Drive won't read any dvd-ejects it automatically after spinning some time

Same here, adding myself to the list. If there is a software or permission solution, that would be awesome, really do not feel like making an appointment with the kiddy desk and losing my work machine for a week, just so I can install snow leopard.

looks like i am having this issue as well. Trying to install SL. Great.

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N:

Firmware Revision: AP09
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds

Comments to the contrary notwithstanding, I'm not convinced this is simply a bad batch of parts (after all, there are so many different optical drives and regional settings mentioned in this thread) we're dealing with here. I'm more and more convinced all our problems stem from some update that lowered the tolerance threshold for read and/or write errors on our optical drives, rendering them useless over a shorter or longer period of time, depending on the use made of the drive. Some power users may have experienced this problem early on and taken action, ie turned to AppleCare when they still could.

Average users probably never saw it coming, and found themselves at a loss when their drive suddenly stopped functioning altogether. That was my case: I didn't have to use my optical drive for several weeks, and when I had to, well, it was gone...

The same goes for iPhone screens shattering and iPods overheating: bad batch or bad design, it doesn't matter ; Apple is the manufacturer of record for these items, and should take responsability, no matter what. I was tempted to buy an iPhone, but now I don't know... The new Nokia N900 looks good...

Bottom line is, there are more and more people frustrated at their hardware not working as it should, and Apple isn't doing much to assuage their mounting dispair...

Same problem here. OK with CDs, spits out DVDs.

Hates them all: blanks, movies, install disks.

Tried resets (SMC, PRAM), permissions repair, holding upside down.

Frustrating to say the least.

--

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N:

Firmware Revision: AP09
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds

Turned on my MacBook Pro yesterday after not using the machine for a couple of months to discover I am unable to read any CD or DVD media at all. Neither pre-recorded commercial CD or DVDs will read, or CD-R or DVD-R or blank media.. Nothing! Nada! The MacBook Pro DVD Drive spins the discs and simply spits them out!

I've been scanning Google search and discovered thousands upon thousands of other users have experienced similar problems after undergoing an Apple Update and I too performed an Apple Update last night 29/08/09 which also included an Apple Security Update which seems to have caused this problem..

MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-867:

Firmware Revision: HA13
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds

Hasn't anybody found a proper fix for this issue?

I've tried resets (SMC, PRAM), permissions repair, and tapping top of the MacBook pro casing when disc is inserted) but none of these have fixed or cured the problem so the problem persists - the MacBook Pro *MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-867* drive won't read any CD or DVD disc media - just spits the discs out!

So add me to the list..

Would love to find a fix for this annoying issue..

I have now tried all of these with no success as well:
Resets (SMC, PRAM), permissions repair, and tapping top of the MacBook pro casing when disc is inserted)

I was having the same problem, and my drive was even making some very unpleasant sounds when trying to mount the drive. What worked for me (warning: this will void your warranty, and not recommended for those who are nervous about removing nearly 30, tiny screws) was taking my Macbook apart, and ensuring that the ribbon cable to the optical drive was well seated. In fact, I removed the optical drive, and removed its top case as well for good measure. I used a can of compressed air to clean the interior, including the optical element. With the top cover of the optical drive off, I tested the mechanism to ensure nothing was sticking.

When I was done, I reassembled the optical drive and keyboard, and power cable (only parts stopping the computer from working at this stage) and carefully verified that the drive had begun working (to my amazement, it was!). I shut down the computer, and reassembled my MacBook completely.

I write this now with OS X Snow Leopard successfully mounted on my desktop.

Note: For those comfortable taking the MacBook apart and who want to try this out, the ifixit guide (www.ifixit.com) came in extremely handy for the take apart, put back together process:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/MacBook-Pro-15-Inch-Core-Duo-Optical-Drive-Re placement/489/1

followed by:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Jammed-Optical-Drives/772/1

If you find that your optical drive isn't working once you reassemble your optical drive and data/power cable, your keyboard cable and your power cable (be very careful operating your mac in this state!) you can simply shut it down, and, assuming you have a spare ready, install your new replacement drive you obtained from an auction site, etc.

