Superdrive dying?

I have a Dual 1.42 G4 Firewire 800 machine.
When I try to burn CDs and DVDs my superdrive makes some new strange spinning sounds, trys to burn and then quits unable to accomplish the task.
The current device is a Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-105
I have not yet installed Tiger.
Can anyone tell me about buying a new DVD drive and how easy it will be to install and to get it to work with my current software?
Thanx in advance,
rob

You can get a new drive like the Pioneer 110D or the NEC ND-3550A through either ZipZoomFly or NewEgg for around $40. Both are 16x Dual Layer drives. For iApps support you'll need to download and install PatchBurn under Panther.
-Douggo
G4 Dual 867 MDD Mac OS X (10.4.3) 1.25GB RAM; 3 HDD's; Pioneer 106D; 20" Cinema Display; 30GB iPod Photo

Similar Messages

SuperDrive Dying? Help, please.

Today and before things like this has happened.
I was reading a backup CD-RW disc and closed the finder window and
tried to eject the disc and the system gave me a message the disc was in use
try quitting apps. and try again..
No apps where running. I had to log out and then I could eject it.
Is this the drive dying?
I just had my AppleCare expire and now this.
So, my questions are:
1.) What type of superdrive will I need to replace it.
2.) will I need to install patchburn for just about any superdrive I find? Because I doubt I can get an exact replacement.
3.) Do drives fail within 4 years?
4. I have an external 5.25" drive enclosure. Maybe I should just remove the drive
and try it in there, or install a new drive in the enclosure for starters.
Please give me your suggestions.
Thanks!
 Cheers,
L+

Sounds more like a system thing and not a sign of the drive going bad. Usually this means some application is still accessing the CD-RW somehow. Might be a hidden application. For example, if the CD-RW had music or other media on it that iTunes accesses, the hidden "iTunes Helper" application might have latched on to it.
As I just mentioned in another post, first thing to do with issues like this is to Open Disk Utility and do a "Repair Disk Permissions" on your hard drive as this will often clear up annoying little things.
Patrick

Superdrive dying...Any suggestions???

Well, the superdrive on my dual 1.25 MDD is dying as it sometimes can't read the disc I put in and sometimes it does...
I'm thinking of replacing it and wanted to get the opinions/suggestions of those who have replaced theirs and what you replaced it with...
I was on OWC and saw the Samsung DVD 22x and the Pioneer-118...
Any thoughts?

Can the Powermac G4 MDD Dual 1.25 handle two of those?
I believe so, there's a plate below the top one, not sure about mounting.
BluRay drives are SATA only, but it is possible to get PATA to SATA adapters...
http://www.satacables.com/html/satato_ideadapter.html

Superdrive Died

The Superdrive in my iMac (Flat Panel, 800 mhz) will not burn CDs or DVDs anymore. It will read disc just fine, though.
Will an external FireWire burner work with iDVD and iTunes?
If not, what drives will work as an internal replacement?
Thanks for your help.
Mark

MarkWelcome to Apple Discussions.
It may be worth trying a cleaning disk to see is a dirty drive is causing your problem. These are reasonably cheap and available from any computer shop.
The drive database at xlr8yourmac.com is the best resource for confirming that a new drive will work with your iMac.
The internal Pioneer DVR-110D is a popular choice.
Some drives (especially under a pre-10.4 OS) require this driver: Patchburn to be installed to use the third party drive.
HTH
mrtotes

Imac superdrive died external drive substitute

What can I buy and install procedures?

John,
Any external DVD drive will work. However if you want to replace it yourself try ifixit.com for instructions, you don't state anything about which iMac you own or even the version of OS X in your profile so it's a little difficult to help you. To input that information please complete your profile. You can try OWC at www.macsales.com and they may have a drive for you that can be installed internally.

New MacBook Air SuperDrive for G4 PowerBook

My G4 PowerBook is still going strong except the original SuperDrive died a few months ago. While watching the MacWorld 2008 Keynote, I see that there is now an External MacBook Air SuperDrive option available for the new MacBook Air for $99. Does anyone know if this external Superdrive will work with the G4 PowerBooks?
Thanks.

