2013 imac running OSX Mountain Lion won't recognize Samsung external DVD-RW model SE-208DB/TSWS

Hi Guys,

I have just purchased the same usb dvd and I have a new Macbook Pro and this will not recognise the player, has anyone solved the problem yet??

Yes, I got my iMac to recognize my drive through a USB hub (exactly what they say not to do). And it's connected with only the main USB cable (not the 2nd cable too). The hub is USB 2.0 and is powered. My Bluray burner is USB 3.0 (and so is my iMac). Just makes no sense to me.

But I have an 2011 MacAir with USB 3.0 ports and also a 2009 Macbook Pro with USB 2.0 and both recognize the drive fine.

I bought an iPad a year or so ago and my recollection is that when I first connected it to my iMac, I got some sort of message to the effect that the Imac wouldn't charge iPad and that I should use the mains charging adapter to do this. I took from this that the power available from the iMac USB port was limited. Since then, I have a new model iMac and this does not have the same issue. The external DVD drive covered in this thread does not have a power supply from a mains adapter so could it be that some Macs have just enough power at the USB port to power the drive whilst others simply don't have enough? This would explain why the drive worked on some machines but not on others, and is also consistent with mwhdvm's experience where his worked only after he switched to a powered USB hub.

Yes. The easiest way is to change another stronger line (USB to mini-USB).

I bought the same Samsung SE-208DB external DVD-RW drive, while I can use it normally on my late-2007 Macbook without any issue, but when I insert the DVD into my new late-2013 Retina Macbook Pro, it doesn't work.

the drive will make some noise and nothing happened.

I found that maybe because there is no enough power supply so I changed to a much better USB line and plug it, and now it works. Just try. I believe that's the reason why it didn't work.

If you dont' have a strong USB line you may use the line which has 2 USB-port and 1 mini-USB port, the 2nd/shorter USB port is used for power supply.

Solved the problem, nothing very technical I tried a different USB lead no working fine!

Thanks for all the input.

Well, I have to conclude that it is a power issue, but I'm still not sure. I have a 1TB Toshiba external USB 3.0 HD which works fine. So I took it's USB cable (which is smaller in gauge than the one for my DVD) and tried it and it didn't work. I have already tried using the 2 USB cable that came with the drive (2 usb ports - 1 provides additional power while the other runs the drive) and had nothing else plugged in via USB and it DOES NOT work. The gague of the main USB cable on this DVD drive is very large and robust. So then I went back to my USB hub and plugged it in w/o the power supply to the hub and the drive doesn't even spin up. Return power to the hub and the drive works normally.

So if it's a power supply issue, we can draw a few likely conclusions:

1) New iMacs don't have sufficient power at the USB ports.

2) It's less power than a 2011 MacAir and a 2009 MacBook Pro.

3) Using a USB hub that has an independent power supply provides enough power to run the drive.

Wish we had some actual voltage/amperage stats on the new iMacs vs. older computers.

I have the same DVD writer. On Monday it worked perfectly. On Tuesday nothing worked, my iMac would not recognise the machine at all. After reading these posts I unplugged the usb cable from the back of the Mac. Plugged it via a usb port and it worked. Why on earth would it make any difference. The mysteries of computers a.

Can anyone advise me on a USB hub to buy for this issue? I am not the most computer saavy and my brain is hurting from all the research I've done on this dvd writer issue today. 😝

Ms Bedelia, you need a USB hub that takes electrical mains power, so much depends on what country you are in because different countries have different power supply voltages and/or plug and socket (outlets). In the UK, try searching in Maplins or PCWorld; I think that the equivalent in the USA is Radioshack (if they are still going) and CompUSA. I would go for one that has at least 4 USB sockets as most computers, including Macs, never seem to have enough. Even in the UK where our VAT (sales tax) would bankrupt most small countries, a reasonable multi-port USB hub can be found for a tenner (£10, $15) or less.

• I plugged the writer to the iMac,
• I insered a disk - nothing - another disk - nothing -
• I disconnected the writer with the disk inside -
• than I connected the writer again – voilà!

Maybe a disk still has to be inside when you plug the writer to the Mac.

(OSX Mavericks/Samsung Slim portable SE-208)

Mine is "seen" by my iMac whether or not a disc has been inserted. My supposition is that the power at a USB port is at a level where sometimes it is enough, and sometimes it isn't. Disconnecting and reconnecting might make a better connection and, hence, provide just enough power. This would also explain why this problem occurs with some computers but not with others, with some cables and not others, and so on.

Had the same problem with a Samsung SE-S084 DVD drive. Switched to a better USB cable, worked first time. The cable I used came with a Nikon camera.

Same again - Samsung SE-218cn - replaced Samsung supplied cable with a spare one I had lying around, and bingo - it works.

But here's the weird bit - even with the Samsung lead, I was able to use the SE-218cn in the Virtual Machine (Parallels / Windows 7).

Thanks!!! a bigger cord made this work on my late model 2013 Imac. Was about to return the imac!

My Samsung SE-208 comes with a twin plug USB cable. Just using the end plug, the one with only one cable into it, the unit is not recognised by my iMac.

Try plugging in both USB plugs or even just the one with 2 cables coming into it: it worked for me.