repair you boot volume.If you use the restore option, do not restore. go to the top and use the utilities option.

  • My Mac Mini will not read TDK disks from my iMac G3.

    My Mac Mini will not read TDK disks from my iMac G3.
    I used an iMac G3 (2001) -- the ones that looked like a big pod -- running on OS X and saved files to TDK  CD-R, 700 MB disks, which worked fine. Now that I have a Mac Mini (model number  A1347) I cannot get this computer to read those disks, made on the iMac G3.  Once inserted each disk will open and I can retrieve files for a short period, then the problems start. The computer makes some noises, the beach-ball/pinwheel goes around and I cannot get the files to open or the disk to eject. After a while the disk does eject -- to my relief. I keep using Control+E until ejection happens.
    My Mac Mini (2010-2011) is hooked up to a View Sonic HDMI LED monitor, an iOmega external hard-drive for backing up, an Epson Stylus C88 Plus printer and to the internet by a fibre 10MB feed. The Mac Mini runs on OS X version 10.6.8 Snow Leopard: Processor Speed:2.66 GHz
    I took the Mac Mini to an Apple retailer and he hooked the computer up to one of his monitors and it read the TDK disks just fine. I am now using Sony CD-RW, 700 MB disks, but I would prefer to use my TDKs because I have such a large pile of blank ones to use and there are those TDK disks with information that I want to look at from time to time. Can anyone tell me what to do?
    DJG

    Try disconnecting everything attached to the Mini except the monitor.
    If that doesn't work, try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later. If successful, copy the files to the original account Public/Dropbox.
    Isolating an issue by using another user account
    If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode using your normal account.  Disconnect all peripherals except those needed for the test. Shut down the computer and then power it back up after waiting 10 seconds. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. When you reboot normally, the initial reboot may be slower than normal. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application un-installer. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once.
    Safe Mode - About
                    Safe Mode

  • My Mac mini isn't reading my camcorder. Says no device found.

    My Mac mini isn't reading my camcorder. Says no device found.  I'm trying to upload my Christmas video to iMovie but it says no device connected.

    Since nothing connects, try resetting the SMC.
    I am not trying to be funny, but be sure the Mac Bluetooth is turned on...
    Barry

  • Is SuperDrive able to read and write DVD DL?

    I remember when I first bought my MacBook, it says it comes with SuperDrive, doesn't it able to read and write DVD DL? But, when I go to System Profiler >> Disk Burning, I don't see DVD DL-Write, but I only see CD-Write and DVD-Write. Does it mean my SuperDrive is not able to write DVD DL?

    Look at the text to the right of DVD-Write to determine what types of disks the computer can burn. If the cache is listed as 0KB, restart the computer with the Option, Command, P, and R keys held down, release the keys at the second startup chime, and check again.
    (32379)

  • My mac pro no longer reads my moshi cardette

    my mac pro no longer reads my moshi cardette, seems to have happened after the last two updates

    Contact the vendor.

  • After attempt to install windows 7 via boot camp onto Mac mini, my screen reads "no bootable devise--insert boot devise and press any key.  However, disk still in reader, and not using a Mac keyboard

    After attempt to install windows 7 via boot camp onto Mac mini, my screen reads "no bootable devise--insert boot devise and press any key.  However, disk still in reader, and not using a Mac keyboard

    Reboot your Mac, as soon as you hear the chime press the option/alt key and hold it until the boot manager appears, select OSX to boot from.

  • My mac mini won't read or load Turbo Tax 2012 cd.

    My Mac mini will not read or load the CD for TurboTax 2012.  Any suggestions?

    Just ran into this Turbo Tax 2012 requirement with a friend's 2008 iMac running 10.5.8. She only had 1GB memory in the iMac, which is the Snow Leopard minimum requirement.
    After full install of 10.6.3, and (free) software updates, it was a 10.6.8 machine. With just the operating system running, there was 300 MB of the 1 GB memory remaining. Turbo Tax 2012 requires 512 MB of memory, and until the memory was upgraded on this machine, Turbo Tax was erratic due to limited memory. Upgraded to 4GB of memory and the both the iMac and Turbo Tax performance improved substantially.

  • I transfered all my G5 files onto a drive and am now trying to transfer to my new Mac Mini.  I've selected my source as "another disc" but my drive (a rugged 500GB drive) isn't being recognized. Any tips?

    I transfered all my G5 files onto a drive and am now trying to transfer to my new Mac Mini.  I've selected my source as "another disc" but my drive (a rugged 500GB drive) isn't being recognized. Any tips?

    Impossible to answer with information provided.
    Allan

Maybe you are looking for