Matshita DVD-r UJ-846

Hi poobaa

Welcome to Apple Discussions

See my reply to your first post in the link below:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2166247&tstart=0

Also here are the instructions for resetting the PRAM that I suggested there:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

Dennis

Poobaa you are not alone! SAME EXACT thing here. Called the techs, reset Pram, smc, bought a lens cleaner, blah blah. There HAS TO BE a problem with Snow Lep/firmware/update. Just doesn't make sense. Apple told me they had not heard of this at all, but it's in these forums and on the other Mac forums all over the place. They claim they will take a special look at this problem, but it looks like failed Superdrives are pretty common. Mine worked flawlessly until just after Apple care ended at the end of May. Very frustrating as I wasn't a heavy user of DVDs, but noticed it with Snow Lep upgrade. I hope someone figures it out and issues an update fix. Should have been a recall of these drives if there are so many failed ones.

Just to confirm that we have the same Firmware Revision and Disk Burning stats, go to: System Profiler > Hardware > Disk Burning.

Mine are as follows:

*MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-846:*

Firmware Revision: FB2U
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Media: To show the available burn speeds, insert a disc and choose View > Refresh

{quote:}APPLE IS THIS SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE PROBLEM{quote}

Sorry this is a user to user forum, if you want or need Apple's help you will have to call Apple Support or your local Authorized Apple Service Provider/Apple Store.

For Apple Support see > http://www.apple.com/support/contact/

For a local service provider > http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/service/

It sounds like we have the same drive and same problem. I've been waiting since day 1 to install Snow Leopard on my iMac. No problem installing on the Macbook. Please let me know how it goes with the external drive.

I am experiencing the same problems with my superdrive *MatSHITa DVD-R UJ-846* Im running firmware revision: FQ3T. I have tried cleaning the superdrive, resetting PRAM and slowing down the writing speed. Nothing seems to work after I updated to Snow Leopard.

My iMac has been unable to read or make DVDs. I use a second Mac to put the Snow Leopard Installer on an 8 GB USB flash drive, booted into that and installed Snow Leopard from the flash drive.

I used these instructions:
http://www.maciverse.com/install-os-x-snow-leopard-from-usb-flash-drive.html

I am seeking a replacement Super Drive since I may have to replace the hard disk drive and I'll do both repairs at the same time. (Although the 24" Aluminum iMacs are calling to me.)

same problem here... after sl update i start having some problems, imac crushing at least once a day and only when i use safari (reinstall didn't help) now i can't burn/mount or read data dvds, thats including leopard and SL disks.tried to burn dvd today and it wont take them, i used same batch right before SL and everything went just fine. It reads all the games,movies, music, cds, dvds. I'm not sure what should i do, should i take it to apple?? should i do it myself(out of warranty). any help is welcome, thanks guys

info on burner
MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-846:

Firmware Revision: FB2U
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Media: To show the available burn speeds, insert a disc and choose View > Refresh

Thought I would show my info too to support you other guys with the same probs as me:

MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-846:

Firmware Revision: FB2U
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Media: To show the available burn speeds, insert a disc and choose View > Refresh

This thing is darn strange to say the least. Hopefully someone will figure it out. Once again I am certain this is fixable. TOO MANY people at the same time with Optical drive acting sickly.

I too bought an external drive so that I can continue using my Imac. It works well enough. I've checked all my friends's Macs and they all have Pioneer drives just after my early 2006 Imac. I have a feeling this problem was known very early and sort of swept under the table. MatSHITa was a lemon.
It would be cool if Apple would offer a special low rate repair/replacement since there are beginning to be more and more of us. I complained to Applecare tech and he recommended going to a cheaper 3rd party repair shop. He looked it up and there wasn't one within hours of my house if you can believe it. I live in NC and there are only a handful of Apple stores in the State.

Same exact problem here. I thought the problem was the Snow Leopard DVD, so I asked for a replacement which was promptly sent to me. Unfortunately, the problem seems to be the hardware.

It would be much easier if Apple offered Snow Leopard as a downloadable software.

I have the same exact problem except I haven't updated to snow leopard. Sorry to complicate the question but What the ****. I think it was on my last 10.5.5 update is when it started.

MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-846:

Firmware Revision: FB2U
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds