Diogones

Q: Power Mac G5 Superdrive won't read DL DVDs

Hey all,

 

I have recently inherited a 2003/2004 Power Mac Dual Processor G5 1.8GHz, and I'm having some issues with the Superdrive.

 

It won't read any burned dual layer(DL) DVDs or CD+Rs. Either the disc will sit in the Mac without any drive activity, and without appearing in the Finder, or the Mac will spit it back out. I've tried using a cleaning disc with several brushes, but it didn't seem to have any effect.

 

I have pulled the drive and installed another one just to ensure that it wasn't the computer itself, and sure enough, the other disc drive played and read any disc quite easily.

 

The drive in question is a Pioneer 106PB. Is there a firmware upgrade for this disc drive, or is it simply worn down after many years of faithful service? Would opening the drive and cleaning the laser lens with rubbing alcohol help? The Mac is currently running 10.5 with all the latest updates.


Posted on Nov 8, 2013 5:28 AM

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Q: Power Mac G5 Superdrive won't read DL DVDs

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  • by BDAqua,Helpful

    BDAqua BDAqua Nov 8, 2013 10:26 AM in response to Diogones
    Level 10 (123,670 points)
    Nov 8, 2013 10:26 AM in response to Diogones

    You could try the alcohol, but I think it's likely partially dead.

  • by Jeff,Solvedanswer

    Jeff Jeff Nov 8, 2013 10:19 PM in response to Diogones
    Level 6 (11,559 points)
    Nov 8, 2013 10:19 PM in response to Diogones

    The Pioneer DVR-106 (DVR-A06U) doesn't read/write DL disks.  The supported media types are:  CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW.  The inability to read/write CD-Rs could be related to the speed of the blank media.  Back when drive speeds kept increasing, firmware updates for older drives were sometimes necessary for compatibility with newer, faster media.  The drive has separate DVD and CD lasers, which operate at different frequencies.  If the CD laser lens is malfunctioning or misaligned from wear, a lens cleaning disk won't solve the problem.  Considering the relatively low price for a newer (if not new) DVD±RW drive, I'd replace it.  Unfortunately, Pioneer's optical drives are now manufactured by Asus and I don't think the quality is the same as it was in years past.  Not all third-party optical drives will be bootable, and ordinarily you'd be recommended to check out Other World Computing's selection of suitable replacements, but their website has this notice:  "Currently there are no internal IDE/ATAPI Optical Drive Options available for this model (Power Mac G5)."

  • by Diogones,

    Diogones Diogones Nov 9, 2013 8:54 AM in response to Jeff
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 9, 2013 8:54 AM in response to Jeff

    Hey thanks for the prompt and helpful reply guys!

     

    OK, I had a feeling that a replacement was called for. The new drive is much more capable and effective than the old one ever was. In addition to support for more disc formats, such as DL, it also burns faster, and best of all, it doesn't reject any discs, so it's working as intended.

     

     

    Since I've already done the replacement, and checked the IDE cable master/slave setting on the original so the new drive is set accordingly, I don't think there is anything left for me to do except thank you both, and ask one final question. If the Pioneer DVR-106 can't even read DL discs, how on earth would I use the Leopard Install DVD, since that is a DL DVD, right?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Nov 9, 2013 12:27 PM in response to Diogones
    Level 10 (123,670 points)
    Nov 9, 2013 12:27 PM in response to Diogones

    If the Pioneer DVR-106 can't even read DL discs, how on earth would I use the Leopard Install DVD, since that is a DL DVD, right?

    I've read some G5 users have used a SATA BluRay or DVD unit with the proper IDE->SATA adapter.

     

    You could get a Firewire based DVD reader/writer, or if you have another Mac with a good DL Optical drive & Firewire, you could put the other one in FW Target Disk Mode, Install Disc in that one, boot the G5 holding alt key.

  • by Diogones,

    Diogones Diogones Nov 10, 2013 5:29 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 10, 2013 5:29 AM in response to BDAqua

    I've read some G5 users have used a SATA BluRay or DVD unit with the proper IDE->SATA adapter.

     

    You could get a Firewire based DVD reader/writer, or if you have another Mac with a good DL Optical drive & Firewire, you could put the other one in FW Target Disk Mode, Install Disc in that one, boot the G5 holding alt key.

    Well but see BDAqua the previous owners of the G5 had already installed Leopard on it. Wouldn't the original Superdrive have allowed them to install Leopard on this machine? I highly doubt they used Target Disk Mode or an IDE adapter.

  • by BDAqua,Helpful

    BDAqua BDAqua Nov 10, 2013 9:19 AM in response to Diogones
    Level 10 (123,670 points)
    Nov 10, 2013 9:19 AM in response to Diogones

    FW DVDs used to be farly common.