USB SuperDrive install to 2008 iMac 7,1

What brand of drive is it?

Does the optical drive's packaging have a works with OS X label anywhere on it?

Do you have the drive plugged directly into a USB port on the back of your iMac?

Does this drive have its own power supply OR does it work taking the iMac's power from the USB port?

Have you tried putting in a known working disc? You won't know of the drive works unless you put in a disc and see if it mounts to the OS X desktop.

Despite the common and popular belief on these help forums that any optical drive will work with a Mac, I believe not all optical drives work with Macs.

And there has been many instances here where that has been proven true.

The new Apple USB SuperDrive only works with new iMacs that no longer come with a bulit-in SuperDrive.

The Apple drive won't work with your model iMac or any model Mac that already has a bulit-in drive.

I suggest purchasing other third party, Mac compatible optical from online Mac reseller and Mac hardware and device seller OWC ( macsales). They have optical drives that are known to work across a variety of Mac models.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/optical-drives/

Good Luck!

Here's what the new Apple external SuperDrive is compatible with.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD564ZM/A/apple-usb-superdrive

Return this drive and purchase from the source I recommended.

If you want, you can get it to work by editing one of the computer's plist files.

(84418)

I think you'll find that the Apple Stores may not have any other third party optical drives in their stores since they are phasing out optical drives in many of the Mac line. They are only selling and promoting their own external optical drive as an option, now.

Did you notice any other external drives for sale when you were at the Apple Store last?

If you have another local source for Apple hardware like an authorized Apple reseller or you try your local electronics chain for optical drives. You need to make sure the third party drives show a Mac OS X logo on the box that indicates the optical drive is compatible with Macs.

Any reason why you are objectionable to ordering from a known online source for Mac compatible products?

OWC is a great supplier for all things Mac and you will have zero issues, by and large, with compatibilty issues.

If you have any other electronics/computer stores, or really check the Apple Store for other third party drives.

Most third party drives will work with Macs, but I am convinced, not all.

So, look around the Apple Store or ask the Apple Store employee if they have any other drives in stock or on the shelves. If, no, then you have no choice but to try other local computer/electronics stores.

Good Luck!

"I was going to use the suggested plist file, but decided it was to risky.

Also I am not that tech savy, and don't want to risk stuffing up my Mac."

I do not blame you. I am am fairly tech savvy, myself, but don't like playing around in the Terminal app because if you mis- type one little thing wrong, it can cause problems with the OS or render it frozen with no way to fix it if you don't have another bootable clone of your current system.

Again, Good Luck!

Glad your new drive works.

FYI, like I stated, there are many other Mac-compatible ootical drives out there.

Optical drive enclosures with the LiteOn optical drive is one of the known Mac- compatible drives.

I have an old 52X CD burning drive only the was a LiteOn drive and it works, actually still works great!

Is this a tray loading drive? Those will last longer than a slot loading style drive.

One last comment.

Truly Mac compatible hard drives or optical drives do not need special plugins OR special drivers.

The exception to this maybe external Blu-ray capable drives as the Mac has no capabilities, itself, for playing or burning Blu-ray content.

I repeat no special plugins. May need disc burning software, but no special drivers or plugins.

You chose to purchase locally and were able to find a compatible drive. Conpletely Mac compatible drives can be found on various online sources.

If you are curious, check out drives from LaCie, OWC ( macsales.com) in the U.S. for their Mercury Pro line of optical drives, Newer Technologies optical drives or Mini Stack optical drives, and G-Technologies.

All of their drives are Mac compatible. No special plugins or drivers needed. And if any drivers were needed, they would ship with a disc for the needed driver or refer you to a website.

I know it would be more expensive for overseas shipping from these locations, but you maybe able to find a source of these Mac compatible optical and hard drives, in the future, in and around your side of the globe.

Glad it all worked out for you!!

Good Luck and have fun!

😉