Chris Lyons
Level 1 (5 points)

Q: Superdrive inoperative after Mountain Lion upgrade

After installing Mountain Lion with no problems or errors I tried to burn a music CD using iTunes. I received an error message as below:

error code.jpg

After ejecting, the disk would not mount and the drive was making very unusual noises without spinning up at all. I embarked on a series of experiments and sometimes received a different error message as below:

laser.jpg

Any ideas anyone ??

iMac (24-inch Early 2008), OS X Mountain Lion, iMac & MacBook Pro

Posted on Aug 6, 2012 11:56 AM

by Chris Lyons,Solvedanswer
Chris Lyons Chris Lyons
Level 1 (5 points)
A:

PROBLEM SOLVED - I HOPE !!

 

Rather than visit a Genius Bar, I opted to buy an inexpensive (<$40) external USB-connected CD/DVD reader/burner (Samsung SE-208AB). I discovered that it too exhibited the same problem whereby DVDs and CDs burned in the Finder failed verification almost as soon as it began. Even though the burned discs appeared OK in that the files/music/movies were as they should be.

 

In addition to all the steps taken above, I also used the Recovery Disk to re-install a copy of Mountain Lion in case something was messed up. To no avail, the problem persisted.

 

After much more searching I discovered a tip that I had not tried. Someone had found that deleting the Finder preference file resolved their problem, in 2008 no less. So with nothing to loose, I deleted the Finder preference file, restarted and burned 3 discs flawlessly. Attached below is a screen shot from the Console app (in the Utilities folder) showing the most recent disc burning tasks including the intial one that failed verification. The highlighted text is my inserted note and not from the Console app. Interstingly it apperas as if iTunes does not perform a disc verify after a burn as the verify task is absent from the Console log.

 

The Finder preference files can be found at User/Library/Preferences/...

 

Of note is that none of these discs will work in the internal Superdrive and so I must assume that the internal Superdrive is offcially busted and must have failed coincidentally with my upgrading to Mountain Lion.

 

Console_shot.jpg

Posted on Aug 27, 2012 10:17 AM

Close
Chris Lyons

Q: Superdrive inoperative after Mountain Lion upgrade

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2 of 5 last Next

  • by petermac87,

    petermac87 petermac87 Oct 24, 2012 4:11 PM in response to Chris Lyons
    Level 5 (7,402 points)
    Oct 24, 2012 4:11 PM in response to Chris Lyons

    Often you will find that a system upgrade (and sometimes update) is simply the straw that breaks the Carmel's back. In other words SuperDrives and Hard Drives are on the verge of failing and the upgrade pushes them over the edge. It has been seen and well documented in these forums. A 2008 machine for example may or may not have had a hard life re the SuperDrive and four years has simply seen it out. Luckily they are inexpensive and easy to replace.

     

    Cheers

     

    Pete

  • by Chris Lyons,

    Chris Lyons Chris Lyons Oct 24, 2012 4:20 PM in response to David A. Gatwood
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 24, 2012 4:20 PM in response to David A. Gatwood

    David - My SuperDrive is shown below in the screen shot from the System Profile app. The "TSSTcorp" drive is the inexpensive Samsung one that I now use. - Chris

    Screen Shot 2012-10-24 at 7.14.46 PM.jpg

  • by dpaulc,

    dpaulc dpaulc Nov 8, 2012 6:46 PM in response to Chris Lyons
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 8, 2012 6:46 PM in response to Chris Lyons

    This may not help everybody, but I've had some success.  Tried everything mentioned here -- no luck.  Booted from a 10.7 drive and superdrive works fine. Booted to 10.8 and doesn't work again.

     

    Installed Toast on Mountain Lion and now it works fine.  If I shutdown or restart I have to launch Toast again to get it to work.

     

    This is definitely a software problem that Apple needs to correct.

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Nov 8, 2012 7:03 PM in response to dpaulc
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Nov 8, 2012 7:03 PM in response to dpaulc

    Anything in the system.log, via Console.app, when trying to access the SuperDrive? After launching Toast? Those might provide some clues.

  • by Termite44,

    Termite44 Termite44 Dec 7, 2012 2:37 PM in response to Chris Lyons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 7, 2012 2:37 PM in response to Chris Lyons

    I have an old iMac, where burning was unpossible in the last months (Snow Leo).

     

    I have bought a new Mac (M Lion), burned a DVD with the superdrive – worked. THEN I have migrated my data from the iMac – and burning was again unpossible, with the new drive.

     

    I have changed the User on the new Mac. With the other one (both are admins) burning works (via finder).

     

    So I think it is a software problem. But I have no idea where to start. I have looked at apple-i from the disk: In the beginning of the burning much space is needed, I’ve had only 11 GB free. Maybe the disk is too full, when DVDs suddenly can’t be burn?

