Superdrive noise & warm discs

I've just made the switch fom a windows pc & have had my 17" iMac for 6 days.
I installed the upgrade to iLife '08 & the drive was rather noisy during the process, I've tried other discs - an audio cd, a DVD & a CD of photos, which had the noise a little when they first started up. I haven't yet tried to burn any discs. The only way I can think of to describe the noise is like an old printer working!?
And all the discs were pretty warm when I ejected them.
My question is: Is this normal (cos I have no idea!)?
Thanks in advance.

with the posistion the drive is in it can show extra disc noise if the discs are slightly uneven. You'll find some discs worse than others - think its down to how good the manufacturing is. Nothing to worry about - the discs are warm from the heat generated by the drives motor - nothing to worry about. Had a number of imacs for years and all were the same - various amounts of isc noise warm discs etc.

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Hi guys, I recently got a new MacBook Pro with a USB Superdrive. A disc won't eject, does anyone know of a way to eject it? I'm in Morocco for the next 10 days so going to an Apple store is not possible. Any help would be gratefully received, thanks

Hi guys, I recently got a new MacBook Pro with a USB Superdrive. A disc won't eject, does anyone know of a way to eject it? I'm in Morocco for the next 10 days so going to an Apple store is not possible. Any help would be gratefully received, thanks

Five ways to eject a stuck CD or DVD from the optical drive
Ejecting the stuck disc can usually be done in one of the following ways:
1. Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the
      left mouse button until the disc ejects.
2. Press the Eject button on your keyboard.
3. Click on the Eject button in the menubar.
4. Press COMMAND-E.
5. If none of the above work try this: Open the Terminal application in
      your Utilities folder. At the prompt enter or paste the following:
        /usr/bin/drutil eject
If this fails then try this:
Boot the computer into Single-user Mode. At the prompt enter the same command as used above. To restart the computer enter "reboot" at the prompt without quotes.

Siren Like Noise from SuperDrive with Windows Disc??

Hi, I was attempting to install a program from pinnacle for my Dazzle, but when I inserted the disc my drive made a very strange sound. At first I thought it was coming out of the speakers. It would not let me eject immediately. I tried on Mac and same thing happened, so it was not a driver issue. Surprisingly a DVD ran fine. The disc I was using was not cosmetically damaged.
Not a big deal but very odd:
http://creganfamily.com/temp/1274727150.mov
http://creganfamily.com/temp/1274727679.mov
it is difficult to hear, I used my iPhone

That does not sound normal at all. The SuperDrives on both my BlackBook and first gen G5 iMac are a little louder than in my PCs, but there is no grating or scratching sound at all.
Are the disks scratched in any way? If so, definately take it in to Apple as there is something wrong. I would probably take it in anyway as I would hate for a disk to get scratched or stuck in there.

Current Mac Mini Superdrive noise/vibrataion...Resolutions?

I've got a Mac Mini that I purchased around September or October of last year, so it's the current generation that's in the Apple Store right now. When the drive spins up anywhere near full speed, whether reading or burning, the excessive noise and vibration makes it almost intolerable to stay in the room with it. It's definitely not "normal" by any stretch of the word. No disc burning has failed because of this, but it does seem to take excessive amounts of time to burn full discs. Also, this weekend I installed Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 on my 2008 Black Macbook and it took around an hour to complete the install. I did the same install from the same DVD on my current Mac Mini and after well over 2 hours of installing and only getting to about 60% progress, I gave up and went to bed while it finished. So same speed drive, close to the same processor, 4 times the RAM...and the Mac Mini takes at least 3 times as long to accomplish the same install. That's not acceptable at all. Granted, I don't use the drive all that often, but when I do I want it to work, and to work efficiently and properly.
I've searched the discussions and see threads from over a year ago on this topic, but nothing recent. Wondering what the latest verdict is on these issues and if Apple has been replacing these as of late and/or has acknowledged the problem. I'm still within the standard 1 year warranty, but also have Applecare, so warranty is not really an issue. I've only found a couple people for whom Apple has fixed this (and then they just replaced the whole machine), and those have all said that the noise was not quite as bad, but that it was still not normal in the replacement machines, and even then that was after 2-3 replacements. I don't want to go through the hassle of replacing my machine multiple times and having to keep restoring from Time Machine backups only to have a machine that isn't quite as noisy. The noise I could honestly deal with if I had to (but I shouldn't), it's the excessively long read/write times that I can't accept. So any new news on this before I go to the trouble to take it to the Apple Store?

Right, and that's what I would fully expect. However, I'm looking for people who have recently had the problem, have taken theirs in for repair (warranty or not) and if the issue was fully resolved or if it was still a problem, even if it wasn't quite as bad as before. If I'm still going to have the issue after a drive repair/replacement I don't want to waste my time taking it in and being without a machine for a few days. I want to know current experiences with the superdrives on the last gen Mac Mini.

