MacBook Pro will not read DVD-R

I have a 17" MacBook Pro, purchased Jan 2007, under AppleCare, but I am not anywhere near an Apple store as I am overseas.

MATSHITADVD-R UJ-85J, Rev FAV1

Sony DVD-R media, both blank and previously burned (with this drive) fail to mount and then are ejected. This happened after upgrading to Leopard with a clean install. The discs work in a UJ-857 in my 15" MBP. The 17" will read other discs just fine and burning CDs works.

Is there a fix for this?

MacBookPro 17, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Aug 28, 2008 3:14 AM

114 replies

Aug 27, 2010 10:04 PM in response to TrygveInda

CLEAN it! It worked for me. Took apart external DVD burner and cleaned it. Now works perfect.

Sep 9, 2010 6:18 AM in response to Community User

where do you buy the cleaning tapes

Saleor

Level 1

0 points

Oct 1, 2010 11:14 PM in response to TrygveInda

Would not read DVD+RW, would read CD and (pressed) DVDs.
Just some pressed dry air fixed my problem.

cydeweyz

Level 1

8 points

Feb 26, 2011 3:38 PM in response to TrygveInda

Used both a brush and brushless cleaning disc and now it works. Thanks for the tips.

Jun 9, 2011 1:57 PM in response to TrygveInda

Took my 15in MBP late 2009 apart becasue i was having the same issue.... used a Q-Tip w a lil rubbing alcohol on the tip and whiped the lens and area around it. Works perfect.... For now....

Oct 22, 2011 4:22 PM in response to TrygveInda

The canned air works for me! odd!

Dennz

Level 1

0 points

Aug 21, 2012 5:26 PM in response to nmondal

No worries 🙂 Happy to help 😉 but be sure to bring it to apple though so that they could clean it properly if there are some areas of the mac which has accumulated dust.

Jun 21, 2013 8:54 PM in response to Dennz

Learned something new tonight. DVD+RW do not need to be finalized in the DVD recorder before playing in the Macbook Pro, however DVD+R must be finalized or else you get the "blank disc" message.

hp777

Level 1

0 points

Sep 17, 2015 6:16 AM in response to TrygveInda

Compressed Air resolved problem on Mac Book Pro that would not read CD's or DVD's just spin them and then eject them.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

MacBook Pro will not read DVD-R