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Drive won't open

I can't open my optical drive on an iMac, G4 of the version just before they went to all in the screen. I found the thread, "How to force open a jammed DVD drive? Posted: Nov 20, 2009 11:27 PM" and have tried those things except for the restart with option key. There is no disk in the drive. My situation seems different in that when I push the eject key no icon comes on the screen as it always has in the past and no noise is heard to suggest something is trying to happen. I switched to an older keyboard (that I had replaced because of some sticky keys) but that didn't work either. Tried several restarts with mouse button down and have used all sorts of foul language to persuade it. Nothing has worked.

Any thoughts?

Geoff

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8), iMac G4 1GHz 1.23Gmemory

Posted on Feb 19, 2010 3:57 PM

Reply
12 replies

Feb 19, 2010 10:40 PM in response to Geoff K

Hey Geoff,
think it's a super drive.

Go to:
About this Mac > More info > ATA
Your drive will be listed there.
I don't know what the 2010-001 update is so can't answer that...Would those details be in a log somewhere on my computer?

Yup go into:
System Preferences > Software Update > Installed Updates > Open as Log File
That will tell you the last update.
2010-001 was the first update this year.
We're dealing with a problem with drives not opening on the eMac forum but these were all CD drives. I've also seen some problems with the MacBook Pro being posted.
Richard

Feb 20, 2010 6:00 AM in response to spudnuty

Thanks, Richard, here's what I found. Incidentily, I'm going to be leaving town for 10 days Monday morning so if I don't reply it doesn't mean I'm ignoring you. I'll be checking email Sunday night. I don't have a Mac book, however, I welcome any ammunition that might convince my wife we should be a two Mac family... or even better, a two-new-Mac family.

The drive is PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-105 Revision: A506

These are the 2010 updates I see in the log with the last 2009 leading off:
2009-12-20 20:50:05 -0600: Installed "Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 6" (1.0)
2010-01-17 20:36:20 -0600: Installed "Remote Desktop Client Update" (3.3.2)
2010-01-24 21:05:57 -0600: Installed "Security Update 2010-001" (1.0)
2010-02-14 20:46:24 -0600: Installed "iTunes" (9.0.3)
2010-02-14 20:46:45 -0600: Installed "iLife Support" (9.0.4)

Geoff

Feb 20, 2010 9:20 PM in response to Geoff K

Hey Geoff,
when I push the eject key no icon comes on the screen as it always has in the past

Have you tried a different keyboard?

Well here's my machine:
2009-07-11 10:21:22 -0500: Installed "Java for Mac OS X 10.4, Release 9" (1.0)
2009-07-11 10:23:27 -0500: Installed "Safari" (4.0.2)
2010-01-19 15:56:21 -0600: Installed "QuickTime" (7.6.4)
2010-01-19 15:58:17 -0600: Installed "iTunes" (9.0.2)
2010-01-19 16:01:46 -0600: Installed "Security Update 2009-005 (PowerPC)" (1.0)
2010-02-11 08:14:15 -0600: Installed "Safari" (4.0.4)
2010-02-11 08:17:05 -0600: Installed "iTunes" (9.0.3)

So basically the same updates.
Model: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-104
and mine is working fine but it's an earlier model.
I've heard that these Pioneers are less dependable than the other drives.
but then again no icon. So keyboard or software problem. Do you have the original boot disk?
I welcome any ammunition that might convince my wife we should be a two Mac family... or even better, a two-new-Mac family.

Well the G4s are getting a bit old in terms of processor intensive tasks. Like streaming video, Java and the like and being Power Macs they're left behind with the intro of Snow Leopard.
If you decide to upgrade you could donate that G4. I take them here in Chicago and depending where you are in WI there are places there as well.

Richard

Message was edited by: spudnuty

Feb 21, 2010 5:51 AM in response to spudnuty

I tried a different keyboard, the original that I had replaced because of space keys. I also tried a different mouse, although I haven't seen any problems with the mouse, a Kennsington laser wireless about 3 years old.

If I become so lucky as to replace my iMac with a new one PLUS a notebook I was hoping to put my old one in the shop until it dies. However, that is a dusty environment and it probably wouldn't last long. I've donated to the local tech school in the past. What do you use them for? I was just in Chicago to Strictly Sail at the Navy Pier. It's about 5 hours from my home near La Crosse. We get in to the boat show every year and may come to the tall ships this summer. I could deliver then if I've accomplished my computer goals. <g> I guess I'm getting a bit off topic. If that's a problem reply to klosteratcenturyteldotnet.

Geoff

Feb 21, 2010 3:17 PM in response to Geoff K

Hey Geoff,
Actually we use iMac G3s at Baker Demonstration School for the PreK - 2nd kids. I run OS 9 and load Self Mounting Images of Kid Pix IV, Alphabet Express, Zoombinis, Green Eggs and Ham etc.
The G4s are in the Mac Lab along with 2 G5 towers, 4 iMac G5s, 3 MDD G4 Towers and 6 G4 Sawtooths.
Everything else goes here:
Harry Porterfield did a piece on me a few years ago.
http://www.vimeo.com/clip:150591
Here's the URL to the TV station site:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=5097319

So to places like in that story an iMac G4 is a real resource.
Places I donate to in the inner city I setup in a similar manner.

Richard

Message was edited by: spudnuty

Feb 21, 2010 6:10 PM in response to Geoff K

Hey Geoff,
Hmm the URL for that video seems to have changed. It's here:
http://www.vimeo.com/150591
That's a good place for an "old" computer to go to.

Well there are a lot of places like this. If you're near Milwaukee and have PCs to donate check out Independence First:
http://www.independencefirst.org/home/index.asp
They will take anything P-III and above. I usually wind up with their Macs.
Richard

Message was edited by: spudnuty

Apr 14, 2010 9:49 PM in response to Geoff K

Looks like you have solved your problem, but since I finally got mine to work I thought I would post here for future searchers.

My iMac G4 (the hemisphere with flat panel on a swing arm) is not booting, sounds like a disk problem. I wanted to put in a boot DVD but could not get the tray to open. I tried the mouse button down while booting, option, eject, command-option-O-F, everything I could find recommended online or in the manual... went back to my orignal mac mouse instead of the logitech wireless I have been using for years. After reading some of the posts, I finally plugged the mouse into the Mac instead of the keyboard, Wa-lah the mouse button down while rebooting worked the first time. Now if I can just get it to boot from the DVD... so far C on the keyboard while booting not working.

Drive won't open

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