Superdrive wont read discs anymore

My superdrive was working perfectly fine, I used it for hours which i think might be a part of my problem but suddenly after inserting a disc it stopped responding, the disc still spins around and makes noises and seems like its working but nothing shows up on my desktop. after a long time maybe 5 mins or so it says that the cd is blank and asks me how i want to continue!!!! CD i inserted is not blank! PLLLZZ HELP MMEEE

I have always had a Mac Mini desktop. I had 3 Superdrives just quit working or have issues over the years. I could plug in an external DVD drive and the disk and other functions would work fine. But the internal drive would not read the disk! My MacBook would read the disk with the internal drive, but not the MacMini. I have upgraded my MacMini and there is no superdrive, so I connected an external unit and I have not had any problems. My MacBook internal drive has never had problems and it's at least 6 yrs old now.
For some reason, I just never had those superdrives work for very long in the MacMini desktop. If out of warranty, the least expensive way to go is to buy an external drive and see if that works for you. OWC, which carries a lot of Mac related stuff, has some at reasonable prices, fast shipping and they are a reliable company. No, I don't work there.
Btw, I never found any workarounds. Once they started messing up, they only got worse.
Oops, I meant to reply to OP! But, now I can't find a way to change that. Sorry.

Intel Aluminum iMac Superdrive Noise Issue

Does anyone else notice that the superdrive inside the iMac makes more noise than the average hair dryer? It is so bad that I cannot even enjoy my DVD. Thank you.

Well, I figured out that it is superdrive "related" now thanks to you. I cannot prevent the noise from occurring with any optical media disc. It seems that the fans kick on and it isn't the superdrive itself making all of the noise. I reset and did all of that stuff, but I believe it's not just my superdrive. My friend has the same iMac and his makes the same "ka-chunk-chunk-tak-tak-varoom-varoom". Excellent description of that noise by the way. I could not have done better myself. Anyway, Seems that it could be the fans, most likely need a new driver/firmware? Could be hardware and that is just the way it is or I am missing something in my system files used to quiet that thing down. I cannot believe it is even an issue. My iMac G4 has a tray loader drive and it's super quiet compared to this $2000 vacuum cleaner machine. Thanks for your help and I may take it in for service depending on what else goes on with my 10.5.2 system. The other day, I counted 10 bugs just as I was working on it for about an hour or two. So many issues and hopefully some updates fix these messes. Now that I mention it...It seems that the eject key ejects the media differently than using the GUI. It spins the disc down and comes out faster with the key on my keyboard, but takes forever and makes a weird quick buzz sound when clicking the eject button in Finder. Input from anyone is appreciated!

USB SuperDrive noises when moved

My Apple USB SuperDrive makes loud screeching and rattling noises when I turn it while it's spinning. I do realize there is a plastic disc inside spinning at high RPMs, but a mobile drive should be designed to withstand some movement? I'm not used to hearing these noises from other slot-loading SuperDrives. Can anyone try this and either confirm or deny that I have a bad drive?

If your hinge is defective, you can probably get it replaced if it cannot be adjusted. Just be sure to report it to Apple before your warranty expires or consider getting 3 year Applecare. It sounds like it's binding. My hinge is silent, which is what I think is normal. I have heard of hinges that seem too tight as well as of hinges that seem to be too loose. If the hinge is too tight and binding, I would worry about having to exert too much force to open and close it and possibly causing other damage. I would have Apple look at it.
Good luck!
Good luck!

Excessive noise from disc burner

I am hearing what sounds like excessive fan noise(?) when burning a DVD. I haven't noticed this until today. I have used the system quite a lot over the two years I've had the 24".
I also hear it when playing a disc on VLC media player, but strangely all is silent when I play the same disc on the Apple DVD Player (these are both software, right?). The mechanical hardware built in the iMac is Matshita DVD-R UJ-85J.
If it is fan wear(?) or whatever, why can't I hear it when using the Apple DVD Player?
Whatever it is, is it likely to cause serious internal problems, and, should I expect a heavy repair bill?
Thanks in advance..

Some disc make more noise because they are slightly unbalanced, or possible a bit warped. The difference in sound can also vary based on how fast the disc is spinning. Different types of discs and different apps can use different spin rates in the optical drive.
If it is fan wear(?)
If it only happens when you insert a disc into the optical drive, it is probably not the fans.
With Intel Macs, you can get an external FireWire or USB 2.0 optical drive. OWC has good options.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/optical-drives/
I have an old USB 2.0 optical DVD/CD drive (read-only). It works for DVD movies and even booting up the iMac with a Mac OS X installation disc. I usually use it in read-only situations (such as watching a movie or installing software), instead of the built-in optical drive. I use the built-in optical drive when I need to burn something... reduces wear on the built-in drive.

