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My CD drive on my imac has stopped accepting disks -I've treid resetting SMC etc but without success - is it more likely to be a hardware issue or a soft ware problem .
Thanks in advance.
iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.12
Normally, I would always recommend the Apple USB SuperDrive - Apple, but you are correct. Unfortunately, it will not work with your Mac.
Therefore, I'd recommend looking at these two options:
Jack
Welcome to Apple Support Communities.
Please see: Get help with the slot-loading SuperDrive on your Mac computer - Apple Support.
Also, is this an internal or external SuperDrive?
Jack
Does the drive accept the disk but then not mount it, or does the drive refuse to allow insertion? Some optical drives used in iMacs of that vintage had a safety fence that deployed in the case of a hardware failure. Not fixable but a good diagnostic clue.
Have you tried a drive-cleaning disk? Slot load drives get filthy and sometimes cleaning helps, especially if the drive shows partial function, such as reading CDs but no DVDs.
Hi Jack,
Thanks for the response.
It's an internal drive (iMac mid 2010) . I was contemplating buyng an Apple Superdrive CD/ DVD drive, but now understand (from Apple website) that this will not work on my iMac, as it has built in optical drive . My thinking was, sooner or later, this computer will totally fail, so having an external drive already in place make sense, as I'd buy one anyway, for the new iMac. So, if I cannot resurrect this built in drive, what are my options?
Cheers,
John
Hi,
O'k, fine, I'll check them out but I've already looked at a few non- Apple drives and they also state "not suitable for use with computers with built in optical drives", so maybe it will be more problematic that anticipated.
Thanks again.
John
Hi,
I'm in the UK, so not sure if these products are available here but maybe I'll find something similar. I can't be the only UK Mac user to face this problem . I feel a new iMac coming on .
Thanks.
john
Hello, blueboy2.
Not long after the external Super Drive was released I discovered a Terminal command that allowed my unsupported iMac to access that drive. I used it that way for some time until I passed the iMac on. It was non-permanent and easily reversible with another similar Terminal command, and the ability will persist after a shutdown or reboot.
I believe this more recent article discusses that Terminal command:
Make a SuperDrive Work on Unsupported Macs? It's Possible - osxdaily.com
Of course, with changes to Terminal commands over the years it's possible this no longer works in newer versions of macOS, but it may be worth a try.
Hi D.I. Johnson,
Thanks for the info and advice - it may be beyond my techcie abilities but I'll investigate it. Have located a OWC resellar, with an external drive on it's site but no price on view, so waitng for that information.
Thanksagain.
john
It is definitely not beyond your tech abilities. It's a single command that you can copy and paste into the Terminal app window. Easy as can be.
sudo nvram boot-args="mbasd=1"
When you are prompted to enter your admin password, just type it in and press enter. Know that you will not see the password being displayed in the Terminal window as you type it.
Quit Terminal and shut down the iMac. Connect the Super Drive and reboot.
If you look at the compatibility, you’ll see that the OWC optical drives work with your iMac.
You can check with one of OWC's UK resellers or distributors. BTW, I have one that connected fine with my 2011 27" iMac that had a built in SuperDrive.
Hi,
Thanks for the info - most helpfull, will investigate OWC Resellars.
Thanks
john
CD Drive on iMac has stopped accepting disks
