Superdrive reads cds, not dvds!

I've had my Macbook since January 2007, and I haven't had any issues with it until about a month ago. My superdrive simply stopped recognizing dvds. Each time one is inserted, it spins for a few seconds, then gets spit out. If I try opening DVD Player while it's in it say that it's not recognized. The thing is, is it'll still recognize and play cds! I've tried several different types of dvds, since at first I thought it was because I changed it back & forth between region 1 & 2, but the same thing happens no matter what.
I've been trying everything I could find online to resolve this, I've done software updates, repaired disk permissions, reset the smc and done the hardware test. Nothing seems to be making a difference!
I really don't want to buy a new drive if I don't have to, like I said, it still recognizes cds! So any help would be fantastic!

This is typically symptomatic of an optical drive that is beginning to fail. If you live in the USA, you can get an external USB DVD player for as little as $20.
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=420&name=External-CD-DV D-Blu-Ray-Drives&Order=PRICE

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Trouble reading CDs and DVDs on MacBook Pro using Snow Leopard

My MacBook Pro will not read CDs or DVDs when using snow leopard but will read just fine with windows. Very frustrating. It is not an optical reader problem. Anybody suggest a permanent fix? I tried someone's weird suggestion that works for awhile: Change the language setting from English to another language in "preferences" restart the computer and then change back to English. It works for one CD.

See KB Article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2801 Apple Portables: Troubleshooting the slot load optical disc drive

Powerbook stops reading CDs or DVDs

My year old PB has had a problem reading CDs and DVDs. It will stop reading after several minutes of working well. Superdrive spins and stops over and over without being able to continue to read discs. Hate to think that it needs to go to the Apple store. Anyone have any suggestions?
Thank you, Linnea

Hi Joey
Reset the iMac's SMC > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1543
then restart with PRAM and NVRAM > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
and test the Disc Drive.
The early white Intel iMac models had 17, 20 and 24" display sizes and the aluminum Intel iMac models only come in 20 and 24" display sizes?
Dennis

MBP not reading CDs or DVDs under Windows/Bootcamp

Well after searching the net, talking on the phone to Apple for near an hour, and visiting a licensed repair shop, I still have no idea whats causing this problem.
Basically I bought Windows XP SP2 and installed it on a partition last August. Everything worked fine, then I upgraded to SP3 to enable it to run GTA4. Since then, it has refused to read any CDs or DVDs, although they ALL work fine in the Mac partition. As I didn't need discs to run the programs I had installed, I lived with it until yesterday, when I decided to reinstall Windows, giving it a bigger partition. The first part of the process went without a problem, however when it booted up in Windows and asked to reinsert the disc to continue with the install, it did what it had been doing before, and refused to read the disc. (it was the same disc I had used originally - thought I'd throw that in there).
So now I'm stuck with a half installed Windows partition with no way of getting ahead. I have updated my firmware, upgraded to 10.5.8 from 7, done a hardware check, and nothing has changed. The fact that no one seems to know what is going on doesn't help! Has no one else had this problem? Would really appreciate some help!
Matt S
Message was edited by: MattStern

Hi Joey
Reset the iMac's SMC > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1543
then restart with PRAM and NVRAM > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
and test the Disc Drive.
The early white Intel iMac models had 17, 20 and 24" display sizes and the aluminum Intel iMac models only come in 20 and 24" display sizes?
Dennis

SUPERDRIVE reads ALL my DVD's EXCEPT ONE!!!:: My Windows 7 Home Premium. WHY IS THIS?????

