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User profile for user: Keith Brown
Keith Brown Author
User level: Level 2
189 points

Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-118L

I recently replaced my optical drive on my G5 as it was not reliably burning DVDs. I ordered the Pioneer DVR-188L from New Egg after I did some research online. The drive burns great. But intermittently the drive won't eject and then the computer won't shut down. I tried zapping the PRAM and that seemed to work at least during my immediate tests. But if I put in a DVD and play it with the DVD player sometimes I can't get the drive to respond afterward. Then I force shut down and restart and then it will be fine. Is there some type of setting in the computer that needs to be adjusted or does this mean this drive won't work with this machine?

Graphite 2x 500 G4 PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Jan 14, 2010 7:32 AM

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User profile for user: japamac
japamac
User level: Level 7
24,400 points

Jan 14, 2010 7:45 AM in response to Keith Brown

Hi-

Is OS X 10.2 really your OS version?
If so, that's probably the problem.

10.3x and 10.4x can use Patchburn to get full, native recognition of the drive.
http://www.patchburn.de/

Running Disk Utility and repairing your hard drive (boot drive) may be helpful if it is a software problem.
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User profile for user: japamac
japamac
User level: Level 7
24,400 points

Jan 15, 2010 6:21 PM in response to Keith Brown

Patchburn isn't needed in OS X 10.5x.

If repairing the hard drive with Disk Utility or Disk Warrior doesn't help, one might consider that the drive is compromised in some way, and consider a warranty replacement.

Before that, what is the jumper set to?
If it is Cable Select, try Master.
If Master, try Cable Select.

The jumper setting could be the cause of the drives unresponsiveness.
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User profile for user: japamac
japamac
User level: Level 7
24,400 points

Jan 15, 2010 7:32 PM in response to Keith Brown

Hi-

That would be the set of pins closest to the IDE ribbon connector?
I believe that is Master.
The middle pair is Slave, and the pair on the left (looking at the back of the drive) would be Cable Select.

There should be a tag on the top of the drive that tells you the pin/jumper positions to confirm.
The positions that I have stated are form other Pioneer drives that I have, so they should be correct.
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User profile for user: Keith Brown
Keith Brown Author
User level: Level 2
189 points

Feb 5, 2010 7:11 AM in response to japamac

I tried all the different settings on the jumper and it didn't make a difference. I called Pioneer and the man said that the jumper wouldn't not matter because these are plug and play drives. He said it would be a Mac problem and I would need to find a patch. I'm not sure what to do now.
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Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-118L

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