Read CDFS CD's, DVD's

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tal1971 Author

Level 2

302 points

Read CDFS CD's, DVD's

I going to be getting an iMac early next year.

I have a large collection of CD's & DVD's that either have photos or data/programs on them. These disks were burned on a Windows computer.

When I get my iMac I am planning on installing Parallels Destop and Windows 7.

I was wondering will I be able to access/read these disks for to be able to view the photos and data?

Also I was wondering will I be able to access/read these disks for when I want to install a program off of it and onto Windows 7.

Thanks in advance.

Windows Vista, iPad (3rd Gen) 32GB iPhone 5 32GB

Posted on Oct 27, 2012 4:59 AM

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Answer 1

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Oct 27, 2012 7:33 AM in response to tal1971

Yes. CDs and DVDs use a formatting standard that can be read by any computer.

The files are a different matter. Obviously, you can't run Windows programs in Mac OS X but the photos etc should all be usable.

Macs can also read and write Windows FAT formatted hard disks. Windows NTFS hard disks can be read but only written to if you have the free Fuse for OS Xsoftware.

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Answer 2

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Oct 27, 2012 12:23 PM in response to tal1971

FWIW, the new iMacs won't come with a CD/DVD reader/writer, so plan on getting an external one. Apple thinks optical media are so last year. See http://techland.time.com/2012/10/26/apples-phil-schiller-on-the-state-of-the-mac / for Schiller's assessment.

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Answer 3

tal1971 Author

Level 2

302 points

Oct 27, 2012 1:04 PM in response to Nick Holmes

Nick Holmes wrote:

Yes. CDs and DVDs use a formatting standard that can be read by any computer.

The files are a different matter. Obviously, you can't run Windows programs in Mac OS X but the photos etc should all be usable.

Macs can also read and write Windows FAT formatted hard disks. Windows NTFS hard disks can be read but only written to if you have the free Fuse for OS Xsoftware.

Thanks very much for the help Nick, its much appreciated.

The Windows programs that I would be wanting to install off of the CD's and DVD's would be for when I was running Windows 7 through Parallels Desktop. I would assume that they would install fine from off of the CD's, DVD's?

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Answer 4

tal1971 Author

Level 2

302 points

Oct 27, 2012 1:15 PM in response to baltwo

baltwo wrote:

FWIW, the new iMacs won't come with a CD/DVD reader/writer, so plan on getting an external one. Apple thinks optical media are so last year. See http://techland.time.com/2012/10/26/apples-phil-schiller-on-the-state-of-the-mac / for Schiller's assessment.

Yeah I saw some of the Keynote. Too be honest I'm glad they removed the internal cd, dvd drive, because its an easier job to replace a failed external cd, dvd drive than what it is to replace a failed internal one. I'll probably get the Apple Super Drive.

I cannot do without a cd, dvd drive has I still have a lot of cd's that I import from time to time into iTunes then onto my iPhone. Plus I do a bit of burning to cd and dvd too, last year it may be to Apple, but for me its something current and something that I still need 🙂

Thanks for the help baltwo, its much appreciated.

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Answer 5

Ziatron

Level 5

4,185 points

Oct 27, 2012 7:40 PM in response to tal1971

because its an easier job to replace a failed external cd, dvd drive than what it is to replace a failed internal one. I'll probably get the Apple Super Drive.

You're right, in fact, the hard drive, processor, and display should all be external as well. Makes replacement much easier.

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Answer 6

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Oct 27, 2012 10:44 PM in response to tal1971

tal1971 wrote:

To be honest I'm glad they removed the internal cd, dvd drive, because its an easier job to replace a failed external cd, dvd drive than what it is to replace a failed internal one. I'll probably get the Apple Super Drive.

Do note that Apple's superdrive won't work w/iMacs. From the specs sheet:

connects to your MacBook Pro with Retina display, MacBook Air, or Mac mini

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Answer 7

babowa

Level 9

78,097 points

Oct 27, 2012 10:53 PM in response to baltwo

Except that they may make it compatible - remember the other thread where it mentioned that there was an announcement in the keynote that they would work with the new iMacs. Not sure what they'd need to do - unless it's a software tweak to make the iMac recognize it?

