Superdrive keeps ejecting disc

Question

Level 1

15 points

Superdrive keeps ejecting disc

I have a 1 ghz 17"powerbook, matshita UJ-815 superdrive, running 10.4.2 and all the latest updates, I have run disc first aid, checked and deleted the duplicate fonts, reset the PRAM, restarted with the disc in, re-inserted the disc numerous times in a row, All to no avail, evertime I insert anytype of disc, after about 35 seconds, and a few "reading disc" type of sounds, the disc ejects, this applies to anytype of disc, cd's dvd's new, already burned, etc. I have tried them all. I have read a few other posts about people having the same problem. Apple care has run out, and the nearest apple store is 2 hours away. Any recommendations, I am considering purchasing a new superdrive from here :

link

And then follow this procedure:

http://www.pbfixit.com/Guide/55.8.0.html

Any advice before I proceed would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

Greg

[ Edited by Apple Discussions Moderator; href URL ]

Posted on Sep 7, 2005 9:57 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Jeffrey Foote

Level 1

20 points

Dec 13, 2005 8:34 PM in response to Greg Gunkel

RE: superdrive spits out dvd and cds
( msg # 1.: Posted Feb 8, 05 9:58 pm )

Jeffrey Foote

Joined: Jun, 2003

Posts: 9
I have used the procedure below 4-6 times in the last 6 months, has always worked until this go around tonight. I don't see any other suggestions.... so it might help.... I'm trying again now.
Note: I'm using 10.4.2, but no relationship to software recent software install or upgrade... just decided not to work.
•I did read an apple note that changing batteries while unplugged an asleep can mess with power manager...... and that seems to be the case when the disk is quietly never being accessed before eject....

I have the same 17 1ghz powerbook, and just fixed this problem for 2nd time in 6 months. (No clear idea why it happens.... from posts it appears that power manager/battery processes sometimes fool the drive into thinking it must act that way)

anyway, I followed ALL of the suggestions posted in these discussion areas, none worked alone... this is the order that did it.

1. Reset PRAM by restarting holding down apple-option p-r until 2nd restart sound

2. nvram reset (see this post)
Macintosh: How to Reset PRAM and NVRAM

... Article ID: 2238. Created: 1987-06-02. Modified: 2004-06 ... steps in the Solution section of technical document 42642: "Macintosh: Computer Starts to Text-Based Open ...

(basically says restart with option-apple-o-f
at prompt type
reset-nvram (hit return)
reset-all (hit return)

Document No. 2238

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42642

3. power manager reset-
shut down, unplug, pull battery
- hold down apple-option-shift-power button
- release, then replace battery
-restart

PowerBook G4 (12-inch)  PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI)  PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.33GHz)  PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.5GHz)  PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW 800)  PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33GHz)  PowerBook G4 (17-inch)  PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.33GHz)  PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.5GHz)
1. If the computer is on, turn it off.
2. Reset the power manager by simultaneously pressing and then releasing Shift-Control-Option-Power on the keyboard. Do not press the fn (Function) key while using this combination of keystrokes.
3. Wait 5 seconds.
4. Press the Power button to restart the computer.

this worked..... good luck

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Answer 2

joeafitz

Level 1

0 points

Feb 26, 2006 6:41 PM in response to Terry Duschinski

I have a G4 powerbook that was doing the same thing. This is the 3rd drive in my laptop- all of them replaced under warranty for "being defected" and all of them within the past year. The last time I took it in to Apple, the "Genuis" told me that my OS was corrupted which caused the failure. Supposedly they fixed the corruption. Apple replaced the drive in Nov 2005. In Jan 2006, my "new" drive started doing the same thing the other drives had been doing. It began spitting out all discs. I was told that Apple would not replace my "new" drive because my warranty expired end of Dec. Not wanting to pay for a new drive, I just let it be. I was reading these postings and tried everything to get my drive to work. After all, how can 3 "new" drives be bad with very little use? I read the shake and shout thing (which didn't work) but decided since my warranty is expired I could get more physical than shaking. After inserting a disc, I tapped strongly on the outer casing where the drive is located. Now my drive is reading everything correctly. Must be something (maybe dust) that interfers with the contacts. If I can figure it out when I open the case in a couple of days, I'll let you know. I have inserted all types of discs (DVD, CD, DVD-R, DVD+R) and it is reading them all.

