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

I think I've tried everything too. The debit card/microfiber trick and repairing permissions. Still broken. I have an iMac desktop (from 2010 I think) that has a brandy spankin' new hard drive so I don't think it ever had anything to do with permissions. One last thing I'll try is blowing it out with the compressed air but I don't have much hope.

Sorry nothing has worked for you. Not to bring you down, I had originally tried the compressed air trick without success. Though we are running two different machines. I have a MacBook Pro 17" (Early 2009). Hope goes out to it working. If you haven't tried already; buy a cleaning disk for the Superdrive. Or a soft pipe cleaner from a crafts store. Maybe the credit card microfiber cloth trick wasn't executed well. Seriously, these are made up attempts of fixing "advanced" pieces of hardware. There's no guarantee we're doing it right. 😝

Good luck!

Yeah, this is a new issue now for me (I see it's not generally a "new" issue for many) Same issue out of nowhere, popped in a Roxio DVD to install the program...sits there for 15-20 seconds and spits the DVD out. (It's a brand new disc I just bought today, it's not scratched or dirty.)

I just tried other CDs/DVDs and mostly the same issue. But I did have a few that worked however and the CD icon appeared on my desktop.

Aggravating, I wanted to try this program. My guess the only option for the time being is to copy the DVD contents to my portable external harddrive, use that to install the program - Same goes for other CDs where I have 1000s of photos backed up. Time consuming sure..only thing I can think of now.

I haven't tried this credit card cleaning solution, I'm a little hesitant to attempt that.

*Edit - This is a mid 2010 iMac

I was afraid to try the credit card trick, too, Mr. Hoagie. But it works great. I just do it carefully and I don't even have to stick it very far in.

One thing you can try first if you don't want to go as far as the credit card is to take a disc that the computer has rejected and wipe some rubbing alcohol over it with a soft cloth. Let it dry (just takes a second), then put it back in the drive.

Same problem here. Purchased my macbook pro in August 2012...drive stopped working a week after my one-year warranty expired--how convenient. Have not been able to use the drive since (August 2013). Please let me know if anyone finds any different solutions (other than disc clean, etc.). I shall be headed back to PC once this computer finally totally fails (which I do not expect to be too long from now). I have already had many things replaced!

I am also having the same problem, especially after upgrading to Mavericks. I have tried so far:

1) Resetting SMC and PRAM

2) Credit card trick

3) Proper disc cleaner

4) Deleting the com.apple.finder.plist and .lockfile

5) Deleting the CD Info.cdib

6) OnyX

It seems like the drive works with another operating system. What am I missing? I have seen many people complaining about this issue but not a comprehensible solution as yet.

Thanks! Well, it's an improvement. After buying a CD Drive cleaner and ran it..with minimal luck to my surprise. I I tried both tricks..microfiber and a used up gift card. And an alcohol pad on an old CD. It's reading the CDs...somewhat. A few came up as a blank disc "You have inserted a blank CD...etc" The issue is, it's not blank.

But a few other DVDs that did not work before now - especially a few I NEEDED to work now read, I get the icon on the desktop. I have complete access to it. Very happy about that right now.

Thanks again for the quick reply and help.

OMG! So, I have no idea what I did but it was a combination of everything I have read on this thread and now my drive is finally reading all disks again. My disk drive was taking the disk, would make a few low clunky noises, stop, make the noise again and then spit out the disk. I reset the computer, did the PRam stuff, First Aid, and, inserted a bank card with a cloth wraped around it and precariously wiggled it around but to no avail! I blew in it eventually and the disk drive wouldnt even take the disk after that... I was doomed! I restarted a few more times and had remembered a post I had read a while back saying it may be due to how level your mac is when inserting the disk. (I was in bed when attempting all of the above) I put it level and forced the disk in a couple more times and ended up getting fustraited and kept wiggling, forcefully, the disk in and out. it finally took it and played. it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. I'm putting it down to repitition.

Just keep trying to put the disk in until it will finally accepts it!

Problem came back about a week ago, CD/DVD churning and then would spit it out. I tried the PRAM reset, the credit card/microfiber cloth trick again..other things, nothing.

After trying to burn a CD yesterday with errors..from the "try burning at a lowr speed" to something about the laser itself, I gave up, pretty frustrated. Ended up buying an external drive, very slim tiny LG (and in Mac Silver). I didn't realize they dropped in price so much! (I paid $49.99, but this model is cheaper online)

I can use this for my laptop as well so it's not a waste of $. I did buy a new CD drive cleaner...ran that a few times in the iMac. No luck.

worked like a charm! thank you!

I've been looking for a solution to this problem and before stumbling across this post I read that if you put your macbook on its side whilst inserting the disc then it will read ok. Not sure how true this is as i'm going to try it when i get home but lots of people reported that this worked for them for whatever reason.

had this problem and fixed it by turning the Firewall off in System settings.

The point Laundry Bleach is making, though, is that right here are fewer than 100 complainants about theCD/DVD-drive problem, among all the hundreds of thousands, or millions of Macs and MacBooks out there as of 2009.

Of course not everyone with a similar drive failure has posted here.

As rediculous as this sounds... IT WORKED FOR ME!

Same problem, any disk goes in, does some mechanical noises then spits out the disk.

I held my mac in the air on its side... cd drive facing the ceiling to avoid the disk falling out if ejected. Shook it gently and it was able to read it!

The disk I needed to use was a Windows 7 install disk for Boot Camp setup.

I have a 27" iMac that is 4 yrs. old and have been having this problem off and on for the last 2 yrs. Of course, AFTER the warranty expired! Bought it refurbished and it is the only problem I have had with it beyond a keyboard problem that was replaced within the first month of purchasing. My work version started to have other issues and when I took it for repairs they were covered because it was a glitch. This does not seem to be the case from everything I have read here. Disk Utilities did not help. Cannot afford to drop $300 for this so, if nothing else works I will look to external drive options. It seems ridiculous that such a wonderful and EXPENSE machine that just sits on my desk could have such a costly problem from so many people. It is too ramped to be a random glitch type problem. It makes me sad that Apple doesn't have an inexpensive fit for this or that they aren't willing to own up to the problem. If it were a car they would! But not like any of our lives are at risk here so...