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

Hey There, I have had the same issues. I executed a Power Button burp as well as a PRAM (option, command P+R) sequence. This actually worked a couple of times.
I finally broke down and purchased a CD/DVD cleaner from Maxell. The underside has what looks like a false eyelash stuck to it. iTunes will automatically open and begin to play. You wait till you hear the music and voice and eject the disc. You're good for about 40 cleanings. Disc cost $14.95 at the local CVS. That's about 37 cents per cleaning. Did the job. Drive works great. I'm sure any other brand will work as well

Good luck in these frustrating times.

Peter

My optical drive specs.
HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N:

Firmware Revision: AP09
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media:
Type: DVD-R
ID: RITEKF1
Blank: No
Erasable: No
Overwritable: No
Appendable: No

My MacBook Pro specs
June 2007 15" 2.4 GHz
Model A1226
Intel Core 2 Duo

I got this cleaning DVD kit, but it doesn't start. And I can't get it out. I assume that it is a firmware problem.

I figure I should add my $0.02 as well. I have a MacBook Pro 3,1. AppleCare has expired. It originally had a HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N model SuperDrive, which degraded to the point to where it wouldn't read or burn anything. Replaced it with a new Matshita UJ-867 model SuperDrive that I bought from iFixit, same exact problems. The new drive will at least read a very few commercially-manufactured CDs and DVDs. Unfortunately, my new copy of Office Mac 2011 is not one of them. I'm at my wit's end here. It's not the discs. It's not the drive. I can't imagine that it's a logic board problem because of the handful of discs that work just fine. So that leaves firmware and OS software...

I'm having the same issue, and have done all the trouble-shooting I know how to do. I agree with you, it's got to be something in the OS. Some dvds read fine, some read fine once, and then won't a second time. Some won't read the first time, but will the 10th. CDs all play and read fine, writing works too.

I don't know if it's connected, but it's sure suspicious. My 1998 model PowerMac G4 yikes! is having the identical problem my new iMac has. Reads and burns all Cds fine, and reads some dvds fine, some not, just like the iMac.

Two completely different systems, only leaves the OS as the potential problem. Maybe 10.6.5 will fix things? Let us pray.

same crap here... just found out i'm TWO WEEKS out of warranty. lovely.

mrchief wrote:

It's not the discs. It's not the drive. I can't imagine that it's a logic board problem because of the handful of discs that work just fine. So that leaves firmware and OS software...

How can you be sure it's the firmware or OS? Have you tried another OS, like say, Linux? I have -- and my drive no longer works on Ubuntu either. If it were the OS or the firmware, then certainly the external drive I'm using wouldn't be working so well.

like i mentioned with mine. i'm 2 weeks, TWO weeks out of warranty and i just noticed that it will not play movies or run install disks but it WILL recognize and allow me to burn to blank media. What's up with that?

I actually also just did a fresh/clean install, wiped the HD and started fresh in the hopes that would fix it. I though, maybe, just maybe something got corrupt. I dunno. Luckily, I have an external CD/DVD player from which I could run installs, but it's far and few between. I don't really have many installs but what if I wanted to rip some music from my CD's? Pull the external.

thanks for the idea... i'll boot into Bootcamp, Windows 7 and see if it'll run intall disks and play music...

same thing on Windows 7 bootcamp. Won't read install discs, will allow me to burn and read blank disks.

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GA11N:
Same **** problem...

Firmware Revision: KA18
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: To show the available burn speeds, insert a disc and choose View > Refresh

similar problems. It can read and burn cds when trying to insert a blanc DVD r inside it simply ejects after a while.

I tried the cleaning method but didn't work. And I really don't feel like getting the screwdrivers and trying to fix it alone. Don't know what to do and surely I am not going to spend money on replacing the dvd.

details of the drive

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GSA-S10N:

Firmware Revision: AP12
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds

I tried to install Windows 7 in a new virtual machine (via VMWare), but the disc drive wouldn't read the CD. I do understand that isn't the same as booting into a new OS, though.
I thought that there might be a chance if VMWare tools was installed... On an existing VM with Windows XP Pro SP3 the optical drive also wouldn't read anything either (movie DVD, audio CD, old burned audio, new burned data disc, old burned data, Windows 7 install disc).

Problem: drive started rejecting some dvd:s after 6 months, since a few days drive does not mount any dvd.

Solution that has worked: cleaning disk.



MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-868:

Firmware Revision: KB19
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO

cleaning disk? the CD/DVD? are you serious? LOL.

someone please recommend a superdrive cleaner...