Hi, DLaid, and welcome to Apple Discussions. You could replace your internal Superdrive yourself for $50-S75 USD (depending on what drive you chose) and an hour of your time. See the link in my post above. Buying an external optical drive to use with a portable computer would be silly, but if you wanted to do it anyway, there are dozens to choose from besides Apple's. As I explained above, a USB-only drive is totally inappropriate for use with a Tibook, even if it would work. Get a FireWire-capable drive if you buy an external.
Be aware also that when you post in these forums, you aren't talking to Apple; you're just talking to other Mac users like yourself. The people at Apple who need to hear your concerns don't monitor these boards. This is explained in the "Help & Terms of Use" link that appears in the right sidebar of every Discussions page. Your second-paragraph gripes would be more usefully addressed directly to Apple through the appropriate Product Feedback channels:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/

External Superdrive not recognized

Hi
My internal SuperDrive died like a month ago with a CD stucket on it, that cant be ejected. It is a mechanical problem. I took it to a support service store (I'm writing from Lima, Peru by the way) asking for a fix or replacement and I figured out the it was much cheaper to buy an external drive. So I bought a OWC Value Line External DVD Writer (link below).
While I was waiting for it to be delivered, I was bored of all the ugly noises that my internal drive was making so I search for a way to disable it and I found a hint (link below) suggesting to remove IODVDStorageFamily.kext file from /System/Library/Extenstions
Today I got my new external drive but it is not being recognized. I have restore the kext file on the Extensions folder, I have repaired permissions, reboot a couple of times, etc... but neither my old internal drive or the new external drive are being recognized. It is like they dosent exist.
Any suggestions>?
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20051203235221135
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/VLU2SD22XLS/

Ok, backup your data*:
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
Dismount and disconnect any external data devices. If nothing works, just shut down and remove those devices.
Run the 10.6 installer. Boot from the CD if necessary by using the startup manager:
http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n106178
Then run the 10.6.4 combo installer.
Then check Apple menu -> Software Update for possible updates, but install them from http://www.apple.com/downloads/
Finally repair permissions with Hard drive -> Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Utility.

Flashing file icon on startup. No install disc and my SuperDrive is not working. What are my options?

I Have a 2008 MacBook, I don't recall what system is is running but I believe it's previous to Lion.
My SuperDrive died so I bought a USB drive thinking it would work and it didn't. I found online a trick that edited a boot file (library/system/systemconfiguration/com.apple.boot.plist)
NOw when I reboot my machine it cycles through: apple icon, file folder w/ ? Mark on it and a .
how can i fix this? I bought this refurbished from Mac store and it came loaded with no disc. Even If I had the disc, the SuperDrive is dead.

The only other place left is the search field below the Loop Browser, but that was empty in your screenshot, so I did not mention it.
but when I checked a 4/4 song, my loops were there. So that's encouraging.
If your other songs have a different measure, you can simply switch between time signatures back and forth, to show more loops. GarageBAnd '11 will only show the loops meant for the time signature you have selected, but you cancan add them nevertheless, if you temporarily switch to another time signature.

IBook G4 Superdrive won't read any discs

Few days ago my iBook's Superdrive worked perfectly and I never had any issues. I would barely use my drive and I never used any dirty or scratched discs in order to avoid issues, anyway, today I found some burned music discs in my room and I was curious to know what songs they had, but then when I inserted the disc it just kept loading and loading until it ejected by itself, I then checked again if it was scratched and it wasn't, I tried another disc and no luck, I restarted the computer and the usual noise that the drive makes when the computer starts changed and sounds kind of rough like its forced, it did't sound like that before I inserted the CD. What could the problem be? Why would the superdrive die if I rarely used it? Also, the system profile detects the drive but the disk utility won't show the drive. Any ideas? I really don't want to change the drive.
Message was edited by: Amed

