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

Almost the same for me (they'd already replaced the logic board last summer...): it took only two weeks for them to send my MBP back with a new (I suppose) SuperDrive that can now read and burn. I'd rather it does that than "crash and burn"...

Maybe they refurbish the moderately damaged optical drives and put them back in the circuit, I don't know. I think I noticed some changes in the technical specs, but I'm not sure.

(Scratch that, I just checked and I now have a Matshita UJ-857G unit in lieu of a UJ-857; does the G stand for "Glitch-free"...?)

Ah, good point.

I just checked System Profiler and I can see they replaced my old drive with a new one with the exact same specs:

Model: HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N
Revision: AP09

Aside from the serial number, the rest of the specs are identical.

My machine is having the same issue, it is ridiculous! I have just rang apple for support and got taken through the token -
"switch off, remove battery, hold power button for 10 seconds, replace batter try it now, then try repairing disc permissions"
+Thats the apple equivalent of the famous way to resolve a PC problem, 'Format C drive and reinstall windows!'+
Anyway, outcome is its Physically damaged so i need to have the machine repaired, i was advised to take it into my nearest apple store and they can tell me the likely cost! Just out of warrenty you see! I explained to the adviser at apple the following:

Application DVD's - Work fine
Games DVD's - Work fine
DVD Movies - Work fine
Audio CD's - Work fine
Burnt CD ROMS - Work fine
Blanks CD ROMS - Work fine
Burnt DVD-R - FAULT - drive spins up for 30seconds then ejects
Blank DVD-R - FAULT - drive spins up for 30seconds then ejects
Burnt DVD+RW - existing content cant be viewed, but DVD can be used to burn, writing over existing content i assume.
Blank DVD+R - Not tested

This issue has only arrisen recently, and with most forms of media working ok, i dont understand how this can be a hardware damage. Annoyed really, dont know what to do about it, i refuse to pay for a repair when it is clear from the forums accross the whole internet that there are thousand suffering from this issue! The guy on the phone said he had never heard of such a problem before. . . . Whats going on?

Your problem could very well stem from a recent update setting narrower tolerances on the optical drive: with the drive becoming less tolerant to dust or dirt on the laser lens, you can get error messages or sheer malfunction. I have expressed my doubts as to how recent Security Updates may have impacted optical drives. I've been more or less laughed at by some people here who claim this has nothing to do with that. I'm still not convinced. Call me stubborn...

Mine reads everything except several commercial CDs, which are in perfect condition and have worked well before. I haven't used them for at least a month so I can't be sure when the problems began, but I am nearly certain that this is not a hardware issue in my case.

What can I say that won't be "<Edited by Host>"...?

I'll stick to my guns here: somehow, recent updates to OSX may have ruined some optical drives, without Apple acknowledging it in any way, nor investigating it, it seems.

I don't know what troubles me most...

its saddening really..seeing how much of a mac fan i've grown since my 1st MBP 😟 been having the same problem and my APP care is only 5-6 months out only.. sigh
i've posted my problem on a separate page as well rather than flooding it here..
so i guess it wasn't really my only problem..
a lot of others also faced the same problem as i do since the latest update

I tried Ryan's solution. It didn't work. However I did verify permissions of the hard drive assuming those permissions would work for the MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-846 in my MacBook Pro. I (still) get no response, not even an icon appearing on the screen.

My problem may be different. In March I wanted to make a photo CD for one of my son's and couldn't insert the CD-R. I contacted CoreCare in Sacramento, an authorized Apple repair and upgrade dealer. I took the MBP in and they discovered the optical drive was blocked by the dust flap. As a result, the top case had snapped as, they thought, a result of a manufacturing defect. They suggested I phone Apple Care to find out if they'd cover the replacement cost. I did and, first spoke to a customer service rep who, after a informed and pleasant discussion, transferred me to a technician. He was equally helpful and said he'd talk directly to CoreCare and come to a solution. Within 15 minutes I got a call from CoreCare saying Apple had authorized a replacement optical drive at no expense to me. I've had three experiences with CoreCare - including one on our aging PowerMac G4 that we still use to run an older version of PhotoShop. Each event has been better than excellent. Apple, too, was prompt, professional, and responsive.

Having said that, I'm frustrated that, while I can play music CDs and movie DVDs with the new optical drive, I can't get the MBP to recognize a blank CD I'm trying to use to copy pictures of a granddaughter's grammar school graduation. I'll call CoreCare Monday and see what they say. If necessary I'll also call Apple.

As an aside, I'm finding Disk Utility to be not very clear or helpful. When I follow (I think) the instructions from Apple Help, nothing works. I'm a bit embarrassed to to say I can't format the blank disk.

Here's a follow-up that produced a solution. It worked on a CD-R and I expect it will work as easily on a DVD. I did a Google search on this query: "formating a blank cd-r disk in Mac OS 10.4.x." Not surprisingly, two support.apple.com articles appeared in the Google list.The first article is "Mac OS X: About burning data onto CDs" at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1328.

The second article is" Mac OS 10.2, 10.3: "You put in a blank disc, but it doesn't appear" at http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22349?viewlocale=en_US. In the case of this article's recommendation, I followed the three steps at the bottom of the page; specifically I chose "open finder" as the default setting in the first two pop-up menus.

The blank CD-R then appears as an icon at the far left column in the finder as "Untitled C...." with the Burn symbol just to the right. Then I dragged the "graduation photos" folder," which I had previously placed on the Desktop, onto the finder CD icon. A pop-up's appeared (Burn speed) and I ended up with a complete CD in no time at all.

I hope this is helpful to each of you struggling with this issue. There's more info and detail in the two articles than I've mentioned.

Also, not to offend Apple, but I found the answer instantly through a Google search rather than, for me, the more laborious process of trying several alternative queries in the Apple search bar. Could be that I'm not a good "query writer" but Google was impressive.

You're right, of course. I certainly don't want this thread or any other to be locked or deleted by "Host"... I'll keep my comments to myself from now on.

I'm having the exact same problem. It's driving me crazy. I can't get any information off of my HDD. I've tried the disc clear and it spins and spits it back out.

(Keeping mum)

I've had this problem recently as well. But its really random when it happens. I could put in a DVD/CVD that I burned and it would work, then I would try a brand new movie DVD, and it wouldn't recognize it. And then five minutes later it would be the other way around, or no recognition at all. This is really frustrating. Apple, please help.

Just to summarize this thread: here is what has been recommended to others facing this issue:

- if you are still covered under AppleCare, make an appointment with the Genius Bar at an Apple Store or take it into an Authorized Apple retailer. They will be able to diagnose the problem and replace the drive if need be. When I took my MBP in for a combination of this issue and the NDVIDIA issue, it only took about 2-3 business days before I had my computer repaired and overnighted back to my door step free of charge. It's a pain, but definitely worth it to take advantage of your warranty while you still can. If you can't be without a computer for a few days, you can buy a mini for $600, use it while your computer is in the repair shop, and then return it within two weeks for a 10% restocking fee. $60 is a small price to pay for a loaner mac. Time Machine works great to restore an image of your computer to this new temporary machine (just make sure the mini hard drive is large enough for your files!).

- if you are not covered under AppleCare, you may want to try a CD cleaning system. Read above for some suggestions. This may cost you $10 - $15, and may or may not, but it has helped a few people whose problems have stemmed from a dirty lens. Otherwise, you can still make an appointment at the Genius Bar or take your computer in to a repair shop and find out how much it will cost for a new drive. There are plenty of external options that are cheaper, so if you don't use your drive that often (or only from home), definitely explore that option.