Asus external DVD drive not recognized by Big Sur (11.4) but will with High Sierra

Question

Level 1

10 points

Asus external DVD drive not recognized by Big Sur (11.4) but will with High Sierra

Just bought an Asus Zen optical drive for my wife who uses a PC laptop. Works quite well for her, of course, but not on my MacBook Pro 13 (mid 2020, quad core i5, touchbar, etc.). Surprisingly, it works just fine on my older MacBook Pro 13, early 2011, running High Sierra (10.13.6) with onboard Superdrive.

Asus says it's Big Sur, but I'm not so sure. I've been looking everywhere for an answer to this problem.

I only need an optical drive every once in a while to rip a music CD. For that reason I don't care to spend $80 USC for an authentic Superdrive that will only get very occasional use.

There are used ones all over ebay but I simply don't know if these are older models that will not work for my application.

Any help appreciated. - p

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.4

Posted on Jul 5, 2021 2:37 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jul 5, 2021 4:37 PM in response to TravelShots

TravelShots wrote:

There are used ones all over ebay but I simply don't know if these are older models that will not work for my application.

FWIW, my apple USB superdrive is somewhere around 10 years old and works fine with my current iMac running big sur. if you would rather buy new, you can go to OWC’s website and shop for an external optical drive. they focus on mac compatible hardware so the stuff they sell works as it should. you might even save a couple bucks.

Reply

Answer 2

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,018 points

Jul 5, 2021 4:31 PM in response to TravelShots

Most drives work fine when connected directly to the Mac. Perhaps your drive requires more power than the Mac can deliver. Some drives come with dual connectors so they can use two ports on the computer. I use an Apple Super Drive and a Samsung drive and no issue.

Reply

Answer 3

TravelShots Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 5, 2021 5:42 PM in response to tbirdvet

Thanks

so much for the quick help and feedback. Here are some more details I

should mention.

Asusexternal Zen Drive with all the usual specs from Best Buy. Port out

is a mini usb. Two cables included: (a) mini to usb c and (b) mini to

“Y” split to pair of usb A endings.

I've tried all four usb c ports with included (a) cable. Nothing. Tried

all four ports with “Y” cord using just single usb A with Apple A

to C adapter (not a multi hub). Nothing. Tried all combinations in

all four Mac ports using the “Y” cord with both usb A ends using

an Apple A to C adapter on each end (more power?) Nothing.

The only thing I get is a light ticking from the drive when plugged in. It

takes several tries of the open button to get it to respond, which it

will do eventually. But that's all. The drive simply does not show up

in Disk Utilities as a listed drive.

What really stumps me is that this cheap little thing lights right up with

the older MBP on High Sierra.

At any rate, I'm keeping the Asus drive for my wife's use (new Dell pc, Win

10). It's fine for her occasional use. I'm thinking on one of those

many, MANY ebay listings for the A1379 Superdrive. A number of them

are listed as open box at half the price of a new one with sellers

with high ratings (above 99 percent).

Reply

Answer 4

TravelShots Author

Level 1

10 points

Jul 5, 2021 5:43 PM in response to jeffreythefrog

Thanks. I'm an occasional OWC customer and always like their products. I glanced over their drives but will have to go back for more study.

Reply

Answer 5

Jul 5, 2021 5:50 PM in response to TravelShots

you're welcome. i, too, am a satisfied OWC customer. :)

Reply

Asus external DVD drive not recognized by Big Sur (11.4) but will with High Sierra

Similar questions