If your SuperDrive will not mount the install disk or commercially recorded CDs it would seem the drive is not functioning well and may be on the way out. With the older tray-loading drives it was easy to access the inside of the drive and clean the laser with a alcohol towelette. With the internal drives that is more of a challenge and you not only have to remove the drive but to open it up, and even after that the issue may not necessarily be the laser.
Possible options are: a replacement SuperDrive, an external firewire drive or using Firewire Target Disk Mode with the assistance of a second firewire capable Mac.
cornelius

New Superdrive doesn't show up in System Profiler

My old superdrive died on me, so I ordered a new one from powerbookmedic.com.
After installing, it doesn't show up in System Profiler. I've quadruple-checked the connection and I can hear it make regular healthy sounds when booting up so I know it's getting power but once I'm inside OSX; nothing.
I tried resetting the PRAM and SCM as recommended on this forum for various superdrive trouble. Although it didn't change anything and I'm guessing don't apply here.
Any tips for getting OSX to recognize my drive?

It's equipped with a SATA drive - that's why.
Just take a look further down ..
Printers
SAS
Serial-ATA <--
USB

SuperDrive not reading any DVDs or CDs

My Matshita UJ-857E (ZA0E) SuperDrive died on me....
It now does not accept any CDs or DVDs and instead just spits them back out a few seconds after putting them in the slot.
Running Leopard 10.5.5 on MBP (Aug. 2007)...
I really need to use the drive.
I am out of warranty and am prepared to purchase a new drive if required, but want to leave that as the last option. Any hints as to fixing the drive will be greatly appreciated. (I guess ruining the drive by doing something stupid is not a problem... it's already ruined!)
Thanks!

Hi
A viable option is an external drive, such as made by LaCie. I bought a FireWire drive a few years ago and it's still a useful spare. Getting a new drive fitted inside your MB now it's out of warranty will probably be very expensive.
Bob

EMac SuperDrive Compatabilitys

Does anyone know the compatabilites for burning cds and dvds for the eMac superdrive.
Lately i've been having problems left and right trying to get a dvd recordable to burn. I tried everything that was suggested and even bought some Verbatim DVD+R's to use.
I know my mac can burn the DVD plus because i has no problem burning DVD+RWs from Sony. They work with no problem and load with no problem.
If i use the one time burn DVDs the following happens
underburn failure
verify failure
burn successful but DVD won't mount after it is ejected
Burn failure
I tried
Cleaning out files (using MacJanitor, Macsweeper)
Used Disk Utility, Finder and even 3rd party buring software.
Clean out the pref file for Disk utility and tried slower speeds in finder.
Switched DVD products (Sony, Maxwell, Staple then Verbatim)
Restart, Run Disk Utitly to verify startup disk, restart then only have the computer burn with no other applications working.
Tested with other Media (CD and CD-RW work with almost any product)
checked hard drive space (have 40Gb out of 70Gb free)
Is my Superdrive dying on me? Do I have to upgrade the RAM but i read that someone tried it and it did not work. What is left? Reinstall the OS?
I really need help as this is making my frustrated. I already wasted money on blank DVDs so what do?

There's a good chance the drive is dying on you. May be time to consider an external solution
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/optical-drives/
or if you're game, an internal replacement
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/optical-drives/superdrives/powermac/
I'd definitely recommend more memory.512MB would be good, 1GB would be better. Your eMac will be faster. It's possible that the small amount of RAM you have installed is causing problems, but that would not be my first guess. Whatever route you take, you really ought to get more memory.
hth
Jeff

SuperDrive DEAD - Local Apple dealer no help at all!!

