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

Hello,

My sister's macbook did the exact same thing.  It stopped reading any type of disc and made an unusual noise when inserting.  I could hear it spin for a little bit then in pops out.  Also when I press the eject button the icon doesn't appear on screen as it usually does.  This is what I tried to fix it:

1. Reset PRAM and NVRAM

-did not work

2. Reset SMC

-did not work

3. Combination of different keys + eject keys (to get the icon to pop up)

-did not work (I did figure out that command+option+eject puts it to sleep)

4. Repair disk permissions

-did not work

5. Insert disc, let it come out, reinsert disc without taking it out.  When pushing it back in push it all the way in until your finger hits the side of the macbook (when normally inserting discs I let the macbook pull it in).  I did this about 15 to 20 times in a row.

-THIS WORKED FOR ME!!!

I think there was a sensor out of place inside the drive.

I thought I would chime in due to my similar aggrivations. Thanks TreeBranch05 for your tips, I plan on trying #5 next.

This issue first occured a while back. Basically it would mount every kind of disc (CD's I've burned, CD's I've purchased, DVD's I've burned, blank media, software discs) except for commercial DVD's. One's that I HAVE played in the past suddenly wouldn't work for me.

I scoured the boards and came across this thread way back when. Repairing disc permissions seemed to do the trick.

Until recently of course. I'm having the same issue. I tried to install the digital copy of Back to the Future, repaired permissions, tried again and it worked. Then I try the digital copy disc for Back to the Future 2 and it didn'y work. Repair permissions, try again. No luck. So repairing permissions isn't doing the trick. I decided to drive an hour away to talk to a Genius at the nearest apple store. I (foolishly) grabbed two RANDOM DVD's. Go figure, those two mount just fine. I'm a dope for not bringing the same Back to the Future disc, but about half a dozen other discs I tried prior to my appointment all didn't work. I assumed it didn't matter which ones.

My theory is that the drive isn't reading a certain type of encoding properly/easily. Regardless of the truth, clearly many people have this problem and Apple should do something about it regardless of their applecare status (mine just ran up about six months ago).

I'll post here if I ever get to the bottom of this.

Adding my experience to the this growing list. I have a late 2007 Macbook Pro. I almost never use the drive and when I do need it, it's exclusively for reinstalling or installing OS X.  The drive that shipped with the computer was actually replaced because it failed. The current drive is a

HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GSA-S10N

It doesnt read any disks at all, rejecting them after a single spin. Ive tried cleaning the lens and discs, wiping PRAM and SMC. Nothing has worked. I am running 10.6.8.

I really hope Apple gets their act together to fix this. This is my first Mac and has really soured my experience.

I have a 6 month old MacBook that is normally not connected to the Internet.  This problem happened 29June2011 right after I did a Complete Online Software Update.

I'm not going to ASSume just yet.  So I'm going to go through the suggestions and fixes and see what happens.

Same here.  Very very frustrating!  Tried everything but no luck. 

Is there a way to go back to an earlier Firmware?

Thanks.

I just thought I'd add another to the list, so very very VERY annoying as I'm trying to install a new HD and without DVD drive I'm stuck. Have physically cleaning the drive and various other suggestions but no joy. Insert DVD, brrr.... brrr... brrr... brrr... brrr... spits it out.

Offending articles: Macbook Pro 13" 5,5 with OPTIARC  DVD RW AD-5960S

I'm also adding to this long list of the problem with this Optic drive

LG HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GSA-S10N:   This is my system.  I've already had a new one put in, and now having the same problem.  It is the hardware.  Having it replaced with the same thing is going to give the same results, until they fix the problem.  I'm very disappointed with Apple.  This is my first MAC, and bought it because everyone swore they never had a problem.  I can't even repair my system right now, due to this problem.

Apple you have to do something about this issue please!!

  Model Name:          MacBook Pro

  Model Identifier:          MacBookPro3,1

  Processor Name:          Intel Core 2 Duo

  Processor Speed:          2.4 GHz

  Number Of Processors:          1

  Total Number Of Cores:          2

  L2 Cache:          4 MB

  Memory:          4 GB

  Bus Speed:          800 MHz

  Boot ROM Version:          MBP31.0070.B07

  SMC Version (system):          1.16f11

  Serial Number (system):          W88032DFX92

  Hardware UUID:          00000000-0000-1000-8000-002332A0B345

  Sudden Motion Sensor:

  State:          Enabled

I agree tammostsie1.  Apple is sticking their heads up their $$$$ on this issue.  If only they would come clean on this issue and try to fix things. 

My mac is 4 years old and I've already had to replace the hard drive plus it has never been able to burn cd's properly.  I mean it doesn't recognize in the disk drive and just spits out cd's after some whirs and clicks. Sometimes I can get it to play dvd's but even that's not always reliable either.

This is so damned frustrating considering I've paid a lot of money to buy a mac and it never worked properly right after the warranty ran out of course.  Sorry but I think this will be the last one I ever own.

I finally got frustrated and flipped my laptop upsidedown and shoved the DVD inside.  After 2 shoves with the laptop upside down it worked and it's still working.  Amazing. 

@rusty1491:  Tried it but it didn't work for me.  I think you were just lucky.  Obviously Apple doesn't even bother to read these boards or they would come up a fix.  It is a real problem not in everyone's heads.

hey guys, finely i found the solution for my super drive is must

clean the lens of a slot-loading optical drive (a MacBook Pro's SuperDrive)

i have done this steps and this worked very good and i tested to burn and read any cd/dvd all is working good you have to looking in this link to show you how to do it.

http://muzso.hu/2008/08/17/how-to-clean-the-lens-of-a-slot-loading-optical-drive -a-macbook-pros-superdrive

best regards

I have a 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 All-In-One iMac OS X v. 10.6.8  In other words, this Mac has not been out that long.  I have only had this machine in my home for four days.  I bought it brand new.  I have not been able to put one single disk in that will 'stay' in, in my iMac.  I am a first time Mac user.  I am hoping it is something that does not need to be 'repaired'.  Although I have a warranty, since I have had it for a few days, I would think they would PAY ME for not building a perfect machine to fail me in this area from the start.  I love Apple, my new iMac, and will never part from it, but this is definitely inconvenient. 

This machine will not even read the disks that the machine came with.  NONE.

I followed your advice of reinserting.. it worked.. must be a sensor.. My CD's, DVD's slip in from the side of my all in one imac.. and it worked.. since it wouldn't ready any think put in, it must have been just the sensor. 

Thanks!!!

I've had the same problem. Before I fixed the problem I tried blasting the drive with compessed air through the slot. Same problem occured. However, when reading the article suggested by amedeo salah I learned that the lens is located on the left hand side of the slot about an inch in. So I gave the compressed air another go and concentrated it in the position of the lens for a few seconds. Did the trick and I can now import CDs in iTunes flawlessly now. So it seems compressed air should clean the lens but is more effective if its aimed in the right direction.

I am glad I don't have to take the drive apart plus I don't have any alcohol to clean with.

hey paulmc_rules,i have tried to do this trick like you befor with compressed air and was nothing for my drive and wth this steps i had it works great and i know is alittle bit difficult but its better to buy a new super drive and yours is still working but need to clean the lens.any way thanks.