MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-868 not working

Same thing on my macBookPro. This happened on the last macBookPro I had, and despite replacements from Apple it never worked properly. I have given up using the optical drive. I am also under the impression that it is a software problem rather than a mechanical failure.....who knows.....😟

Rimmer, you're a champ! Add another MacBook Pro to your list! Your advice just saved me a bundle of money... especially if I had Apple Technical Service do the work.

I have a 15-inch, late-2009 model (no. A1286) and was just about to do a clean install of Final Cut Studio when the drive failed on me. I thought to myself, but I've barely used the thing! Your post made a lot of sense: the only problem may very well be a dirty lense.

I was surprised to find out that almost all of the MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-868 drives on sale online are USED and come with a 1-year warranty. In fact, I don't think I could find a single new one. These resale places are probably opening them up and gently cleaning the laser lense with an appropriate cloth, as you suggested. Then they turn around and sell them for $100 to $150. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple Technical Service simply throws out the old drives and charges people for new ones plus labor!

Here's a tip for those considering trying to fix this on your own: you can purchase a 20-piece Electronics Screwdriver Set and a Mobile Phone Tool Kit (with plastic pry tools that come in handy when removing delicate logic board plugs like the one going to the optical drive) from Radio Shack or similar electronics stores. This, of course, will give you the ability to get to your RAM, hard drive, optical drive, and change these things yourself. Of course, there are somethings that are too difficult for novices like me, but when it comes to basic repairs, I'm all for saving money.

Thanks again, Rimmer.

Well, is your problem occuring with DVD movies? DVD Software? CD music? Need more details, I just experienced some problems where my MBP 2011 was telling me that it could not recognize the disk that was inserted. I would select IGNORE. After clicking ignore I would open up VLC player and select File -- Open Disk and the DVD movie would start playing. I went ahead and backed up any data and put the initial install disk in and wiped the entire HDD and reinstalled a fresh copy of MAC OSX and it fixed everything. Before doing the fresh install, I tried all the standard resets PRAM, Etc... none of that worked.

So again, when does the error occur and with what sort of media.

Oh yeah, I also took my MBP 2011 in and the Apple "GENIUSes" told me that I needed to get a replacement for the SUPERDRIVE and they needed to send it away. I've found with prior computers that sending it away wipes your whole system anyway.

"I needed to get a replacement for the SUPERDRIVE and they needed to send it away. I've found with prior computers that sending it away wipes your whole system anyway."

I didn't have that experience. All they did was replace the optical drive. In any case one should always be backed up. No?

This has just happened to me too. I pulled out some CD's to import into iTunes, and the drive has stopped recognizing all discs; DVD, CD, DVD-R/RW.

The last time I used the drive, that I can remember is in December for installing Office.

The disc inserts, which sounds weak compared to previous times when discs were inserted, and it spins, again, sounding rather weak, and then after 30-60 seconds, the disc ejects. This happens with all discs, even ones that work when tested on my wife's MBP.

this happened to me and a few months ago I fixed it but now I need to again and I can't find the fix. It has to do resetting timing or something - holding down keys while restarting... but like I say, where did the answer go? apparently it was not a permanent fix but it worked for a month or two.

Simply Fix advice...

My machine is like yours. It's more recently started sitting there for around five minutes 'chewing' on a disk in the attempt to read it and eventually reporting it as a blank, etc etc.... I just installed the game "Stalker, Call of Pripyat" in my Windows partition and the machine worked fine through the install (which surprised me) although when I tried to run the game it just sat there 'not' reading the disk…. (speed up, slow down, pause etc etc etc eventually spitting out the disk).

Although I wouldn't recommend 'anyone' opening up their Macbook Pro 'Unibody' as there are obviously some costly mistakes to be made, Apple have managed to make their Unibody Macbook Pro's pleasantly easy to work on for people that have a moderate knowledge of the insides of a computer in general. So. During the reading of a thread, like this, where people with the same computers with the same issues with the same optical drives... I decided to flip mine over and see if I could fix it. Here's my experience..