     

    I’ve always had the same media. It is NOT the media.

     

    regards, angela

  • by David A. Gatwood,

    David A. Gatwood David A. Gatwood Dec 7, 2012 2:42 PM in response to Termite44
    Level 3 (580 points)
    Dec 7, 2012 2:42 PM in response to Termite44

    At that point, I would probably recommend the nuclear option: take your Library folder, rename it Library-X.  Log out and back in.  Move back Preferences files and Application Support files for apps that you use frequently, and leave the rest off to the side just in case you need them in the future.  :-)

  • by petermac87,

    petermac87 petermac87 Dec 7, 2012 2:44 PM in response to Termite44
    Level 5 (7,402 points)
    Dec 7, 2012 2:44 PM in response to Termite44

    Yes sounds like your disk does not have enough free space. 15% free is roughly the rule of thumb. Try freeing up some space first, and then try.

     

    Good luck

     

    Pete

  • by Termite44,

    Termite44 Termite44 Dec 7, 2012 2:58 PM in response to David A. Gatwood
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 7, 2012 2:58 PM in response to David A. Gatwood

    All my apps using invisible files will be happy. But thanks!

     

    I will try uninstalling Toast first. There is an issue with EyeTV as well, so I need to do a clean install of toast anyway …

     

    Thank you all.

  • by Termite44,

    Termite44 Termite44 Dec 7, 2012 4:28 PM in response to Termite44
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 7, 2012 4:28 PM in response to Termite44

    I have burned two CDs from iTunes.

     

    What I have done before:

    1. deleted Toast with this

    and installed Toast 8 again

     

    2. deleted a few other old things in library/application support and library/preferences:

     

    wondershare

    WireTap Pro

    ToastIt.plugin

    Toast 8 Titanium

    Socialite

    Roxio Toast Einstellungen

    Roxio

    NCH Software

    Helper

    Glims

    CrossOver

    com.wondershare.helper_compact.plist

    com.samsung.Kies.plist

    com.roxio.Toast.plist

    com.elgato.VideoPlayer.plist

    com.bitcartel.radiolover.plist

    CocoaJT

    Alien Skin

    Ableton Live Engine

    ABFR Blank Droplet

    ABF HotKey

     

    I hope DVD is doing well, too. Will try tomorrow.

     

    Now Toast recognizes EyeTV again, but EyeTV not Toast

  • by Termite44,

    Termite44 Termite44 Dec 8, 2012 11:57 AM in response to Termite44
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 8, 2012 11:57 AM in response to Termite44

    DVD is working!

  • by Ffej1960,

    Ffej1960 Ffej1960 Jan 4, 2013 10:08 AM in response to ppapple451
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 4, 2013 10:08 AM in response to ppapple451

    I completely agree with ppapple451.  After running my mini on 10.6 for a year and a half without a problem I decided to upgrade to 10.8.  I mean . . . with all the benefits Apple was talking about why wouldn't I?  Well, they forgot to mention the problems.  My Superdrive is fubared.  There doesn't seem to be a concesus on how to fix what is obviously a software/firmware issue.  I thought that my bluetooth issues on my iPhone with ios 6 was an isolated case of Apple dropping the ball on support.  Apparently not.

  • by Yttuty,

    Yttuty Yttuty Feb 4, 2013 7:28 PM in response to Chris Lyons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 4, 2013 7:28 PM in response to Chris Lyons

    What can I do if the files com.apple.finder.plist and com.apple.finder.plist.lockfile aren't on my mac?

     

    Can someone pass me those files or do they have to be own of my mac?

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Feb 4, 2013 10:00 PM in response to Yttuty
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Feb 4, 2013 10:00 PM in response to Yttuty

    They have to be in your user's /Library/Preferences/ folder. However, Apple's hidden it. Click on the Desktop. OPTION-click on the GO menu. and select Library.

  • by gumsie,

    gumsie gumsie Feb 5, 2013 12:19 AM in response to petermac87
    Level 4 (2,174 points)
    Feb 5, 2013 12:19 AM in response to petermac87

    Don't have anything scientific to go on but you might also find just as often that the same dead drive still works on a different OS, and not just a non Apple one either.

  • by ppapple451,

    ppapple451 ppapple451 Feb 5, 2013 7:12 AM in response to Chris Lyons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 5, 2013 7:12 AM in response to Chris Lyons

    Just giving a little update here.  I was contacted by Apple last month and they acknowledged there was a software issue with the ML upgrade that was causing the drives to stop working.  Based on the evidence, that is indisputable, but it is nice they finally admitted to the obvious.  They sent me a utility to run on my system that gathered data about the problem and I send them back a nice fat data file.  They said they were working on a fix and it would show up in one of the next updates.  Fingers crossed for a Oct 2013 fix

Previous Page 2 of 5 last Next