HT2285: iMac (Slot Loading): Troubleshooting CD/DVD Eject Failures

Learn about iMac (Slot Loading): Troubleshooting CD/DVD Eject Failures
josephfromtuscaloosa
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: CDR's will not load

CDR's will not load. When I insert CDR into slot, it attempts to read but then ejects.

Tried using mulitple CDR's. DVD's seem to work fine. Thanks for any suggestions.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Nov 19, 2013 3:10 PM

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josephfromtuscaloosa

Q: CDR's will not load

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  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Nov 20, 2013 2:59 AM in response to josephfromtuscaloosa
    Level 8 (39,263 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 20, 2013 2:59 AM in response to josephfromtuscaloosa

    Are these CDRs that have been "finalized" (burned with data), or blank CDRs?

     

    Try opening System Preferences CDs & DVDs pane.  Where it says, When you insert a blank CD, change the setting to Ignore.  (If it is currently set to Ignore, change it to something else.)  With the Ignore setting, the disc should be "ignored" when inserted, so it should not be ejected.  Does this work?

     

    If it works, try setting it back to the original setting, to see if there is any change regarding this problem.

     

    NOTE:  If these are CDRs that have been burned as music CDs, do the above for the setting When you insert a music CD.

     

    Actually, are these blank CDRs?  If so, are you inserting the disc when prompted by the application that will burn the disc?

  • by josephfromtuscaloosa,

    josephfromtuscaloosa josephfromtuscaloosa Nov 20, 2013 3:15 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 20, 2013 3:15 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    The CDR's have photos on them. Some are photos I downloaded at department stores and others are CDR's I downloading at home. I opened System Preferences and changed setting to ignore and it still ejects CDR.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Nov 20, 2013 3:24 AM in response to josephfromtuscaloosa
    Level 8 (39,263 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 20, 2013 3:24 AM in response to josephfromtuscaloosa

    Since this problem occurred, have you shut down (powered off) the iMac (not just a restart)?  Sometimes, the hardware needs to be "reset" by powering off.

     

    What happens when you insert a commercial music CD, or a software installation disc (that is CD and not a DVD)?  You said DVDs were OK.  How about a CD that is not a CDR?

  • by josephfromtuscaloosa,

    josephfromtuscaloosa josephfromtuscaloosa Nov 20, 2013 2:34 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 20, 2013 2:34 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    First, let me say thanks for your help. Yes, I shut the computer down (powered off)  and no change. I inserted two commerical music CD's and they will not load. I inserted a commerical movie DVD and it played and also a home made movie DVD and it played. I dont have any system disc's to insert.

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Nov 20, 2013 4:10 PM in response to josephfromtuscaloosa
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Nov 20, 2013 4:10 PM in response to josephfromtuscaloosa

    Reset the NVRAM/PRAM and Reset the SMC, then try again. If still no go, get a laser lens cieaner disc and clean the lenses.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Nov 20, 2013 6:03 PM in response to josephfromtuscaloosa
    Level 8 (39,263 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 20, 2013 6:03 PM in response to josephfromtuscaloosa

    I believe there are different lasers in the drive for CD and DVD.  Since it does not work for any type of CD media, and it seems to work for DVD media, I think there is either a physical problem with the drive the prevents CDs from being read, or there is an accumulation of dust in the drive that is causing the problem with CDs.

     

    There seem to be methods and products for cleaning an optical drive, if you do an Internet search on something like "clean optical drive."  I have not had a need to try any of them myself.