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

Hi,

On my HL-DT-ST DVDRW GWA4080MA AE38, I have just the same problems you're talking about. Unfortunetaly my MacBook Pro is out of warranty since 2007.
I hope Apple will recognize the problem to fix our computer

Dave Shepherd wrote:

But as I notice that my drive seems to have a different manufacturer from other drives that exhibit the same problem, I guess I would conclude that it probably is a software problem after all.

Or, alternatively, that it is a physical/environmental issue that affects drives regardless of brand.

Like you I have been using Macs with built in optical drives for a long, long time (ever since the LC520). In the early days , with caddy and tray loaders and the like, it was still common to need to clean the lens from time to time. It became harder to do so when the slot loaders arrived. My first "slot loading" drive was the one in the year 2000 iMac. Ever since then I have been seeing many complaints on these boards about drives "failing" and suggestions of OS problems and the like being the cause. I've never actually had to have a drive replaced, however. When problems have arisen with slot loaders I have simply used a cleaning disc and the problem has been resolved.

I suspect that one thing that may be exacerbating the problem these days is that modern, fast, slot loading DL burners, and densely packed DL discs, are even more susceptible to the slightest spec of dust than their predescessors.

The one area where the OS or drive firmware is likely to be involved involves recognition of the " codes" on discs that are used in the process of setting maximum burn speeds for different media. THis has popped up from time to time over the years , but has usually been resolvable simply using different brands of media. It isn't something that affects the reading of commercial discs and the like, of the kind you identify as part of your own problems.

I hope 10.6.2 corrects it. I find myself surprisingly and unexpectedly bummed out today at the non-operation of my optical drive. There's a lot of things I need to be doing with my computer that I can't because of this problem.

Well, I do too, Dave, for your sake and others suffering from similar "issues", but I don't think it will. If it was simply a general OS problem I'd actually be expecting even more people to be suffering from it. As I've already said, it doesn't affect any of our computers (two of which are MBPs running Snow Leopard 10.6.1), or those of any of my MBP owning, SL running , friends as far as I am aware.

Cheers

Rod

I rarely use my DVD any more, mainly I download software or use flash drives, etc. I have been having this problem with one of my MBP for sometime and have always been able to work around it. I want to upgrade to 10.6, but of course the machine keeps spitting out the DVD.

Does anyone know if it is possible to create an image on an external hard drive and perform the upgrade from that image?

Thanks!

As your computer is out of warranty have you tried using a cleaning disc in it, jordan?

Rod

Maybe an odd question.. anyone with Windows XP/Vista on their Macbook Pro tried using a disc that wont work on OSX?

Plus I seem to have problems with many discs.. but my newly bought OSX Snow Leopard disc just works.

I didn't. But It might help because in january, I was still able to read basics DVD-RW etc, then only commercials DVDs and CDs. Now it simply ejects the CD.
I'll try to buy a cleaning disc.

Thanks Rod

Nope it doesn't work Next saturday there's an apple store openning in Paris, I'll try to talk with a genius.

I have no real evidence but after dealing with this problem for quite sometime now.
I took out the battery, which guess what! was also failing and OMG the DVD DRIVE STARTED WORKING AFTER ALMOST 6 MONTHS OF HAVING THIS ISSUE. I suggest you guys try this just to see if this fixes the issue.

Did the computer manage to actually "see" the cleaning disc, Jordan? Sometimes, if it is too far gone, even it may not be recognisable unfortunately.

Rod

Have the same problem as everyone else, first with DVDs and then normal CDs.
Tried a PRAM and SMU reset today.

Firstly, I did the wrong SMU reset (held power button while I plugged the power chord in) which turns all the fans on full.

iMac had always run pretty hot, with DVDs very hot (when they worked). Mac shot out a load of dustobviously then cooled right down.

*Then 2 previously non-loading discs, DVD and CD both worked.*

As the mac was sounding like a vacuum cleaner, I then did the correct SMU reset (no power button when re-plugging). The DVD that had worked then got spat out. The CD still works.

Been playing with Fan Control utility and iStat widget, checking recommended temperatures etc., but not much joy.

There is clearly a hardware / cooling / power issue.

My Mac is about 3 months out of warranty, so I'm not very happy. Can't read any of my backups at work, having to put them all on a removable hard drive at home (104 DVDs).
COME ON APPLE!!!!!!!! THIS IS NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE!!!!

Nope just like any other CDs it just get in, load and get out :/
I think the superdrive's dead and I should start saving money for a new mac. Mine is getting old and my trackpad doesn't work well too.

I'm very unlucky with macs :O

my superdrive just died on me! my warranty ended a month ago!

I can't believe this!!

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N

AP12

for some reason, CD-Rs work but not DVD-Rs. Commercial DVDs will work after multiple attemps

in this long long list.. here I am!!

Cd's (data) and cd's (Original media contents) works fine.
But the superdrive also still well works when I put in DVD video's of all kind!

No way to read ALL other dvd of any kind of support! All spitted out!
The lens problem is a false problem IMHO.
My two cents: firmware/software corruption!

Apple wake up!!
You get losing clients in this way!

Same thing with the HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N

It never really liked the drive but some months ago it totally stoped working. No mounting... nothing. Can't even install snow leopard.
There is no warranty left, but I think they should change all the drives for free, because so many people do have these problems... if there is something wrong at a car because of a production failure, they also change it. And they should not just replace it with the same product. They need to get a new drive, cause those ones are just not working.

I love my mac, but this is just anoying.