Pioneer DVR-104 won't recognize/burn/eject disc. I am STUCK. Help?

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Level 1

24 points

Pioneer DVR-104 won't recognize/burn/eject disc. I am STUCK. Help?

Hello.
I bought an iMac G4 800mhz flat panel model with DVR-104 superdrive recently.
It's was working perfectly until I tired to burn my 1st disc using Toast 7 (DVD-R). That's when things started messing up. I stuck the disc in and after "thinking" about it for a minute ejected it without any message -- it just spit it out.

I repaired file permissions, restarted, tried another disc and now I can't get the disc out. When i push the eject button i get the eject icon on the screen but the disc doesn't come out.

-Under Disc Burning in System Profiler it now says "No burning device was found. If you are using an external device please make sure that it is connected and powered properly".
-Toast 7 says "no recorder found".
-When I restart the computer I get the message "Disk Insertion - the disk you inserted was not readable by this computer". Until I tried to burn a disc the drive had been working perfectly and a lot.

So to recap: There's a disc stuck in the Superdrive that my iMac doesn't think is there. Can I force eject?
Any ideas??
Thanks!!

Oh BTW here's what is says under System Profiler about the Pioneer DVR-104:
Model: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-104
Revision: A216
Serial Number: BCDL160039WL
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk1
Protocol: ATAPI
Unit Number: 1
Socket Type: Internal
OS9 Drivers: No
S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

PowerMac FW800 (G4), iMac G4 800 SuperDrive Mac OS X (10.4.6)

PowerMac FW800 (G4), iMac G4 800 SuperDrive, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Jun 7, 2006 12:32 AM

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Answer 1

KeepItSimple Author

Level 1

24 points

Jun 7, 2006 3:08 AM in response to KeepItSimple

Ok after doing some research it seems I committed a huge no-no by trying to use 8X and 16X DVD-R's in my iMac with a Pioneer DVR-104 SuperDrive. I'm REALLY sorry I didn't know --I just got the iMac, plus the discs work fine in the DVR-105 on my PowerMac. What a difference 1 little number makes.

If those older DVR-104s don't work well now oh well that's the way it goes. I'll just upgrade the drive to fix that hassle but MEANWHILE there's a blank 8X DVD-R stuck in the drive and I can't get it out.
I tried all the things here but none worked:
http://guides.macrumors.com/ForceEject_a_Stuck_CD_orDVD

How can I get the disc out?
Thanks!!

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Answer 2

Jun 7, 2006 3:03 AM in response to KeepItSimple

To get that troublesome disc out....:

Switch on/reboot
After the startup chime, press and hold <command/apple> <alt/option> <o> <f>
At the command line prompt, type: eject cd
Hit Return, the optical drive will then eject.
Type: mac-boot
Hit return.

I don't think Toast 7 is installed correctly. Use the unstaller (if there is one) if not use Spotlight to search for all Roxio/Toast files and trash them. Then re-install Toast and try again. Can you still burn okay using iApps or the Finder/Disk Utility?

mrtotes

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Answer 3

Jun 7, 2006 3:04 AM in response to KeepItSimple

8x or 16x discs may work - but that could well have contributed towards the problem - however they do not usually get stuck in the drive - nor do they cause Toast not to recognise the burner.

mrtotes

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Answer 4

KeepItSimple Author

Level 1

24 points

Jun 7, 2006 3:43 AM in response to Adam Coates

Thanks for trying to help.
The reboot using command/opt o-f didn't work. I typed in eject cd and hit the return key -- nothing happened for about 20 seconds then 'ok' appeared on the same line as eject cd but the tray didn't open. I rebooted by typing mac-boot. I tried it again -- same result.

I think Toast 7 was installed OK. It showed the DVR-104 as a recorder before I tried that 1st burn with an 8 or 16X disc (not really sure which one i tried first). It now says "no recorder found". The computer doesn't think I have a burner. Besides I would need to use the drive to re-install Toast anyway. I have diagnostic discs but can't use them!
Thanks.

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Answer 5

Jun 7, 2006 4:02 AM in response to KeepItSimple

Okay how about using Firewire Target Mode on the iMac and connect to your PM then use the PM's Finder to eject/read the Disc in the iMac's drive?

regards

mrtotes

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Answer 6

KeepItSimple Author

Level 1

24 points

Jun 7, 2006 8:50 AM in response to Adam Coates

mrtotes thanks a lot for the suggestions! I didn't have to try the Target mode but I'll remember that one thanks.

With blank 8X DVD-R still stuck in iMac I ran Onyx (with everything in the Automation area checked√) and went to bed.

This morning I forgot it was in sleep mode & not turned off so I hit the power button to turn it on. It woke up, but the screen was frozen. I turned it off using the power button.

When I turned it back on the DVD in the drive started making that "clunk clunk" noise again trying to load (it had not been making any noises at all while stuck) while the computer was booting up. I held down the eject key & the mouse until it finished booting up. THE DISC CAME OUT. Whew!
I don't know if it was Onyx or me pushing the power button when it was asleep or that mouse/eject maneuver but it worked.

I guess I'll need to stick to 4X DVD-R for now if I can find any. Does anyone know where to get those now? I'm in Sacramento, CA.
Also, I have some Memorex 52X blank CDs. Do I dare try one of those or what speed should I use?
Thanks!!

PowerMac FW800 (G4), iMac G4 800 SuperDrive Mac OS X (10.4.6)

PowerMac FW800 (G4), iMac G4 800 SuperDrive Mac OS X (10.4.6)

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Answer 7

Hamvid

Level 1

0 points

Jun 9, 2006 6:48 PM in response to KeepItSimple

next time, try holding down the mouse button or eject key on your keyboard while restarting- that should work.

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Answer 8

KeepItSimple Author

Level 1

24 points

Jun 10, 2006 7:02 AM in response to Hamvid

I tried that along with all those other things, but a the time the drive was in some kind of "tilt" mode and wasn't responding to any remedies.

I went out that day to Core Care, the really great Mac authorized repair shop here in Sacramento and had a new DVR-111D SuperDrive put in. End of problem with that old drive.

Thanks for the help!!

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