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

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Chris Lyons

Q: Superdrive inoperative after Mountain Lion upgrade

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  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 3, 2013 7:39 PM in response to gumsie
    Level 9 (51,281 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 3, 2013 7:39 PM in response to gumsie

    I did not say that it doesn't exist, please don't put words in my mouth, I said it is not widespread, which makes individual attention to the issue more important.

     

    But as it doesn't matter much in your case .......

  • by gumsie,

    gumsie gumsie Jul 3, 2013 7:42 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 4 (2,174 points)
    Jul 3, 2013 7:42 PM in response to Csound1

    Csound1 wrote:

     

    I did not say that it doesn't exist, please don't put words in my mouth, I said it is not widespread, which makes individual attention to the issue more important.

    I did not say that you did say it doesn't exist, but I see the point about it not being widespread.

     

    But as it doesn't matter much in your case .......

    Luckily for me.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 3, 2013 7:46 PM in response to gumsie
    Level 9 (51,281 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 3, 2013 7:46 PM in response to gumsie

    The cause is still to be found in some cases, in others a reinstall of OSX has fixed it, does yours work in Safe Mode?

  • by gumsie,

    gumsie gumsie Jul 3, 2013 7:48 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 4 (2,174 points)
    Jul 3, 2013 7:48 PM in response to Csound1

    Not tried in Safe mode if I'm honest. Next time it misbehaves I'll give it a shot.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 3, 2013 8:05 PM in response to gumsie
    Level 9 (51,281 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 3, 2013 8:05 PM in response to gumsie

    Oh, it's intermittent, that's even more annoying

  • by gumsie,

    gumsie gumsie Jul 3, 2013 8:09 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 4 (2,174 points)
    Jul 3, 2013 8:09 PM in response to Csound1

    Only half as annoying due to the second drive of course. I have booted to safe mode before actually but not checked the drive whilst in that state.

    That said, mine is the original drive with a lot of miles on it. In my particular case it could be hardware on the edge of failing but others have newer drives.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 3, 2013 8:46 PM in response to gumsie
    Level 9 (51,281 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 3, 2013 8:46 PM in response to gumsie

    Post back if/when it happens.

  • by cintra,

    cintra cintra Aug 28, 2014 8:53 AM in response to Chris Lyons
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Aug 28, 2014 8:53 AM in response to Chris Lyons

    This helped me too. Many thanks!

  • by Jebdaddy,

    Jebdaddy Jebdaddy Oct 11, 2014 9:12 AM in response to Chris Lyons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 11, 2014 9:12 AM in response to Chris Lyons

    I had the same problem on my MacBook Pro (unibody late 2008).  I tried PRAM and SMC resets, and deleted the preferences files with no luck so ended up ignoring it for years, just choosing to use an external DVD/CD drive which luckily worked.  Recently I got some family pictures taken and the photographer supplied us with all the originals - I didn't have access to my external drive - so my desire to get this issue fixed on the internal drive was renewed.  I'm pleased to report I got it working like new!  I had read in other posts that disconnecting the internal drive from the mother board, powering up, shutting down, then reconnecting the drive will have it working normally again.  I was weary of doing this, because I didn't want to damage the internal components in the process.  However, with the exception of some stubborn screws, this fixed my problem! Such a relief.

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