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Answer 3

HappyDad

Level 1

4 points

Mar 12, 2006 3:33 AM in response to joeafitz

I was having the same problem - tried all the software/firmware solutions but no luck. I was about to spend heaps on a new drive. Then I tried the "bottom slap" solution. Try inserting the DVD with the PowerBook upside down on your lap and when it tries to spin up slap the underside where the drive is. Hey presto, it all seems to be fixed now. (No I don't have to do the bottom slap every time!) Feeling fortunate at having saved $$$.
As an aside, I think I know what might have led to the problem in the first place. As I was reaching into my bag for the PowerBook I grabbed it in such a way that my thumb was holding the case on the underside where the battery catch is and it caused the battery to pop out when the comupter was sleeping - not something I've ever done before. Does this ring a bell with anyone else? Probably just a coincidence, but...
I really hope it works for you too.
Happy Slapping!

Ti PowerBook G4 1GHz Mac OS X (10.4.5)

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Answer 4

Paul S

Level 1

25 points

Dec 14, 2005 6:56 AM in response to Paul S

I will find out if my solution will work tomorrow.

I had the drive replaced, at the request of AppleCare phone support after attempting various standard methods such as those listed by others in this discussion. Unfortunately, these relatively hassle-free options did not work for me, but always try them first, esp. if you will be paying for the replacement of the drive.

PowerBook 15" G4 / 1.67 GHz / 1 Gb RAM Mac OS X (10.4.3)

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Answer 5

Oct 8, 2005 7:53 PM in response to Greg Gunkel

Greg:

For what its worth.....

I have the same config and have replaced the DVD drive twice (at Apples expense). Apple support diagnosed it as a drive failure and replaced the drive. Works fine now (10.4.2) but it worked for 6 weeks the last time they replaced it.

bob

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Answer 6

Sep 7, 2005 7:05 PM in response to Greg Gunkel

Greg, sometimes after update and or upgrade, your dvd will not mount for whatever the reason...
Try this, First restart your computer and go directly to Mac HD and then to Applications and then open DVD Player...When the Black screen opens...
Then and only then place a Commercial DVD in and do not touch anything..
The DVD you put in should start to play only after it reads all the encryption and security on the said DVD.
If the DVD plays the movie.. It is probably because of a couple of different things...
In the perfect world you should be able to just put in a DVD and your Player will mount and the DVD will play...That does not always work..
The only work around I have found is to run ONYX... MACJANITOR...and CACHE OUT... these are all free utilitys and can be found here...
Gulliver, "kmosx3: Mac OS X 10.3/10.4: System maintenance", 06:15am Mar 27, 2004
Good Luck and come back and tell us if the DVD mouted doing it manualy..
Through Mac HD.. Applications...and DVD. Player..
Cheers...Don

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Answer 7

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Dec 6, 2005 8:27 AM in response to mcfc68

Hi mcfc68!

This thread is a bit old, so you may have already found what you need, but if not, here are the links.

MacJanitor can be found here.

ONYX

Cache Out X

ali b

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Answer 8

Dec 26, 2005 4:34 AM in response to Jeffrey Foote

I think this is a more generic problem. I have the same issue on my PB G4 with a Matshita CD RW CW-8123 drive. Been to Apple repair two times, no change. Was told by an Apple "genius" to buy a new external drive. One useful thing he did say is that sometimes this happens with discs that have been replicated in a certain way by manufacturer. If you disc copy the disc on using a different Mac, then your new copy may work. Obviously not a solution for music or movie lovers, but did fix my problem with a PrintShop disc. I have seen lots of complaints about this phenomenon all over the Support site. I think there is something screwy in the hardware that no one has figure out yet. Other thoughts welcome, as I have no solution yet....