Superdrive eats install disc!

My friend bought a brand new, sealed Macbook Pro 2.16 Intel Core 2 Duo yesterday. He went to reinstall the OS and put the virgin Install disc into the virgin machine. The disc appeared on the desktop and displayed all the appropriate options. He chose reinstall, the superdrive sounded wrong, spun for ages, Macbook Pro locked on grey boot screen. He had to eject by re-booting and holding down the track pad button. When he got the disc out, he found that it had a terminal 360 degree scratch, apparently caused by superdrive.
Now the superdrive sounds like an Apache going down in flames and the install disc is destroyed.
In a twist of utter bad luck, he can't find his receipt and doesn't know how to use the warranty without it.
Any help, much appreciated!
G4 1.25 dual, Powerbook 1.67, Macbook Pro 2.16 Core duo 2 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

hey,
what answer do you expect when your friend can't find the receipt of a macbook pro bought by him yesterday???
he should go where he bought the mbp - probably the serial number is already registered to him - and they can see the date of purchase. most probably the mbp will be repaired then since it's still under warranty...

Superdrive noise after Genius Bar replacement

Hello,
after a superdrive replacement at Genius Bar, this one is doing noise at start and when Macbook Pro 5,1 exits from sleep.
I check the firmware version and it's KA19.
I try to applicate the Superdrive Firmware Update 3.0 that i had from an old time machine bakcup (because i can't install it from this link : http://support.apple.com/kb/DL975 ) but it's annoucing that the Firmware is already applied (i did it 2 years ago with the old superdrive).
My system version is 10.7.3
What can i do and how i can apply this update to suppress this noise ?
Thank you for your requests and sorry for the english i'm french !

"It always came on whether from a Cold boot or from waking from sleep. It is the system checking the drive. You may of not heard it before but it was happening. Just changing the drive would not change the normal function of the computer."
Sorry to say that but it's not true.
I have a mi-2012 MacBook Pro and during 4 months, it never did the noise when waking from sleep.
Now it does this check when it's waking from a long sleep and i hate this mecanic noise from my silent MacBook
I would love to disable Superdrive completely because i don't use it at all but nobody has helped me doing this ..
If somebody knows how to prevent this behaviour and go back like before, or to completely stop SuperDrive, i would be happy ..

DVD Superdrive keeps ejecting discs

My trusty old PB G4 has just started to eject discs from the dvd superdrive. I've tried various discs (mainly cd-r) but for some reason it squeaks and squawks then ejects the disc????
Could this be a media problem or perhaps.......a hardware problem?
Any thoughts gladly appreciated.
Dan

I'm having this problem with my 2.5 Penryn Macbook Pro
And I had the same problem with my last mac which was a 2.8 24" silver iMac.
I took it to be repaired, they replaced the superdrive, and then I sold it on. But now the person i sold the iMac to is saying they are having the same problem.
It must be a fault with Apple's superdrives. My external firewire slot loading burner works perfectly.
Unfortunately I'll have to use that and wait until I buy my next mac before i can take this one in to be repaired. Hopefully they dont just replace the drive with another one of the same model.
I found a solution for this problem with old powerbooks:
http://bura-bura.com/blog/archives/2005/07/11/a-fix-for-my-superdrive-problems/
But no success with my MBP

Superdrive wont accept discs at all.... common problem?..

see these threads...they are old but i posted up on one ages ago and have never got around to fixing or replacing the drive since then.... slack...
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=3559409#3559409
and..
http://superdrive.crc.id.au/
Anyway- anymore news on these things-ie; has apple accepted that these superdrives are faulty,
should i replace like for like or if not what should i fit in place of existing drive. I just want something work and be reliable... I'm happy to have a crack at replacing it myself but i'm just not sure whats the best unit to fit?
cheers
alex

More often than not Quality is the issue as well as the correct Format.
This issue has been discussed many times in the fourms.
Many users are not aware of the big difference in the quality in the Media for sale on the market today.
There is also a difference in the quality of the media in the same package from one disc to another.
So it seems this issue boils down to the best in over all quality of manufactured MEDIA.
http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm
Again, after viewing the quality guide, some users will expieriance some confusion.
I have tried several different brands and personally had my best luck with.
This Media will explain that it will burn in the OLDER as well as the NEWER Computers. It means that this media will burn at the best speed, your computer is capable of.
Again most users are not aware that there is a huge difference.
Again many computers are capable of reading and writing DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW as well as DL, Going under the aumption DVD is just DVD, which of course is not the case, have a look at the link below.
http://www.videohelp.com/dvd
SO in closing, you will have your best luck using DVD-R Media and one that is high enough in quality that it will burn as stated above. 1X through16X
Don

