DVD Not Recognized

Doesn't seem to be a big connection between yours and mine at least...

MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857D:

Firmware Revision: KCVB
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL
Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Media: No

Purchased retail version tonight from the Apple Store Glasgow. My iMac spits disc out, but loads fine in my new iMac. Whats the problem?

For now, I'm trying to clone the install disk using diskutility. If the MacFixit clone-to-external-HD plan works, you'd think a direct clone of the DVD would. We shall see.

In the past I've had success installing to a Mac in target disk mode. Specifically, I had misplaced my Tiger install disk, and had to reinstall the system on my G4 12" powerbook. I COULD find the install disks that came with my G5 iMac, but they cleverly realized the pbook was no iMac, and wouldn't let me install. I target-disked the pbook, booted my G5 iMac from it, and installed. Worked fine.

I can't do this now: Presumably I'd wind up with an Intel MacBook with a PPC install. I could try the same thing with my Father-in-law's MacPro. Still, there may be machine-specific aspects of the installation I'd lose out on.

My original release MacBook Pro spits out the disk. I have a G5 Dual PowerMac and it installed on that machine but freezes the finder. Apparently this product has been released too soon.

I do have a question for MacBook Pro users. When you start up your MacBook Pro do you get an error about not being able to find a drive to upgrade firmware? I've gotten this error on every boot up since the last OS upgrade I installed.

I'm going to purchase a DVD cleaning disk to see if that helps. Otherwise I just spent $200 on an incomplete piece of software.

I do have the same problem with my first-gen MacBook Pro. In the past, it failed to read some audio CDs and movie DVDs... but never computer discs!

The solution turned out to be easier than I thought.

I put the installer DVD into my old ppc powerbook. I then rebooted it in firewire mode by holding down the T key as it booted, and hooked it up to the MBP. At that point the mounted DVD on the old PPC powerbook was available on the MBP and I was able to use it to install.

I'm in Leopard now and all is - so far - well...

What a trip. :/

I'm on a 1.25 Ghz. Mac Mini (512 MB RAM, 40 Gig drive) with a Superdrive and the disc will not mount on the desktop in 10.4.10 Tiger, nor will the machine reboot from the Leopard CD on restart with the C-key pressed. I just ran a hardware test from my original Panther CD that came with my mini and all systems were go, no problems. All that happens when the Leopard DVD is inserted in my machine is it makes some minor noises (doesn't even really sound like it's reading) and spit the DVD back out. Inserting the Panther or Tiger discs that came with my mini, both load fine.

I'm beginning to wonder if it's not somehow related to the Superdrive option (or Superdrive-equipped Macs in general, regardless of drive brand) as many of the machines people are mentioning using are equipped with a form of Superdrive. iMac's, Macbooks, and the like aren't likely to all ship with the same model of drive but many of them either came default or optionally with a Superdrive. Anyone want to do a roll-call to confirm whether or not they have a Superdrive in their machine to see if it helps narrow this problem down for Apple?!? My Mac mini has a Superdrive so I'll list myself as present.

For the record... my Superdrive info. is as-follows:

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-835F
Revision GGND

I just tested the disc that would not mount on my Mini in my father's Mini that is virtually identical to mine (same hard drive, same RAM, same processor) with exception to drive (his machine has the default Combo drive that came with the 1.25 Ghz. G4 mini) and it mounts fine. It sort of lends credence to what I'm thinking could be part of the problem in that there's a Superdrive issue with Leopard CD's, at least for part of them.

Perhaps Apple needs to usher a Firmware or driver update for owners of Superdrive equipped machines attempting to install Leopard?

I checked the install disc on a PC. Why the heck it shows only BootCamp files. The drive is labeled as BootCamp and upon exploring it shows documentation folder (does not have any English doc folder), driver folder, autorun, Bootcamp installation pdf, a word file (saying that This disc is for bootcamp only installation on Intel systems) and SetUp. No mention of Leopard or any associated file or at least an installation pdf. What the heck? How is that possible. At least some mention should be there. I guess that could be the problem that the disc contain only bootcamp and so it does not load.

iPoodOverZune:

The reason it's not showing the OS X parts of the disc is because you're trying to view it on a Windows PC. Mac discs won't mount/appear on Windows machines because Windows can not read HFS+ formatted discs without an additional utility.

The reason the Bootcamp pieces show up is simple... there's parts that might be necessary to be installed on a Post-installation Bootcamp-equipped Windows install AFTER it's installed. You can make CD's with multiple sessions, some Mac formatted and some Windows formatted.

Unbelievable! That's the funniest fix I've ever read, but...it works!!!

I've had the same problem today - the Leopard DVD would just be ejected on my MBP 15", even though other DVDs were fine. I followed your advice and the DVD mounted straight away. It's verifying it right now...looking good so far.

Thank you VERY much for taking the time to post your fix.

Cheers
Pete

Im having this exact same problem (MacBookPro 1.83), which is very frustrating after having stood on line for quite a while at 6 pm last night to get Leopard.

Has anyone been able to get in touch with Apple to ask about a solution? This thread is one of the longest/most read ones on the Leopard "Installation and Setup" forum, so hopefully Apple is monitoring and trying to figure out what the problem is.

I was on the phone for over an hour last night with an Apple tech. He had me try all sorts of solutions and none of them worked. He finally had to admit he was completely stumped on the matter. The only thing he said I could try would be to put my MacBook Pro in target disk mode through my girlfriend's G4 Mini (Which reads the dvd just fine) and install it through there. Or take the dvd back for a replacement.

I have the same problem with my MacBook (bought in June). In fact it won't mount any CDs anymore! I didn't have a problem with that until I bought Leopard.

Identical issue - family pack - installed on my Imac - no issue. Macbook pro will recognize DVD through to the install Mac OS X - double click icon - restarts - spits out the cd and boots into Tiger. Very depressing.

Same issue. Bought the Family Pack, installation ran fine on my ibook G4. Our PowerMac G5 won't recognize the disk. Just attempts to read it, then spits it out.