Dead CD-R/RW drive. Which model to replace with and where do I get it???

Question

Dead CD-R/RW drive. Which model to replace with and where do I get it???

Please help if you can. I have had my Imac for 4+ years and the CD-R/RW just died. I need to replace, but can't figure out from anyone which model and where to buy it.

The current information is as follows from the CD-ROM that has been removed. SONY, CD-R/RW Drive Unit.
Model No. CRX170E
Serial No. 7079750
Version: BA

Full bar code and white label on face is as follows:
SCDRW CRX17 678T0030 *SD21520ZLKOHA

I have looked throughout this forum, but can not see anything as to replacing the drive. I don't want an external, I want to fix the internal one with a replacement. I assume eventually this information may be useful to the Do It Yourselfers out there as it's only time before they die. Thanks in advance for any help...!

IMac PowerG4, 700GHz, Mac OS X (10.3.9), 17inch flatscreen

Posted on Mar 19, 2006 4:18 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 20, 2006 12:51 AM in response to thepinklizard

thepinklizard,

Welcome to Discussions.

Here are the fitting instructions..

And also see this recent postwhich details the other information you need.

Please post back if you need any further info.

cheers

mrtotes

Reply

Answer 2

Mar 20, 2006 7:02 AM in response to Adam Coates

The 'fitting' document you sent is quite amazing and a great resource and reference guide. Unfortunately, it's not exactly what I needed.

What I need to know is where do I look to find a 100% compatible, super drive that would of shipped with the upgraded versions of my particular IMAC. I have found a ton of information as to incompatible drives with idvd 6.x, Itunes 6.x, etc. but no reference or on-line retailer that will enable me to replace my DEAD cd drive with a compatible superdrive.

System details are as follows:
Name: iMac G4 (Flat Panel)
Model: Mxxxx iMac G4 700MHz
Bus speed: 100MHz
Screen size: 15 inch
Factory: QT (Quanta, Taiwan)
URL: Technical specifications by apple-history.com code tonumber: 101 - 5U5109MDS43

Model introduced: 2002
Production year: 2002
Production week: 24 (June)
Production number: 1157 (within this week)

Finally, Sadly I had the low-end as described in the attached link near the bottom of this article. However, as stated direct from the apple-history description a superdrive was comptabile with this type of system. Surely there would be a newer model of CD-R/RW DVD Combo drive available to replace it with...? Yes/No...?

http://www.apple-history.com/?page=gallery&model=imac_flat

Reply

Answer 3

Mar 20, 2006 7:36 AM in response to thepinklizard

The xlr8yourmac drive database lists all the reports Mac users have send in.

Enter:

DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives
<blank>
<blank>
IDE
Apple iMac G4
OS X 10.3

in the relevant fields to see the reports.

A popular and common choice is to use the Pioneer DVR-1xx drives (If I had to replace my Pioneer 106 tomorrow I'd get a 110DBLK). Similar Pioneer drives were used by Apple in their later iMac G4s. These drives gets good reports and may even run without Patchburn.

Finding combo drives is increasingly difficult.

HTH

mrtotes

Reply

Answer 4

Mar 20, 2006 7:57 AM in response to Adam Coates

Mr totes. Thanks so much for you help and prompt responses. I did try the database and noticed no reference for my particular mac/model/IDE. I hear you about incresingly difficult to find a COMBO, Superdrive that will work with all iMAC, Ilife, Itunes -recent versions!

I'm a 'switcher' from Windows-based world and can't believe how difficult it is to replace the drive. Something to weigh when going 'MAC' I suppose, but I'm totally bitten by the mac bug so don't plan on changing...

Last question in my eternal search. If I purchased the Pioneer as you suggest, where would I be able to find the OEM compatibility lists with programs such as Itunes, Ilife, Iwork, etc? Does the drive have to be natively-branded as 'apple' on the white label or can I spoof the MAC into recognizing the OEM as a natively-supported device?

Reply

Answer 5

Mar 20, 2006 9:50 AM in response to thepinklizard

tpl,

I think you're worrying too much - if the drive doesn't work natively with your iMac then the Patchburn driver will solve all. The drive doesn't need to be Apple branded. If you were buy a drive with the marketing aimed at Macs it'll be a Firewire External drive with a Roxio Toast bundle. All you need is an ATAPI 5.25" tray loading internal drive.

