DVD won't show up in disk utility

When I insert a blank DVD +R, Disk Utility only shows the SuperDrive, with the option to erase Data on the Disk (obviously this isn't possible being that the disk is already blank, so the only option left is the eject the disk.)


The blank DVD will show up in finder, and will show up on the Desktop, just nothing in Disk Utility, making it impossible to burn an ISO to DVD, etc.


I apologize if this has been addressed already, but I was unable to find the answer in the Support Forums / through Google.

MacBook Pro (17-inch 2.4 GHz), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Oct 13, 2013 11:55 AM

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18 replies

Oct 13, 2013 12:08 PM in response to MUMacUser

Repair permissions and restart your computer.


Another help source (if you haven't already done so). Go to your OS Help Menu. In the search field type dvd.

Click on all the troubleshooting topics & Support Articles that pertain to your issue. You can also do the same in Disk Utility. Open same up. At the bottom left of the window, click on the purple button w/the "?" in the middle. This will bring up the Help Menu.











User uploaded file

Oct 13, 2013 4:44 PM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

Okay, so I have tried the permissions repair, no luck.


First brand of DVD I tried was Memorex, no luck

Bought some made by Maxell, no luck.


(I'm pretty sure I've successfully used both of these in the past, by the way.)


Unfortunately Help menus are very generalized and wouldn't address this situation. Just for giggles, I looked anyways with no luck.


Any other suggestions?

Oct 13, 2013 4:49 PM in response to MUMacUser


You can diagnose this EASY.


Will it play a commercial DVD movie? If yes move to #2. IF NO, then the laser lens is dirty.


#2. Unfortunately Maxell and Memorex are bottom of the barrel, .....as an alternate youd been best grabbing a Verbatum stack (there is better such as professional JVC Taiyo Yuden, but not at retail stores).




Worst case is the Panasonic Superdrive in your macbook is bad, .....a new one is $39.00

Oct 13, 2013 5:05 PM in response to MUMacUser

I assume youre using Apple OS burning option or using another APP like Toast?


In the past I have found some DVD burners that couldnt focus the laser for a burn but could still read the reflective layer off a commercial DVD ok.


I believe Ive seen this about 5 or more times in the past.



Do you have an external Superdrive for process elimination? Otherwise contact Apple for diagnostic/ replace the Superdrive.


If out of warranty, you can do it yourself for $40 for a new superdrive.


Superdrive loader /ejector isnt the issue (as is often the case) since you can play commercial DVD fine.


leaving only a very few options.



DVD-R is more critical to do in attempting a BURN that DVD+R is

Oct 13, 2013 5:19 PM in response to MUMacUser

nope.,


Use DVD+R for your archives, not DVD-R

As to the type of professional DVD blank media: DVD-R is inferior for data preservation for several reasons: error correction, wobble tracking, and writing method. For a DVD to track where it is on the disc, it uses three things: the ‘wobble’ of the data track to tell where it is in the track, the position of the track to tell where it is on the disc, and some additional information where on the disc to tell where the track begins and ends. On –R media, the ATIP is stored as a frequency modulation in the wobble itself; since the wobble changes subtly to encode data, it is impossible to use with the small size of tracks DVD requires, as electric noise in the laser pickup and wobbles introduced by the electric motor spinning the disc, these could easily be read as frequency changes in the real track itself.

On DVD-R this problem had been attempted to be solved by ‘pre-pits’ where spikes in the amplitude of the wobble appear due to pits fully out of phase with the rest of the track (between two spirals of the track, where there is no data). This can be viewed as a simple improvement over CD-R as it makes it easier to track the wobble. This method has one flaw: due to electric noise in the laser pickup, it would be very easy to miss the pre-pit (or read one that wasn’t actually there) if the disc were damaged or spun at fast speeds. DVD-R traded hard to track frequency changes for hard to read wobble-encoded data.

On a DVD+R there is a better write method. Instead of changing the frequency of the wobble, or causing amplitude spikes in the wobble, they use complete phase changes. Where DVD-R’s methods make you choose between either easy wobble tracking or easy ATIP reading, DVD+R method makes it very easy to track the wobble, and also very easy to encode data into the wobble. DVD+R method is called ADIP (Address In Pre-groove).

Now, the third item on the list: how DVD+R discs burn better. ATIP/pre-pit/ADIP stores information about optimum power control settings. DVD-R basically fails on all three accounts because DVD+R simply includes far more information about the media in the ADIP data than DVD-R does in it’s pre-pit data. DVD+R includes four optimum profiles, one for four major burning speeds. Each of these profiles includes optimum power output based on laser wavelength, more precise laser power settings, and other additional information. With this information, any DVD+R burner can far more optimize its burning strategy to fit the media than it can with DVD-R, thereby providing better burns.

DVD+R also gives four times more scratch space for the drive to calibrate the laser on; more space can only improve the calibration quality. So DVD+R media exists to simply produce better burns and protect your data better, which when it comes to data hub archiving is of vital importance.

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DVD won't show up in disk utility

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