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

Wicked Magpie,

How old is your Mac? Visit macsales.com to see if the optical drive can be replaced. It would cost about $75 and an hour of your time.

I've removed countless puzzle pieces from my 2007 optical drive and the "credit card with cloth" trick worked for me.

Good luck,

Ira

I had this same problem on a 2008 macbook pro. I would insert a DVD and it would spin for 30 seconds or so, and then eject.

This is what fixed it for me: Radio Shack DVD Laser Lens Cleaner.

I cannot say if it will work for you, but it worked for me and hopefully this will be of some help to someone.

Ira & Plank, thank you for trying to help. I don't have the $75 to replace it right now unfortunately. Plank, I'll try the Radio Shack DVD cleaner. I'm just so upset because every penny I had went into this computer and I really need it for work. I am self employed and we are paying off my husband's medical debt. A ton of money. I can't afford to get it fixed and I work approximately 12 to 14 hours a day so it would really pinch to have to take it in. It's a desk top too, and the thought of lugging it down my stairs is unappealing! It's only a bit over 2 years old, and I have an expectation that it should work.

Oh well. Thanks though! I'll keep my fingers crossed that your suggestion will work Plank. I'll post whether it does or not.

I've been experiencing the same problem. Read a post on this thread by Coyote Moon, I tried it and it worked for. Simply wrap a fibercloth or similar cloth around a credit card, insert in the superdrive slot, it must clean the heads or some sensors. I noticed that when I pulled the cloth wrapped card out of the slot, there was quite a bit of dust on it. Inmediately my superdrive started working again.

Tried it using an envelope and alcohol lens cloth. Worked like a charm

Can you specify what you mean here? Did you dampen a lens cloth with a little alcohol and then use an envelope to push it around inside the drive?

I have taken a CD that didn't work, cleaned it with some rubbing alcohol, and then put it back in and have gotten the drive to work, but if my drive gets more buggy, I'm wondering if I should try what you did. Just wanted to be sure I do it the same way. Thanks.

Same problem here.. Noway to fix this huh?

facing the same issue. using OSX 10.9.2

Its only been a month since i bought my macbook pro

I had the same issue. In a much earlier post it was suggested there may be a PERMISSIONS issue. Here are the directions they included in that write-up:

1. Open Disk Utilites

2. Click on your Hard drive partition "Macintosh (or what ever you renamed yours too)"

3. Click on the *Repair Disk Permissions* button

It took about 10 minutes or so but it did correct my issue and both DVD's and CD's seem to be functioning in my drive.

Hope this helps

UPDATE: The drive stopped reading DVD's again. I guess it didn't help. Next step is to try a cleaning disc. 😟

I have a Mid 2010 Mac Mini and have had he same issue. I read about dust being an issue so I took a pipe cleaner and inserted it through the slot drive and carefully moved it in and out from left to right and back again. It worked!

Would you mind explaining your solution in plain, easy-to-understand, language? I am computer literate but do not have a clue as to what you're saying here. Is it possible to offer it up Step-by-Step?

Thanks so much... susan

Hi Brown Eyed Girl,

Try the steps outline in this article, which references back to this long and old thread.

http://www.tuaw.com/2014/02/11/use-this-clever-way-to-clean-a-macs-superdrive/

Regards,

Ira

THIS WORKED! I gave up on my optical drive a couple years ago! This totally did it! THANK YOU SO MUCH RWARWA!!! You might be surprised reading this 3 years after your post. 😝

What did you do? I think I've tried everything in this thread with no luck :(

I wrapped a debit card with a microfiber cloth. I turned the laptop off and shoved the wrapped card in the drive slot. I did several passes, as far as the card could go. I was a bit cautious, but not gentle. :p When I turned it on I popped a DVD in there and it played! Along with CDs. Hope this helps!