iMac reads all my DVD's except one my WINDOWS 7 HOME PREMIUM INSTALL DVD!
The windows dvd works fine on a pc so I know it's not the DVD.
Now I have seen people posting that their Superdrive doesn't work, or that it only reads cd's - I DONT HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS!
I reiterate my Superdrive reads ALL DVD's EXCEPT MY WINDOWS & HOME PREMIUM INSTALL DVD.
Is the Superdrive designed specifically to reject windows software? Absurd as it sounds this is the only logical conclusion.
This is what i have been trying to do over the last 4 days:
I purchased Windows 7 Home Premium DVD so I can partition my Hard drive and devote 100gb to Windows.
I have a late 2009 iMAC running the latest Mountain Lion OS.
I have cleaned the Superdrive by putting a credit card and microfibre cloth like people have suggested. If it was dirty or required cleaning then surely it wouldn't play any DVD and not just the Windows DVD? anyway that didn't work either.
Since the Superdrive reads the Windows 7 DVD once every 30 or so tries when it is eventually recognised I try to install it via bootcamp. Each attempt windows stops, the first time I got as far as the windows is loading screen and was stuck on that screen for 2 hours and was forced to power off, the second time I got as far as please load a driver or something and press any key with a flashing cursor in the top left of the screen, pressing keys did nothing.
I have tried to install windows via USB like some people have suggested.
I can not boot from my USB.
Some people have said Bootcamp will not allow you to but there is a work-around by going into .info and editing in my iMac version via textedit, which I have done.
Still can't boot from USB.
The USB has been formatted to Mac journal and all windows files copied from DVD to the USB and there is an .iso on the USB also.
Still can't boot from USB.
I have partitioned my Hard drive via Disk Utility but can't find a way to install windows on said partition since it never appears in Startup Disk.
Starting to believe there is a conspiracy here.
Please help.

Hi genejitsu,
Did you happen to find the cause of this? My Macbook Pro is having the exact same issue. Only my Windows 7 discs don't work and they aren't scratched and nice and clean. It's both the 32 and 64 DVDs that don't work.
Cheers
Shaun

Imac plays cds not dvds anymore HELP MY SANITY!!!

I have a imac 21.5 inch mid 2010 model 3.06ghz 12gb running 10.8.3 osx
I have had no massive issues with my lovely mac until now
Problem is system plays cds without issue however recently has started to eject dvds. I have looked all over the net and some places on here without finding a proper cure. This is driving me insane so i need help before i consider getting out the big hammer!!
First question why would it play cds and not dvds anymore having previously not been a problem and can i upgrade to anykind of software that will enable me also to upgrade it to play blu rays also. I have noticed software available that allegedly plays blu rays but has anyone had experiences with this good bad or indifferent?
Please help me get my dvds working again thank you!!

Then, try an optical disc reader lens cleaner. If that doesn't fix it, then the optical drive DVD lens is broken. AFAIK, there are separate lenses for CDs and DVDs.

MBP Optical Drive not reading cds or dvds + LaunchDaemons not in Library

Late 2008 MBP, 4gb, ram 2.66ghz, Mountain Lion 10.8.4
Hey this is my first time using this forum but I'm not computer illiterate so please don't waste my time!
My optical (disk) drive in my Late 2008 MBP is not reading dvds or cds.
I repaired disk permissions to no avail.
I had read another thread on this issue saying I could opene my library to see if i could find and delete com.WD.WDDDriveServices.plist. which I had seen had worked for others who had had a 1tb WD external drive and had had their disk drives stop working because of this. However, when I went into my library the LaunchDaemons folder which was supposed to contain this erroneous file LaunchDaemons was not even there! Is LaunchDaemons called something else on Mountain Lion or what? I went through all my plist files and could not locate com.WD.WDDDriveServices.plist. anywhere! It is my hope that if i can find and delete this file that I may be able to reboot and have a working disk drive again!
(note)
I could play DVDs but not CDs up until I upgraded to mountain lion 10.8.4, but after the mountian lion upgrade now even DVDs won't work.
Can anybody help me resolve this issue with the Missing LaunchDaemons folder, or have another suggestion beyond repairing disk permissions or deleting com.WD.WDDDriveServices.plist. to make my optical drive work
I am hoping can resolve the main issue at hand which is my optical drive, but also any help on locating LaunchDaemons would be appreciated.
(I know there has been a few threads on this topic, believe me I've practically read them all, for most repairing disk permissions worked, for others who had a wd 1tb external hard drive (like me) deleting com.WD.WDDDriveServices.plist. worked, but that isn't an option at this moment since i cant even find LaunchDaemons in my Library lol.
PS.
Please don't be a smartass and say get a new optical drive, I know my MBP is old but I think the problem is not really with the hardware but rather with this absent LaunchDaemons folder.
Thanks in advance.