It is well known that Tiger is much more friendly when it comes to third party optical drives so you may consider upgrading your OS too.

iMac G4 10.3.9 DVD-RW results.

mrtotes

Reply

Answer 6

Mar 20, 2006 12:27 PM in response to Adam Coates

Thanks. I agree the replacement drive I purchased. Specifically SONY, DW-Q30A for $50.00 bucks did not work at all. Then I installed the patchburn software and iDVD and ITunes worked flawlessly. Thanks again for you help and guidance. I guess with MAC it's software like Patchburn that saves the day not the vendor necessarily -Mac.

On a seperate note did you see you can now boot windows and Mac on the new Intel, dual core.

http://wiki.onmac.net/index.php/Main_Page

It looks like nirvana for those that sometime need Mac stability and style and sometimes Chaos and versitility of the Microsoft-world. Said another way sometimes you feel like a nut sometimes you don't. 🙂

Thanks again...,
Michael

Reply

Answer 7

Mar 21, 2006 8:22 AM in response to thepinklizard

Apple has built in loads of 3rd party support for Optical drives in to 10.4 and iLife 06 which wasn't there before (i.e. in Panther). Patchburn is simple but saves the day!

Glad you got your machine going.

Windows on a Mac eh? it was a $13,000 competion running since Jan 06 that was won just the other day. Still back in 1993 Apple had a dual processor; the Performa 630DOS (68040 and 80486 processors!).

regards

mrtotes

Reply

Answer 8

KASSER

Level 1

8 points

Apr 18, 2006 3:14 PM in response to Adam Coates

Hi Adam,
I hope you can offer some advice. I've just finished reading 34 posts to this site from other iMac owners whose Superdrives have just died all of a sudden (built in obselecence is being suggested). My Superdrive has just died too - one minute it played CDs and DVDs fine - it burned CDs well too (I've never tried burning a DVD until two days ago - when the trouble started). When I tried to burn a short iMovie to DVD it wouldn't work - I tried 3 different DVD-RWs (erasing and trying again) - I also tried brand new CD-Rs and CD-RWs - but no joy. That was two days ago and now it won't even show a mounted CD on my desktop - no spinning noise - NUTTIN!!

Have you any suggestions - or is this really as so many other users are saying a Pioneer/Apple plot to buy new and expensive superdrives?? My iMac is only 3 years old and I hardly ever use the superdrive - so this really *****!!

Reply

Answer 9

mountart

Level 1

0 points

Apr 19, 2006 11:10 AM in response to KASSER

OK, the same exact thing just happened to me! I tired to burn a dvd for the first time and my super drive just died. won't mount any cd's or dvd's now. I think someone should start a class action suit against apple... there is no doubt in my mind that these are defective drives that shipped with the flat panel i-mac's and should be replaced free of charge!

Anyone else feel the same?

Reply

Answer 10

Apr 20, 2006 12:51 PM in response to KASSER

Well actually a Superdrive is a £35 part(or just $50CA (approx £25) on your side).

Apple was an early adopter so I genuinely don't think there is any great widespread problem in the product line - devices fail - especially the early ones - and people gather here with their issues - so the picture always looks bad!

Of course that doesn't make you happy after you shelled out thousands for your new iMac a few years ago.

I have heard of several users losing Optical drives after OS upgrades - so you could roll back a few points and see if that works. I'd also try a drive cleaning disk (a few $$ in a local computer shop) - that said if the drives not spinning ay all you may well be looking at a newer faster more compatible drive.

34 is a tiny percentage of iMacs.

My TiBook's Superdrive goes through bad phases (won't read disks for a few days and makes horrible noises - but again it was basically the first slot laptop superdrive.

regards

mrtotes

Reply

Answer 11

KASSER

Level 1

8 points

May 7, 2006 3:06 PM in response to Adam Coates

Hi,
Thanks for the info - but due to immediate needs I had the drive replaced. I took the repair guys advice and got the following installed:

HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4163B

The quote was Can$ 90.00 plus $90 labour - I had no idea whether this was fair or not but I had to get it fixed quick and the guy said it was much better than my original Pioneer drive and would outlast the computer ... My problem is, since getting it back, is that when I put in a cd it is REALLY noisy - the fan is so loud it can be heard in the background of the music or Quicktime movie that I'm playing. Do you know if this is peculiar to this brand of drive - or is it a fault I could go back to the supplier with (they haven't sent me their invoice yet) 🙂

Thanks to anyone who can help me on this one.

Reply