superdrive firmware update 2.1

If the operating system can't recognize the cd drive firmware/hardware, you might see "Could not open device" as a response. If the cd-dvd unit has a problem to the point that the operating system can't communicate with it, that may explain the error. But that's just a guess. Simple_flash may be working fine the way you're trying to run it, but if it can't talk to the cd firmware/hardware itself, there's nothing simple_flash can do. Are you close to an Apple store? Others may have better ideas to give.

Well, I didn't get SimpleFlash to work, but I got my MBP to recognize my drive. I tried a couple of things, but here is the one I think did the trick: I read here (http://www.maclife.com/forums/topic/104551) about a problem with a loose connection. The suggestion was to press down on the < and > keys at the same time because that is where the potentially loose connector is. Maybe a coincidence but I am ripping a DVD right now!

This SimpleFlash worked great. My macbook pro was a couple months out of the one year warranty and i was about to break down and buy the new drive from a apple reseller in my area. One last quick search on here and i find this, because i never liked what i was hearing from the reseller.

He told me it would be about 350 a new drive from apple plus tax and then another 85 on top of that for them to install it, but he did try and give me another option which i appreciated which was a source online where the drive could have been purchased for 150. I was lucky to find this, my drive hasnt been working since late '07 and just yesterday i was in best buy and almost bought an external writer.

So whoever Ben11 is i want to thank him for saving me a bunch of money.