Replacing superdrive on Mac Mini

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Level 1

10 points

Replacing superdrive on Mac Mini

Hi

My superdrive appears to be on the blink. It takes the disks in, but adamantly refuses to mount the disks. It is the follow model (one of the later dual core intel models with superdrive).

The superdrive is a: PIONEER DVD-RW DVRTS08

I would be tempted to replace it myself, and wondered is there any guidance (I've seen some on Fixit) and also would anyone know which drives fit this model? Should I get that same model?

Model Name: Mac mini

Model Identifier: Macmini3,1

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2 GHz

Number Of Processors: 1

Total Number Of Cores: 2

L2 Cache: 3 MB

Memory: 2 GB

Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz

Boot ROM Version: MM31.0081.B06

SMC Version (system): 1.35f0

Serial Number (system): 74951CMS19Y

Hardware UUID: F637EC7E-CC8E-5352-9672-A172237F07C3

Or course the other option is just to bu an external drive- say the Apple Superdrive for £65 or a cheapo on Ebay.

Many thanks in advance
Ed

Mac mini (Early 2009), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 1:45 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

John Lockwood

Level 6

13,685 points

Mar 21, 2013 2:27 AM in response to Ed Lawrence1

I had a SuperDrive fail in a similar model Mac mini. I bought a replacement mechanism off eBay (the original Pioneer model had been discontinued) and fitted it myself, while I did not need the MacFixit instructions myself, those make such an operation straight forward.

The part I bought off eBay was Apple labeled but most slot-loading mechanisms should fit.

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Answer 2

Ed Lawrence1 Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 22, 2013 1:18 AM in response to John Lockwood

Thanks John i'll look on ebay

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Answer 3

mooblie

Level 4

1,954 points

Mar 22, 2013 5:30 AM in response to Ed Lawrence1

Ed Lawrence1 wrote:

Thanks John i'll look on ebay

It won't be difficult, Ed:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_nkw=DVR-TS08&_frs=1

I have the same mini, and followed this to replace my optical drive:

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac+mini+Model+A1283+Optical+Drive+Replacement/1065/ 1

One tip: as getting the top case off is such a wrench, run it with the top OFF for a few days afterwards, to make sure everything has been put back OK.

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