Likely not. Your next step is a call to AppleCare or a visit to a repair center.

Optical Drive is Reading CDs and DVDs & Writing CDs but not Writing and Erasing DVDs!

Product Name & Number: Compaq Presario CQ60-101AU
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate SP1
Error Msg: Shows Reading Error at the end of burning DVD using Cyberlink Power2Go 5.5, Nero 11, Ashampoo Burning Studio 11
Description:
When reading and writing CD+R, everything works perfect. And Reading DVD also working perfect. The problem is while Writing DVD+R, DVD+RW and Erasing DVD+RW. When using burning software or the windows in-built burning, at the end it shows reading error. And While erasing also same problem. In the DVD, there are only some dark circles/lines with gap and doesn't look like normal written DVDs.
Steps tried out (but in vain)
1. Used different burners
2. Used Superblank
3. Uninstalled and Reinstalled Chipset drivers
4. Formatted the whole HDD and Reinstalled OS
Please Help! Actually where is the problem? And how to fix it?
** If your problem is solved then Mark this as Answer! **
** Please give Kudos If you want to Thank Me! **

Either go directly to Intel and run their driver finder or use this thread.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-drivers-software-forum/404164-drivers-hp-dv6-2xxx-dv7-3xxx-dv8-hd...
The bloat-ware if you want it :
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-drivers-software-forum/519991-popular-hp-notebook-software.html
Install the Chipset driver first, then the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver, the rest doesn't matter.
Same for the NVIDIA driver, Notebook Review is up to date or you cab go directly to NVIDIA.
http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/detect?iid=dc_iduu
http://www.geforce.com/drivers
And the tutorial to do a clean install to W7.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/windows-7-clean-install-part-1.htm
If you have an upgrade disc, then you can do a clean install as long as there is a Windows OS on the drive.
I have also done a clean install form an upgrade disc to on a new drive and it still works.
Glad the MoBo's doing well ! What kills them is if you do allot of gaming, the MoBo can't take the heat. The cooling system just isn't up to the task.

My Windows 8 HP Pavillion g4 Laptop won't read CDs and DVDs.

My laptop won't read any DVDs or CDs. I really need it for my project. Someone please answer immediately, I really need it now =))

Hello KaitoKid. I understand your notebook is unable to read discs.
Take a look at the suggestions offered in this document.
Let me know if this helps. I hope you have a great day!
Please click the white star under my name to give me Kudos as a way to say "Thanks!"
Click the "Accept as Solution" button if I resolve your issue.

IMAC won't read CDs or DVDs

Hello,
I just got my iMAC setup and established today. Everything went fairly smoothly until I tried to insert and play a DVD with the side-mounted DVD drive. The drive physically took the DVD, but it always just cranks there for several seconds and then spits the disk right back out. This happens with regular data and music CDs as well. What am I missing?
Thanks.

Thanks everybody
I too have suddenly developed this failure to burn. Worked well last week, now doesn't even get to the multiplexing stage, just ejects the blank disk. Ejects original Leopard disk, won't write to CD with Toast 8. Couldn't even check the hardware diagnostic as it just spits the disk out.
Tried Unix single usere mode Command S to type in fsck -y after the prompt localhost# (p840 - The Missing Manual series Leopard) but never got to this prompt. Upgraded to lastest iMovie and iDVD
Tried your FINDER- PREFERENCES - TICKED THEM BUT THEY DON'T SHOW UP IN THE SIDEBAR. . Starting to look ominous. Here I am in the middle of the South Pacific with no Mac repair shop within 3000 km.
OR any other suggestions - may be "life saving" or this iMac is going on a long flight soon or could you send your father-in law.

Won't read CDs but DVDs normal data and video

My mid 2007 has stopped recognizing CDs, blank, data, and video. It makes several attempts to read then ejects disk. I haven't tried to record DVDs but it reads video and data normally. Sugestions?