Been having the same problem that everyone else on the prior 12 pages have had - on my Early 2008 MBP with a HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N. It recognizes CD's, but spits out DVD's. After repairing permissions 5 million times, resetting my PMU, cleaning the drive, I was able to borrow TWO external superdrives through work... and both of these have the exact same problem as my internal drive...I am totally at a loss at this point in time.

I did the same with my MacbookPro Unibody 15"... The thing is I bought Snow Leopard on Friday and it was impossible to mount the DVD (Works more or less fine with others DVD). I tested too the SL DVD on another Macbook in AppleStore... mounted perfecly.

So I decide to clean (I can't think to be without cumputer and send it to Repair :(), removing each part like into the iFixit guide... but without success. My Optical drive is still not working 😟

But I got an other issue... now when I try to shutdown my computer (shutdown, or close the screen to put it in sleep)... it automaticaly reboot.
And if I keep it close... it's doing a loop a rebooting.

Did I touch something bad near the optical drive? There is the Swith on/off button near the drive so...
The funny thing is after this problem... I remove again my optical drive to see if I forget something... and for 3 hours I have been able to shut it down. But then like magic... (Maybe some move) can't shutdown.

What can I do to repair this?

I have the same problem:-
MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857E:
Firmware Revision: ZA0E

Reads and rips CDs, wont recognize DVDs, including my brand new Snow Leopard disk. This is not the annoying thing though. The thing that really p*sses me off is the fact that I have had my Superdrive replaced twice already under warranty, and more frustrating still, I don't think I have actually read a DVD since I had it back last time, which was maybe 6 months ago. I read DVDs maybe twice a year, and only for hardware stuff.

I really, really would like to have the *€~|&%$* thing working though. It's not like I can drive down the road for 15 minutes and drop the machine into my local repairer. No, I live up a hill out in the sticky I have to take half a day off and drive for 45 minutes (if I'm really lucky) to find my local service centre or wait for courier pickup.

Not happy at all.

Adding mine to the list...

3 year old Model GSA-S10N. Would burn and read CDs, would only read commercial DVDs and just spit blank DVDs out. The compressed air trick worked after the second try. Ordered a replacement from fastmac.com - turns out it's also a GSA-S10N... It'll just sit until the current one goes out on me again.

Went to install Snow Leopard today. I haven't used the drive since the last OS X upgrade. Found that I am having the same problem in a MacBook Pro that has just passed its warranty date. Tried all of the suggestions in this forum to no avail. Insert any disk. Drive spins a few times and spits it out.

MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857:

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

I got the Snow Leopard DVD today, and it gets ejected after 1 minute and 8 seconds.
When I try to burn DVD´s I get the dreaded "The device failed to calibrate the laser power level for this media" error.
It will not read any movie DVD or burn anything, but it can read a normal music CD (tried just now with a 22 Pistepirrko CD).
I haven´t tried much to fix this yet except the "voodoo trick" described here: http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=77414
But this didn´t do the trick for me. Tomorrow I´ll by a can of compressed air and see if it helps to blow compressed air into the superdrive slot.
Details on my mac:

System Version: Mac OS X 10.5.8 (9L30)
Model Name: MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook2,1
MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857D:
Firmware Revision: KBVB
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW

I have had the same problem with my Wife's 13" MacBook (2008) plastic. We noticed the DVD problem (DVD's not mounting) right when we got it and took it took it back to the apple store. They said it was something with the DVD drive and loaded VLP to view DVD's with. Problem Solved? Apparently NOT. I guess I am relieved that other people are having the same problem. Time for Apple to solve it.

Cleaning the drive with some compressed air and I was able to get SL installed on Saturday. Haven't tried burning any disks though.