lipwak

Q: drive makes noise when I tap on laptop top

My superdrive hasn't worked for awhile but I am only now getting around to asking this question: When I tap on the top of my computer, often the drive will make a noise like it is trying to eject a disc. I cannot put discs in, they get ejected if I do, so I have bought an external drive.

My question is, is it likely there is a loose connection? I'm not going to open the computer up and go dig around looking for the problem but it seems to be indicating that kind of problem.

Thanks.

John L

15" Powerbook/1.67 Ghz (DL/HR) w/ 320 GB internal drive, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 1.5 gb RAM, Fantom 250 gb external firewire drive

Posted on Mar 24, 2011 6:02 AM

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Q: drive makes noise when I tap on laptop top

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  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Mar 24, 2011 7:05 AM in response to lipwak
    Level 8 (35,141 points)
    iPad
    Mar 24, 2011 7:05 AM in response to lipwak
    I'm not sure about why it's making a noise, but consider cleaning your Superdrive. A friend had not been able to use his for several years until I loaned him my cleaning disk last month and now the drive is 100 percent again.

    Much cheaper than a new drive.
  • by lipwak,

    lipwak lipwak Mar 24, 2011 7:22 AM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 1 (109 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 24, 2011 7:22 AM in response to Allan Jones
    Thanks. I've done that. I did it again to day just to see and popped a CD in after. The drive tries to read the CD, makes some bad high-pitched noises (not too loud but not good), and then I have to force eject it. Same as when I first noticed this problem several months ago.
  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Mar 24, 2011 11:59 AM in response to lipwak
    Level 8 (35,141 points)
    iPad
    Mar 24, 2011 11:59 AM in response to lipwak
    OK. Wanted to check because there are so many optical drives that have been declare dead by a tech but were resurrected with a good cleaning. I'm away from the house this morning but will do some checking form my G4 PowerBook when I get home.

    The "noise when tapped" is new to me but I must admit to never trying that. I'm on my MBP at the moment and it doesn't react to a tap
  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Mar 24, 2011 5:41 PM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 8 (35,141 points)
    iPad
    Mar 24, 2011 5:41 PM in response to Allan Jones
    OK. Back home and did the "tap-tap" on my PBG4 with a finger while the computer was running. No funny sounds.

    I've noticed, however, that mine sounds like a coffee grinder when I use an install disk, CD or DVD. It works and the software installs fine, but the racket is, to say the least, off-putting.