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Answer 9

Paul S

Level 1

25 points

Dec 6, 2005 4:38 PM in response to mcfc68

I will find out if my solution will work tomorrow. First off I had called AppleCare, and they suggested taking my PowerBook into an Apple Authorized Technician. So there you go. They are replacing the entire drive tomorrow. That seems to be the solution.

What's up with brand new machines, and new dual-layer SuperDrives? I was hoping Apple would release a simple system fix, but I have all the latest Software Updates.

GRRR.

Laptop 15" G4 / 1.67 GHz / 1 Gb RAM Mac OS X (10.4.3)

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Answer 10

Jan 3, 2006 2:50 PM in response to d-a-v-i-d

An update - I have found a way almost guaranteed to mount any disk I insert - it sounds crazy but I read about this in another thread and tried it out.
Slip the disk in the drive and wait for about a second or so. At the point you would normally hear the motor begin to spin the disk sharply spin the computer or knock it to get the disk moving inside (I read to shake it from side).
Jerk it in a clockwise motion a couple of times and then listen for the motor which should have kicked in.

At this stage my drive acts normally - the disk mounts and when I open dvd player it will play the disk as normal.

Before I tried this I was going to flash the drive firmware with the same Apple firmware it has now - kind of like re-installing the driver I thought - but I don't know what to do now...

So this leads me to think this is not a hardware issue - once the disk has mounted the drive seems to work fine.

Any thoughts?
Thanks for any help.

17in G4 Powerbook 1Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.3)

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Answer 11

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Sep 7, 2005 8:19 PM in response to Greg Gunkel

O.T.: Off Topic

Hi Greg!

Not related to your current problem, but this Tip: How to post a link (URL) in "Apple Discussions", will assist you in formatting future postings here.

As a courtesy to the Discussions Moderators, if you implement that technique, there won't be a need for them to edit your posts. This will alleviate their tedious workload.

I understand this is not first & foremost on your agenda at this time, it's only FYI.

Have Fun, and I hope Donald's advice & assistance helps you resolve your current difficulty.

Respectfully,

ali b

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Answer 12

Greg Gunkel Author

Level 1

15 points

Sep 8, 2005 12:03 PM in response to Greg Gunkel

Thanks Don for the advice, unfortunately, still no luck. I had already been using onyx, but not macjanitor. I ran all of the procedures, restarted, etc. and still, the drive acts like it is trying to read the disc, but is seems like the disc is not spinning, then ejects. My last fleeting effort will be to re-install Tiger, I used the migration assistant last night and transferred everything over to my imac, so tonight I will try the erase and install, and see if that has any effect. Ali, sorry for any extra work I made for you, it will not happen again!

Greg

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Answer 13

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Sep 8, 2005 12:24 PM in response to Greg Gunkel

Hey Greg!

There's no problem, as I, like you, am just a User of "Discussions"!

The "Discussions Moderators" edit the posts, so there is no extra work involved for me.
The information I proffered is merely a suggestion. There is no "Formatting Law" that Users must adhere to. And no "Discussions Posting Police" to give you a citation for not using a certain technique, when you post. <g>

Before you know it, you'll be using the knowledge you've gain, here in "Discussions", to assist other Users!

Good Luck with the "Tiger" installation, and Enjoy Your Stay!

Respectfully,

ali b

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Answer 14

mcfc68

Level 1

15 points

Nov 24, 2005 6:24 AM in response to Donald Morgan

Donald, do you have a new link for ONYX... MACJANITOR...and CACHE OUT...
I tried the link you listed, but it seems to be out of date. I have the same problem with my superdrive. It's crapped out on me. Before I invest in a new drive, I want to go through all of your suggestions.

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Answer 15

wood

Level 1

0 points

Dec 28, 2005 10:06 AM in response to Richard Schauffler1

Hi, mines 14 months old, just done the same, tried all of the above, anyone recommend a UK London based repair shop, and any idea what it's gonna cost me? Should i ask them not not fit a Matshita drive?
Thanks, woody.

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