Superdrive won't read audio cd's

Hi Eveyone ! I've experienced the same thing a few days back... It would play DVDs, Respond to data CDs & DVDs but when I tried to rip a few CDs to my iTune library it would just spin a little then eject the disks, I made sure that I had nothing wrong with either the disks or the program and then reboot the thing and then it loaded the CD but would take forever to rip so I finally gave up and force quit the unresponsive program.... Hummm ! memories of PC here... I've also noticed that y laptop run a little slower at boot and shut down so maybe there something in my computer corrupting the whole thing again if I was still using a PC I would look there first but with a Mac... No Way ! Right ???

I've JUST had the same issue happen to me a few days ago. Everything else works fine - just no audio CD's.

This MAY have started when I upgraded the RAM for the computer to be able to handle Snow Leopard, which I immediately installed. I was reinstalling some other things, and the last thing I was trying to do was import some audio CDs...

First time it loaded the CD but failed to import and iTunes locked up. This happened 2 more times. Now disks just spin 3 times, eject, and won't mount (if they are audio CDs)

I've been looking around for the answer and I'll tell you what I've found so far...

-SMC reset didn't help
-PRAM reset didn't help
-hard where test came back as fine
-disk restore successful - but didn't help any

The computer I'm having the issue with is a MacBook 13 inch (white one) but I know that most of these models use the same UJ-857 superdrive. I suppose thats what your using. One guy said he's tried everything and eventually took it to the apple store where they simply replaced the optical drive. I doubt that this is really the issue considering it can read and write all other types of media.

I'm going to try and re-install snow leopard and go from there. I'll let you know if that helps.

I get this problem from time to time. Probably one in every 100 CDs. Particularly painful right now as I am re-ripping my collection (long story).

Only thing that seems to work for me is to reboot. After that, some "bad" CDs suddenly are readable. No rhyme or reason, it seems.

My Macbook Pro and my wife's Macbook does the same thing. Now in the Macbook pro (1 month off of the 3 year tech. support, and now my wifes (just 2 weeks off the tech support) nearly do it every time. I read elsewhere it is a sign the lazer/eye is wearing out. It would seem there might be a lot of people out there with this problem based on what I'm reading here. Apple, Inc., - I'm not trying to be inflammatory here - but perhaps enough of us are having trouble that perhaps you might respond. I have a friend who suggested a class-action suit for these products, but I'd rather not wait that long - I simply want my equipment to work.

Have you tried cleaning the laser's lens?

~Lyssa

I am having exactly this problem: can read data but not audio. Have tried lots of different audio. No go. My Macbook (white) is fine, and this is a new problem for my Macbook (black), about 18 months old....started doing this a couple of weeks ago.

Do I need a new drive? Why just audio?

I recently had this issue with my macbookpro. I couldn't believe it, as I haven't used the drive that much. It would read some of all kinds of cds and not others, so I couldn't believe the drive was faulty. I happened to have a Scotch laser lens cleaning CD about, so I gave that a whirl doubting that it would have any effect. It worked a treat!! Now, the CD's that couldn't previously be read are all readable. Joy! I was so amazed, I joined this forum specifically to help you lot out! I can't promise it'll work for everyone, but for 5 smackaroonies, it's gotta be worth a go. Just type 'scotch laser lens cleaner' into google - available everywhere. P.s. I don't work for Scotch. Good Luck!

I'm having this same issue on my late 2008 MBP. I first noticed it around Christmas. About a month ago I took it in to the local Apple Store Genius Bar where, naturally, the problem chose not to present itself. They kept it overnight and couldn't find anything wrong, then called me to come pick it up the next day. DVDs and blank media of either kind seem to work alright, but not standard audio CDs. Rather frustrating.

I've developed the same problem with my Macbook & CDRW drive. I don't think it is a drive issue for two reasons:

1. If I reboot, the first CD I try works fine, nothing works after that, even the same CD.

2. I have an external FW400 DVD burner and when I can't read audio CDs on the internal drive, the external drive won't either.

So, the first audio CD I load after a reboot works fine in either drive. All attempts after that fail in both drives. DVDs are not affected, they can be read by the the internal drive and read/burned by the external drive. I noticed this all started after I updated to iTunes 9. I'm beginning to wonder if that is where the problem starts.

Mine too!
In the 3 plus years I've had it, I don't think I've ever used it more than once or twice.
What have you found out? I'm ****** off.
3 years of Apple care and never even made a phone call to them. Then 1 month later and,,,,,,,,