I'm glad my old FW LaCie burner is still going......

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Answer 8

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Oct 27, 2012 10:59 PM in response to babowa

Ah! You're right, that was WRT the new iMacs coming out later this year. Not much interest for me, since they'll be ML-only iOS devices and not computers.👿

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Answer 9

babowa

Level 9

78,097 points

Oct 27, 2012 11:08 PM in response to baltwo

I'm passing on the new iMac models for several reasons (and ML isn't even a concern here, but I am so glad I got the fastest (benchmarks) iMac which can still run SL earlier this year. The processor is important when I'm in video editing/rendering mode.....

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Answer 10

tal1971 Author

Level 2

302 points

Oct 28, 2012 12:14 AM in response to baltwo

I'm sure I read that it would be possible to use an external, I'm sure the information was from the Keynote.

I know presently it isn't possible to use an external DVD drive with a Mac that already has an internal, but MacBook Air, MacBook Pro Retina Display can use the external Apple USB Super Drive because of the lack of an internal DVD drive, I expect the new iMac will fall into this category too.

Thanks for the help.

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Answer 11

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Oct 28, 2012 8:02 AM in response to tal1971

>I know presently it isn't possible to use an external DVD drive with a Mac that already has an internal,..

I have a external LaCie FireWire DVD connected to my iMac right now. It has also been connected to my mini and Mac Pro at some point. They all have DVD burners built in. Works without issues.

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Answer 12

babowa

Level 9

78,097 points

Oct 28, 2012 8:11 AM in response to tal1971

I know presently it isn't possible to use an external DVD drive with a Mac that already has an internal

Not sure where you heard that, but I've been using a LaCie external FW burner with at least 5 iMac models over the years and all of them had a Superdrive. During the old Tiger and Leopard (10.4/10.5) days, I had to install a "disc recording support" software supplied by LaCie, but that was quite a few years ago; since then, the external is automatically recognized once you insert a CD or DVD.

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Answer 13

tal1971 Author

Level 2

302 points

Oct 29, 2012 12:28 AM in response to babowa

Sorry I should have been more clear. I was meaning using the Apple USB SuperDrive with a Mac that already has a internal DVD drive. I'm sure I read that on these forums somewhere that it wouldn't work, I'm sure I read also that you can use the USB SuperDrive with a Mac that has an internal drive if the internal drive is not working. I could be wrong has I know very little about Macs presently : )

On the subject of external dvd drives, Ive been looking around for suitable external DVD drives for when I get my iMac. I couldnt really see any 5.25 inch mains powered ones here in the UK. I could find one on the LaCie site but it is a Blu Ray/cd/DVD burner and is expensive.

A lot of other mobile/portable DVD drives I've looked at have a twin ended USB cable, and a lot of the reviews I read on them mention the need to have both ends plugged into two USB ports for them to get the required power needed. I don't want to use two ports up with one device. With looking at the Apple USB SuperDrive, this only has one USB connector, so this would probably be the best choice for me if I couldn't find a 5.25 mains powered external DVD drive.

Thanks for the help its appreciated.

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Answer 14

Oct 29, 2012 5:34 AM in response to tal1971

tal1971 wrote:

I'm sure I read that it would be possible to use an external, I'm sure the information was from the Keynote.

I know presently it isn't possible to use an external DVD drive with a Mac that already has an internal, but MacBook Air, MacBook Pro Retina Display can use the external Apple USB Super Drive because of the lack of an internal DVD drive, I expect the new iMac will fall into this category too.

Thanks for the help.

Yes, that applies only to the Apple Superdrive. It will work only with the MBA, Mini and newer models which shipped without internal drives.

That drive will not work with other models.

You need a third-party CD/DVD drive, and it is wise to have one with it's own power supply.

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Answer 15

babowa

Level 9

78,097 points

Oct 29, 2012 8:26 AM in response to noondaywitch

If you check the keynote, there was mention that the new iMacs (shipping without a drive) will work with the Apple Superdrive - although, so far, the notes still do not contain that information. They probably will when the new iMacs are actually shipping.

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