andrewfromflagstaff
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: i how a imac G4 it seen dvds but won't play then

i have a imac g4 went i put a dvd in the drive it seen the dvd but how can i play please help

imac, Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Dec 8, 2012 6:09 PM

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andrewfromflagstaff

Q: i how a imac G4 it seen dvds but won't play then

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  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Dec 9, 2012 11:27 AM in response to andrewfromflagstaff
    Level 8 (35,176 points)
    iPad
    Dec 9, 2012 11:27 AM in response to andrewfromflagstaff

    Did the drive ever work with DVDs? In the very first G4 iMacs, a DVD-capable drive was an expensive option, so it may not have the capability.

     

    Is this a commercial DVD, one that was burned, or a blank one to be burned?

     

    Finding out if you have a DVD-capable drive: do "About this Mac" from your Apple menu and, in the resulting window, click the "More Info" button to launch System Profiler. Once there, use the left-hand "Contents" pane to select "Disk Burning." That will show this:

     

    Screen shot 2012-12-09 at 11.19.10 AM.png

    [click image for a larger view]

     

    In the main pane you can see an entry for "Reads DVD" and, below that, what kind of media can be recorded.

     

    If "Reads DVD" reports "No," you are out of luck.

     

    If it says "Yes," the first thing to do is get and use a drive cleaning disk. You want the kind the works dry--not wet--using static brushes. I use this one:

     

    http://www.ixos.co.uk/us/ixos-products-detail.asp?PROID=595&Category=20

     

    I've loaned it to several friends whose Mac optical drives were pronounced "dead" by Apple techs, but a simple cleaning restored the drives to full function.

  • by andrewfromflagstaff,

    andrewfromflagstaff andrewfromflagstaff Dec 9, 2012 11:50 AM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2012 11:50 AM in response to Allan Jones

    it can seen the dvd but it will not play it. i open quickplayer to play the dvd  but it can't burn dvd it but i have not try to burn cd

  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Dec 10, 2012 7:52 AM in response to andrewfromflagstaff
    Level 8 (35,176 points)
    iPad
    Dec 10, 2012 7:52 AM in response to andrewfromflagstaff

    What did System Profiler show? I posted that technique becasue you can get some clues from its reports.

  • by andrewfromflagstaff,

    andrewfromflagstaff andrewfromflagstaff Dec 20, 2012 9:21 AM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 20, 2012 9:21 AM in response to Allan Jones

    is thier any dedcoder for a 12 years old imac g4 to dvd it show the icon but cant play

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Dec 20, 2012 10:18 AM in response to andrewfromflagstaff
    Level 9 (66,876 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Dec 20, 2012 10:18 AM in response to andrewfromflagstaff

    All iMac G4s with a built-in DVD drive have a built-in ability to playback any commercial DVD's movie. Burnt DVDs made with other computers get a little more sticky because the DVD drive in the iMac G4 was the slowest ever made.  So if they were burnt at high speed the iMac G4 won't be able to handle those DVDs.  This is why the System Profiler data is so important.  It will tell you under the ATA or IDE section what type of optical drive you have and what formats it supports reading and writing.  Go to Apple menu -> About This Mac -> More info.  If Mac OS 9, just pick the Apple System Profiler from the Applications Mac OS 9 folder or Apple menu.