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

Trying my luck here, since most of the other fixes haven't worked yet. Copy of my post I did some days ago:

So I have this iMac 27" from '09 I believe (HD Radeon 4850, 4gigs of RAM, i5) and I've loved it for as long as I've used it. I had a period where I used windows extensively because of school work, but later deleted that partition again to go back to Mac OS X. Now I wanna install Windows 7 again just to fool around in some games and stuff, but when I insert certain cds (Windows 7, Mac OS X install disk, etc) it simply spins them up and ejects them after a few tries. Weird thing is, most other cds I try (Old games and stuff) it can read perfectly fine..

According to System Profile this is the drive name:

Model: OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5680H              
Revision: 3AHB

I've tried resetting SMC, PRAM, Reparing Disk Permissions, cleaning out the drive using different methods I found from this thread (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1918925?start=0&tstart=0) but nothings worked so far...

Problem arose somewhere after I deleted Windows 7 and upgraded to Mac OS X Lion (I think there was some firmware updating there as well, not sure if it could affect anything but just throwing it out there).

I've read that a way could also be to use an external drive, which I tried using my girlfriends external usb drive. It worked and could install windows 7 on my macbook, but I could not get it to work on my iMac, same story using a USB.

It's sadly out of warranty, but if it comes to it I guess Ill have to send it in, but I'd really try avoid that.

Let me know if there is more you need to know, your help is really much appreciated :).

If it really ejects any DVD/CD, and also cannot burn any CD / DVD / dl DVD, then the optical drive is damaged, even if new—if new, this is a good case, as it is covered by warranty.

You also suspect a software issue; may be, even if improbable. If you suspect something like this, reinstall and try again. Does it misbehave in Windows too, if you install it via Boot Camp? If indeed so, a damaged optical drive seems almost certain.

The only cd/dvd's it have ejected are the Windows 7 install disk and the Mac OS Installation disk, everything else works flawlessly which is very odd..

Good, keep testing moe, test any optical media you have around. Burn something on various supports, CD, DVD, best on rw media. If this works, then it may be indeed a software issue, but not necessarily. Note that an optical media rarely becomes unsable over night, it gradually becomes worse and worse, e.g. begins by not reading dl DVDs, then more and more DVDs; does not burn dl DVDs, then more and more DVDs etc. etc. The process may take a year or more so, if your mac is new, replace the optical drive while under warranty.

If this occurs in Windows only / mainly, I suspect the Apple drivers for Windows were improperly installed or not installed at all, if you cannot read the Mac OS X dvd in windows.

I think you sort of misunderstood, I'm having this problem in Mac OS when I tried to reinstall Windws 7 .

I can still burn DVDs and it detects blank disks as well, it is ONLY Mac OS and Windows 7 installation dvds I have problems with.

A common theme running through these posts is that these drives are failing with little previous use. DVD drives on both my iMac and MBP start to behave erratically after updating to Snow Leopard. I cannot be sure what update caused the problem because I use these drives very infrequently. IMHO, the problem must be partly due to unscrupulous suppliers that are sneaking under Apple's Quality Assurance protocols. Apple won't admit to it partly because Steve Jobs felt that anyone still relying on DVD's is living in the past (and not the cloud), and because nobody is at risk for physical harm. See this recent message from Apple about a problem in the quality of the iPod Nano batteries from an unknown supplier:

"Apple has determined that, in very rare cases, the battery in the iPod nano (1st generation) may overheat and pose a safety risk. Affected iPod nanos were sold between September 2005 and December 2006.

This issue has been traced to a single battery supplier that produced batteries with a manufacturing defect. While the possibility of an incident is rare, the likelihood increases as the battery ages.

Apple recommends that you stop using your iPod nano (1st gen) and follow the process noted below to order a replacement unit, free of charge."

Of note, according to macrumors.com, the recall for the same defect occurred in South Korea in 2009 and Japan in 2010. The liability risks associated with physical injury are forcing Apple's hand now in the US. Apple saved a lot of money with this delay as many 2005-2006 Nanos are probably no longer used.

These quality problems had already crept into Apple product lines while Steve Jobs was alive. At this point, it might still make sense to buy Apple for its great design and relative simplicity of use, but expectation of great quality is just not realistic anymore.

So funny thing, burned a Windows 7 dvd just now, and it installs perfectly... Just wat

I own an IMac 10.5.8 which will play CDs and SOME (usually old) DVDs.  It will not load the SL upgrade I purchased from Apple online. Contacted the helpdesk, went through variou procedures/checks. Told everything okay. Options - send a replacement disc or cart to nearest Apple store.  Replacement disc not working.  Used a cleaning disc. No luck.  I think Apple know what this problem is but are unwilling to correct it.  I suspect most people (like me) don't use the optical very often and so tend to put problems down to bad DVDs.  I am going to beg/steal/borrow an external drive to see if that works - if only to play films!  Have given up on installing SL. or anything else that might require a disc to install/upgrade. COME ON APPLE SORT THIS OUT!!!!

Optical drives do not usually fail over night, their process of degrading capabilites may last one year, even more (personal experience). The process begins by not reading DVD DLs, then DVDs in general, then do not burn DVDs, then— I might guess, according to what you say, that your optical drive is getting worse and, one good day, will die. The symptom is clear to me: reads some DVDs, but not all DVDs; the process will go on, and will worsen in time.

You may live with an external drive or by replacing the internal one. Your choice.

Gillian have you tried cleaning the drive?  Had similar issue with my laptop which now seems fixed: see post

11-Nov-2011 13:28 (Back one page)

Sure, I forgot this detail. There are air-tight spray guns, which can try to solve this. I doubt his description admits such a simple solution, but it is worth giving a try.

Hello guys my Macbook was doing the same thing I dont have apple warrenty since I bought it used. Its would just spit the disc out no matter what. But I fixed it myself the thing tha read the disc may be pushed down how it was on mine. I just lifted up. Its fairly easy and I made a video on youtube showing you how. heres the link.http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRGyTF09P6E&feature=g-upl

The compressed air is USELESS! GIVE ME BACK MY $4.. AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT... A WORKING DVD DRIVE APPLE!!!

I actually took the initiative and sent this complaint directly to Apple's engineers.... THEY REJECTED IT CAUSE THEY COULDN'T EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. I bet if all you guys signed up and sent in a report, APPLE will MAN UP!

Here's the site. It's a little tedious, but hopefully you guys can pull through. I mean, you guys want a working DVD drive as well? RIGHT?

http://developer.apple.com/bugreporter/

An issue which does not seem to have been raised in this thread is the speed of the DVDs. I had a similar problem of the DVD drive regurgitating DVDs after a few minutes of gurgling away. I have discovered that the DVDs it doesn't like are 8X speed. If I use 16X it all works perfectly.  All the DVDs are read happily by my Dell Windows 7 PC where I can copy the 8X DVDs onto 16X blanks which I can now read on my MacBook.

How about "pre-burned" DVDs.  I use my IMac for playing movies etc.  So not only can't I burn, I can't view. 

Fun, Fun, Fun.