Superdrive keeps ejecting disc

I have a 1 ghz 17"powerbook, matshita UJ-815 superdrive, running 10.4.2 and all the latest updates, I have run disc first aid, checked and deleted the duplicate fonts, reset the PRAM, restarted with the disc in, re-inserted the disc numerous times in a row, All to no avail, evertime I insert anytype of disc, after about 35 seconds, and a few "reading disc" type of sounds, the disc ejects, this applies to anytype of disc, cd's dvd's new, already burned, etc. I have tried them all. I have read a few other posts about people having the same problem. Apple care has run out, and the nearest apple store is 2 hours away. Any recommendations, I am considering purchasing a new superdrive from here :
link
And then follow this procedure:
http://www.pbfixit.com/Guide/55.8.0.html
Any advice before I proceed would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Greg
[ Edited by Apple Discussions Moderator; href URL ]

RE: superdrive spits out dvd and cds
( msg # 1.: Posted Feb 8, 05 9:58 pm )
Jeffrey Foote
Joined: Jun, 2003
Posts: 9
I have used the procedure below 4-6 times in the last 6 months, has always worked until this go around tonight. I don't see any other suggestions.... so it might help.... I'm trying again now.
Note: I'm using 10.4.2, but no relationship to software recent software install or upgrade... just decided not to work.
•I did read an apple note that changing batteries while unplugged an asleep can mess with power manager...... and that seems to be the case when the disk is quietly never being accessed before eject....
I have the same 17 1ghz powerbook, and just fixed this problem for 2nd time in 6 months. (No clear idea why it happens.... from posts it appears that power manager/battery processes sometimes fool the drive into thinking it must act that way)
anyway, I followed ALL of the suggestions posted in these discussion areas, none worked alone... this is the order that did it.
1. Reset PRAM by restarting holding down apple-option p-r until 2nd restart sound
2. nvram reset (see this post)
Macintosh: How to Reset PRAM and NVRAM
... Article ID: 2238. Created: 1987-06-02. Modified: 2004-06 ... steps in the Solution section of technical document 42642: "Macintosh: Computer Starts to Text-Based Open ...
(basically says restart with option-apple-o-f
at prompt type
reset-nvram (hit return)
reset-all (hit return)
Document No. 2238
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42642
3. power manager reset-
shut down, unplug, pull battery
- hold down apple-option-shift-power button
- release, then replace battery
-restart
PowerBook G4 (12-inch)  PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI)  PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.33GHz)  PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.5GHz)  PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW 800)  PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33GHz)  PowerBook G4 (17-inch)  PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.33GHz)  PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.5GHz)
1. If the computer is on, turn it off.
2. Reset the power manager by simultaneously pressing and then releasing Shift-Control-Option-Power on the keyboard. Do not press the fn (Function) key while using this combination of keystrokes.
3. Wait 5 seconds.
4. Press the Power button to restart the computer.
this worked..... good luck

External Superdrive keeps ejecting disc

Ok, I've had my Superdrive since March this year and it's possibly seen around 20 - 30 discs in total.
Given that it's just over 6 months old, why the **** has it started to play up?
Cd's load and play with no issues but load any DVD and it just gets spat out.
Looking around the Apple (gated) community and it does seem to be an issue with these drives - funny how my old DVD player (and CD players) are all happily ticking away with at least 12 solid years of use each.
Any ideas people, before I take my sledgehammer to this seemingly worthless piece of crap (lost the receipt so it's probably a paperweight - my bad)?
Thanks in earnest,
Gary

If you are still able to play CD's, but not DVD's, you may have already changed the SuperDrives "Region Code" 5 times, that may be why it will not play the DVD's you are inserting.
DVD Player 5.x: DVD region codes:
Important: You can set the region code for your DVD drive only five times (including the original setting). The fifth time you change the code, it will be permanently set.
DVD Player 5.x: Change the region code of a DVD drive:
Determine the drive’s current region code
Choose File > Get Disc Info and click Regions.
Are these DVD's that you have burned?
If they are DVD's that you have burned, are you trying to play disks from different manufacturers?
Have you tried a number of DVD's to check that they ALL will not play?
You might need to wait for one of the more experienced forum members to help answer your question if these haven't helped.

Internal iMac superdrive keeps ejecting discs

The Superdrive on my iMac will not accept any discs. It just immediately ejects discs that I insert. This happened before about a year ago, but I forgot how I got it to work, and I can't find the thread here.
Thus this request: What do I need to do to get the Superdrive on my iMac to work again? I already cleaned it out completely with the air duster. I know that there is some keyboard startup trick or something that needs to be done to reset something, but my brain is aging, and I forgot what it is. Obviously any helpful suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

Try a SMC reset:
Resetting the SMC (System Management Controller) on Intel-based Macs:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964 and
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1237?viewlocale=en_US
Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
If you are using a Wireless Keyboard:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3273

Superdrive noise & warm discs

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