The slot-loading optical drives used in iMacs are notorious for failing, even under light infrequent use. If your iMac is covered under an extended 3-year AppleCare warranty, you can take your iMac to any local Apple store or authorised Apple dealer to get a new optical drive fitted free of charge. Your other option is to buy an external USB/FireWire drive instead of using your built-in drive - if you go for a standard 5.25" tray loader, these are cheap and reliable.

Combo Drive reads CDs, rejects DVDs

my macbook pro (original), recently started rejecting DVD's (Games, Movies). three attempts are made to read the dvd's and then it spits it out.
I have no issues regarding cds
How do i resolve this problem?
Message was edited by: Abeer Thapar

Details of MBP Disc Drive:
MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857:
Firmware Revision: HAEA
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds

IMac not reading CDs/DVDs

I'm on an older (late 2009) iMac, just installed Maverick a few days ago, but the problem preceeds this. Basically, my computer will not read CDs or DVDs. Any disc I put into the computer, I hear the whirring noise as if it's reading the disc, but it immediately winds down. It will repeat trying to read the disc 2 or 3 more times, then just spit the disc out.
I tried spraying some compressed air into the slot, and it still won't read most CDs or DVDs, but now when I insert an MP3 CD that my boss had burned for me, the window pops up for when you insert a blank CD, so the drive is reading blank (or previously burned CDs AS blank), but not DVDs or normal CDs (for example, it spit out both a video game installation disc and a movie DVD).
I made sure that if i go to Finder > Preferences > General that "CDs, DVDs and iPods" is checked, and everything looks normal in System Preferences > CDs & DVDs.
Anyone have any ideas?

Another help source (if you haven't already done so).
Go to your OS Help Menu. In the search field type dvd
Click on all the troubleshooting topics & Support Articles that pertain to your issue.
You can also do the same in Disk Utility. Open same up.
At the bottom left of the window, click on the purple button w/the "?" in the middle.
This will bring up the Help Menu.
===============
Try a different brand. Top forum favorites
CDs
FUJI
TDK
Verbatim
DVDs
Maxell
Verbatim
==============
Apple's Disc Burning Quick Assist
Make sure the DVDs are not dirty, smudged and/or scratched.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2000 Mac doesn't start up from install disc
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2801 Apple Computers: Troubleshooting the slot-loading SuperDrive
*** Your drive may need cleaning. Cleaning kits can be purchased from any store that sells CD/DVDs. ***

Could a SMC or PRAM Reset Affect a Superdrive's CD and DVD Read/Write?

Hi. Would a SMC or PRAM reset make the Superdrive read CD and DVDs better (it mounts CD-RWs and DVD+RWs which is usually labels as untitled DVD but it can't seem to mount original disks that are in good condition like: Snow Leopard DVDs that came with this iMac, Grand Theft Auto IV, Spellforce 2: Shadow Wars)? Or SMS and PRAM resets are not related to Superdrive?
Thank you in advance.
God bless.

The SMCreset does affect the superdrive but your condidion may be from dust/dirt in the DVD on the lens system. Mine is real sensitive to dirt and smudges on the actual DVD but occasional lens cleaning helps. You can get DVD lens cleaners (with the tiny brushes on the disk) from most vendors that carry the media.

Superdrive reading not writing

My superdrive recognizes CDs and DVDs but won't burn either.
When trying to burn CDs it says that an error occurred while buring the disc. This disc cannot be used. Burning the disc failed because the CD was in use. the error code is 0x80020040.
After the error message is shown the CD no longer shows up on the desktop.
When trying to burn DVDs using iDVD it goes through all the steps to Step 4 and then it just runs forever and never burns anything, doesn't quit or give an error message.

Thank you for your help. I was able to get a CD to
burn by slowing the burn speed. Still cannot burn a
DVD using iDVD...I can't see anywhere to change the
burn speed.
The more recent versions of iDVD can generate a disk image file, instead of burning a DVD. You then burn the disk image file with Disk Utility, which lets you set the burn speed.

Superdrive reads cds, not dvds!

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