Level 1

28 points

How to clean a DVD Superdrive using a credit card !

Hi Guys, This is a brilliant procedure to clean the optical head of the DVD Superdrive on a mac mini late 2009 edition or other macs using the slot loading DVD superdrive. You do not need to open the computer at all thus saving yourself a lot of hassle and anxiety. Here is what you need to do:

1) Get hold of a credit card.

2) Cut a strip of fine lint free cotton cloth as wide as the credit card and twice its length.

3) Wrap the cloth around the credit card lengthwise and hold it taught between your thumb and forefinger at one end.

4) Dab some lense cleaning fluid on the bottom side of the cloth wrapped card. (Camera lense fluid will do)

5) Insert the cloth wrapped credit card on the left most side of the slot drive by about 1.5 inches. (make sure the PC is powered off)

6) Pull the credit card out and insert again - repeat 4-5 times - add some more cleaning fluid if it evaporates.

Since the read write head is on the left side of the drive about 1 inch from the corner this process cleans the lense quite effectively.

I have revived a DVD superdrive on my mac mini which was not recognising any disk in this manner.

Hope this helps.

Thanks

ggggggggg

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jul 26, 2012 11:58 PM

26 replies

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,476 points

Apr 9, 2016 8:12 AM in response to ggggggggg

And if you knock the laser lens out of alignment… , how is that an improvement? 😉

lllaass

Level 10

210,513 points

Apr 9, 2016 8:19 AM in response to VikingOSX

The problem the cleaning is trying to solve is that the optical drive does not work.

Nothing to lose by trying the credit card cleaning method. If it did not work before you can't make it worse.

VikingOSX wrote:

And if you knock the laser lens out of alignment… , how is that an improvement? 😉

May 10, 2016 11:20 AM in response to ggggggggg

Thank you so much!! Can't believe this worked. I followed the steps without the cleanser. Trust me guys you don't need the cleaning solution. Just make sure you have a good thin cloth that won't break.

Alfred V

Level 1

10 points

Sep 4, 2016 1:09 PM in response to BDAqua

Used my Drivers' License with a lint free DRY cloth. Worked beautifully. My SuperDrive now performs beautifully.

K Shaffer

Level 8

36,022 points

Sep 4, 2016 2:55 PM in response to Alfred V

And now that your Mac has scanned a License, it may

also work faster, thinking it has a license to drive crazy...😝

Alfred V

Level 1

10 points

Sep 4, 2016 3:09 PM in response to Alfred V

You're rolling right along. Performance has dramatically improved. Even an old scratched disc now provides greatly improved audio and visual reproduction.

K Shaffer

Level 8

36,022 points

Sep 4, 2016 3:59 PM in response to Alfred V

Glad that's working out well.

Beats having to replace something which isn't defective... 😉

Alfred V

Level 1

10 points

Sep 4, 2016 5:27 PM in response to K Shaffer

Thank you, and it now performs like brand new.

jhudgina

Level 1

17 points

Sep 24, 2016 2:25 PM in response to BDAqua

Hi BDA:

Thanks for this. Didn't know any of this. Talked to the shop and they will erase it then donate it.

Appreciate your patience.

Janet

Alfred V

Level 1

10 points

Sep 24, 2016 2:36 PM in response to jhudgina

I believe this message was misdirected. I am not BDA.

K Shaffer

Level 8

36,022 points

Sep 24, 2016 7:59 PM in response to Gary Scotland

re: CF McBlob said:

"...There's a man after my own heart. Even alcohol (which evaporates quickly) can be "muy peligroso" for anything

electronic. if a drop "pools" somewhere, and you don't see it, the first time you power up again, it's "Sparksville" or just

a quiet death. Either way, it's your fault..."

Re: How to clean a DVD Superdrive using a credit card !

Twas knot eye hoo sayd et bakkin dday. 😉

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How to clean a DVD Superdrive using a credit card !