Flipped machine over on to a soft cloth. Took off the battery compartment and removed the battery. Unscrewed the short and long case screws to the panel that remained blocking the whole bottom of the computer's inerds (easy). The optical drive is on your left and is held in by threw screws. One by the logic board and the other two well sunken in by the entrance where you shove your CD/DVD's in to. Carefully peel away the cable that runs to the screen, undo the screws then 'loosen' off the cable restrainer than makes it hard to get the optical drive out. The drive itself is connected by what I think is a SATA cable that is connected to the back of the machine as well as a surface mount connector that can simply be lifted gently from the logic board (your machine, your problem if you get it wrong).

Lift the optical drive out and turn over. Unscrew the ally panel's tiny little screws (if you don't have a tiny magnetic screw driver by now, then you should stop and go and get one as you'll need it and a steady hand to put it back together) and you'll currently be looking at the whole optical drive mechanism.

STOP. This is what I did and may not be the most effective way to deal with it but in the basis I have a history with Electro-Mechanical repair i've done the most basic cleaning routine. If you're RICH then simply take your machine to an Apple Store and pay the money for a new drive or a warranted cleaning. Otherwise read on.

I dragged the lint free cloth, that I used for my camera lenses, from my camera bag and lightly dusted the drives optical lens. This this is very delicate so you have to be really gentle. I didn't rub it or push it, I dusted it gently as it's a very delicate sprung system that doesn't want to be beaten up.. Treat it like your washing a fly… !

Reverse order with the screws and stuff and the computer read my disks first time. I've thrown every disk I had an issue with at it and have burnt two audio CD's with the machine with NO ISSUES.

So. If you're currently bashing Apple for installing a crap drive in to our expensive Macbook Pro's then it might simply be the fact that it's a short coming of the slot drive system from a dust point of view. I seriously don't know but if you have some courage and a machine that's out of warranty then this post might get you back on the road, as it has with me.. So remember. Good tools and don't rush. If you can afford it and don't know what the **** you're doing, then take it to an Apple store and pay the premium to get it sorted.. with a warranty..

All the best from the Uk..

Rimmer

Hi folks,

just did exactly what "Rimmer2000" described and cleaned the optical drive.

And, what should I tell you: it works again!!!

Every type of discs is eagerly eaten, read, played and burnt!!! Amazing! I´m delighted!!!

Many thanks to "Rimmer2000" for posting his experience and the exact description of "How-To-Do-It" !!!

Obviously the MatSHITa DVD-R optical drive has a certain problem keeping the dust out of it!

So if you have a certain knowledge of technical repairs and a quiet hand: try it and save your money instead of spending it for an expensive exchange of a "dusted" drive.

Best wishes & greetz from GER,

MacILLRoy

(_(__)_)

~∞~

(..)

I suspect doing what we did will work for most people in that case. There's a chance it could simply be a stubborn bit of fluff or even a tiny part of hair that wont shift without a simple dusting.

I've opened up a number of laptops in my time and the Unibody is very very simple to work on. I was very impressed with the way that it's been put together.

That's two Macbook Pros back on the road. I'm really glad it worked for you..! 😉

Regards. Rimmer

Thanks, Rimmer. Your method worked on my 2008 Macbook Unibody as well. Now the superdrive takes all the discs it used to refuse to read.

For future mac owners who want to use Rimmer's method, this ifixit link may help you up to the point where you unplug the superdrive from your mac - http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook-Unibody-Model-A1278-Optical-Drive-Replacemen t/761/1

I'm glad this is working out for people.

The thing that we all need to understand is that this will likely happen to us again. This just does a basic clean and sadly I'm expecting the issue to come back again at some point. I'm just glad that my write up has been helping people out.

Thanks to everyone for bothering to come back with positive reports and to offer me their thanks!!

Regards. Rimmer

Hey Rimmer,

Thanks for your post, but I gotta tell ya, I wasn't looking forward to taking apart my mac. So as a last ditch effort, I put in one of those CD/DVD drive cleaner discs from staples & now my drive works!! yay!

Although, I wouldn't of had a clue as to what was wrong with it had you not lead me there.

Thank you, you're a life saver!!

The DVD cleaner didn't work for me but i'm glad it did for you!!

As almost all the DVD/CD cleaners (get the right one for whatever drive you are using) are simply a little dot of fluff (if you know what I mean) in a specific part of the disk as well as a bit of software on the disk, they it can actually brush off the offending deposits on the lens. I still don't think you can beatcleaning the whole lens with a suitable material but it can work so it's well worth a go if you are concerned about taking the machine apart! This is obviously one of those moments!

Cheers.. Rimmer