Does anyone know where I can send a complaint to Apple about a scam that my local Apple dealer tried to pull? Seems my SuperDrive died and I needed a replacement. So, I called the local Apple dealer to see about buying a new one. So, he gets on the phone. Imagine someone from college who spent all four years doing bong hits. That's the voice he used. This is how the conversation went:
Him: Can I help you?
Me: Yes, I have a dual 1.8Ghz G5. And my superdrive has died. I was wondering if you had one in stock and if so, how much is it?
(Pregnant pause)
Him: So, what's your question?
Me: Well, like I said I need a new superdrive for my G5 and I was wondering if you had one. And how much is it?
Him: Well, your best bet is to bring the machine in and have me replace it.
Me: Ok, any idea how much that will be?
Him: Those are matched to each machine's specific serial number.
Me: HUH? If that is so, then why is it that I can order one online? The Pioneer DVR-111D is for sale all over the 'net.
Him: Only I can replace it. So, you better bring it in.
Me: Okay, so, when can you do it? And do you have any idea of the cost?
Him: That will be $129.00 plus labor costs. I used the last one yesterday. You'll have to wait until Monday.
Me: $129.00? Other World Computing has it for $56.00
Him: That's a different drive. Ours is the DVR-112.
Me: (Exasperated) Okay, well, I'll call you on Monday and maybe bring it in on Wednesday.
Him: Ok, but only I can replace it. I won't sell parts to the general public.
Me: Yeah, I get it.
So, I started phoning around. And as I figured, he was full of it! So, I called him back and asked him why he told me all this crap.
Him: Oh well, you can buy them, but you have to be certified to install them. They are machine specific.
Me: Well, I have called around and asked several different dealers about that. They all deny it's true.
Him: They aren't Apple dealers.
Me: Excuse me? Then how is it that they have entire websites dedicated to nothing but Apple?
Him: They aren't certified. They can sell it to you, but it won't work.
Me: Well, I personally think you are trying to pull a scam.
Him: Well, you can think that. I don't care. But I've got the parts and you don't.
Me: I thought you said you used the last one.
Him: No I didn't.
Me: WHAT? Just forget it.
So, I won't mention the dealers name. But it's the only dealer in the 86301 zip code.
In the meantime, I have ordered the Pioneer DVR-111D from an online dealer.
I think it will work just fine.
SwiperFox
Dual 1.8 G5 Mac OS X (10.4.7) Dead SuperDrive

I have the same issue. Mine was just starting to update then I got the 3014 error and phone it stuck in recovery mode and can't restore because of the 3014 error.
YES, did all of the steps that apple article suggested like Tiffany F.
-Tried reinstalling iTunes
-Turned off firewall
-host file good
-took sim card out like some suggested
-checked router
I really hope it's just cuz the servers are too loaded.
Anybody else have any other ideas?

Superdrive wont work anymore after update..

After the update failed half way, my superdrive died and wont take in any cd's or dvd'd...can someone help

I have ios 7 and connect to my network just fine. Its completely reasonable expectation that if you update the software on your device, then the software or firmware of the other devices you connect to, ie; router may also need an update.
Its irrelevant that other devices with different hardware configurations and a network card may still be able to connect to the same network.
try this:
WiFi Troublshooting
iOS: Troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and connections
Is this happening with one particular network or with all? Make sure iOS is updated on the device.
Try this:
Reboot ipad by pressing and holding both the home and sleep/wake buttons at the same time until the apple logo appears on the screen, then let go. Then try to connect to network.
Go to settings, Toggle airplane mode on/off. Make sure bluetooth is off. Turn on wif (airplane mode off). Try to connect.
Reset Network Settings
Go to settings/general/reset/reset network settings. Then try to connect to network.
If its your home router, then reboot router by unplugging for 5-10min. (do this while you're resetting network settings).
If problem persists, then check for firmware updates on your router.(you check router manufacturer support website for downloads and instructions).
Wifi Settings greyed out or dim
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1559
Recommended wifi settings
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4199

Superdrive replacement help

Hi, my superdrive died some time ago (model matshita uj-868) and i want to replace it with a new one but not the same model (if it's possible) can some one tell me what model should fit in my macbook pro unibody I know it should be 9.5mm high and have SATA interface but I couldn't find one similar to the one I have.
Can some one could help me please...
thanks in advance

If you have the Late 2008 MBP listed in your signature, you are covered by Apple's one year warranty. If your superdrive 'died', you should contact AppleCare for service (there's a Contact Us link at the bottom right of this page).

Superdrive dying?

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