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

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...

The same solution worked for me in about 30 seconds.

The optical drive on my old MacBook Pro 3.1 was just spitting out disks without reading them.

A few blasts of compressed air into the drive slot and now it's working again.

Prior to trying that, I had called Apple Support and was on the phone with them for about 40 minutes, but the support guy never even suggested that it could be just a dirty laser.

He said to remove the battery and other things I totally could not understand how they could relate to the optical drive.

Eventually he said it's just old hardware and must be taken in for a repair.

Glad I then turned to the internet and found the compressed air solution.

Sometimes self help is the best.

Just wanted to say thanks for posting this! I was about to take my computer to an Apple repair store or buy the SuperDrive for $80 online when I read your post. I ran the repair and my drive is up and running! Thanks for taking the time to write your post - you saved me money!

Y'all this really can help those of you who recently updated to OSX.

1. Open Disk Utilites

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

3. Click on the *Repoir Disk Permissions* button

I can't believe how many issues Apple has with these drives and they are mute about it. I bought my MacBook Pro in 2006, and to date I have been through 5 batteries, and a dozen sessions in a store or online to fix various problems. Now, about 8 months ago, I started having problems with the  drive not reading, fumbling with, and ejecting every single disk i put in, except for a few store-bought DVD movies. I did read in one of the 3,500 comments about this problem (the few comments I found, I'm sure there's more...) that if you follow a simple PRAM reset, it will fix the problem. For me, I tried and it didn't fix it, though I could get one or two more of my manufactured DVD's to work than before the reset.

I decided to fiddle with the prescribed solution. The recipe for PRAM reset as prescribed by Apple Care is:

1.) Turn off your compooter.

2.) Press Option, Command and R simultaneously. Hold until the process requires release of all keys.

3.) Press the power button to turn on your compooter, and immediately press and hold the P button. Now, you have 4 keys pressed...

4.) Wait for the chime to sound twice, then release the 4 keys.

5.) Wait for reboot, and insert your DVD. It should work.

In theory (Apple Care's fix-all infinite source of hypothetical knowledge) this will fix the entire problem, lickety split. Hmm.

When it doesn't work as prescribed, on the numerous attempts over the last 7 or 8 months, I decided to try something else earlier tonight. I held those 4 keys down until it chimed 5 times, then let go. The very next DVD I put in worked like the day I bought it. The next time I put another DVD in, it didn't work again. I repeated my new method AGAIN. It has worked seamlessly, without problem ever since. Every single DVD that i put in, whether burned or manufactured, CD or DVD, ROM, RAM, Rheem RUM... doesn't matter. It works.

Questiion is, Why does it work when nothing else worked?

The compressed air thing only works when the problem begins. Later on you'll have to start doing all sorts of other things that will work, each one progressively a little more involved. Replacing the drive will be the last thing you will do, then you'll have a few years of trouble free operation before you have to start all over again, first with compressed air, then the disk utilities trick. the the PRAM RESET, then other tricks listed here until you have to replace it AGAIN.

At least it's not like the battery which I've had to replace 5 times, out of pocket cuz Apple won't replace it and won't respond to my questions about the reimbursement they are supposed to be doing when your battery goes out in a month or two or six. It's automatic replacement on the battery. But, at least you can get them for $26 now online.

Same problem here on a 2011 13" MBP. I tried nearly everything listed on this forum, including the microfiber/card trick. What eventually ended up working was lightly spraying eyeglass cleaning solution on the DVD, and then very gently wiping it with my finger to evenly coat the DVD before I inserted it. Sounds dangerous, but I tried a few different discs afterward and everything's working great now. Go figure.

I tried so many things - repair permissions, couldn't use start up disk as it would not stay in long enough, tried restarting and holding track pad to do an emergency eject in case old disc was in the drive....and on and on it goes...then about to give up...i tried resetting SMC...and to my shock and surprise IT WORKED!!!! So if you have not tried that already give it a shot. Best of luck!!!!