iMac - MBP: Apple Super Drive Stopped Reading CD-ROMS made before 2005

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Road Hazard Author

Level 2

260 points

iMac - MBP: Apple Super Drive Stopped Reading CD-ROMS made before 2005

My Apple setup no longer recognizes picture CD ROM disks made before 2005. Why is this and can it be remedied? Thanks.

Joe

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jun 12, 2023 8:59 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 12, 2023 10:54 AM in response to Road Hazard

What changed on the Mac? Was the OS recently upgraded?

It may be that the newer OS no longer supports reading optical discs that use a much older format.

If you changed the connection point of the drive from directly into the Mac's USB port to a dock or hub, that might be the problem. The Apple Super Drive seems only to work when connected directly to the Mac.

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Answer 2

Jun 12, 2023 6:51 PM in response to Road Hazard

Are these CDs ones that contain special software to play the pictures? Or just CDs full of data files (like .JPGs)?

if the former, and they stopped working after you upgraded the OS, the software on the discs might not be compatible with the newer OS. See if perhaps the CDs also give you direct access to the .JPG or other photo data files.

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Answer 3

Road Hazard Author

Level 2

260 points

Jun 12, 2023 6:38 PM in response to D.I. Johnson

Late 2013 Haswell intel processors are limited to 10.15.7 Catalina - my current Macs go back that far. My experience with Mac goes back to the 1993 Quadra 800 and the Motorola processors - OS 6.

First noticed the current discrepancy after the 2019 Catalina update, and my Imation floppy SuperDisk Drive was no longer compatible after that update also.

Not critical then, so it fell off of the radar.

In recent days, a home repair/remodeling/construction issue is gaining legal steam - I had numerous images on CD detailing the home construction/modifications in the 1999-2001 time frame. Ability to access and print those images would be great.

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iMac - MBP: Apple Super Drive Stopped Reading CD-ROMS made before 2005

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