Q: My emac doesn't see my optical drive

Have you done a PRAM reset, CMD+Option+p+r...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

In fact, do 3 in a row, takes a bit of time.

Well, it should R/W CDs & read but not burn DVDs.

Do you have another Mac with Firewire around with a working Optical drive?

You could replace it, not easy to find an old optical, nor easy to do if you do find one, one solution is an external Firewire optical...

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MRF82SD24S/

Macintosh System Requirements

• FireWire Interface and OS X 10.3 or above

Optical drives get dirty. The first action to take when one acts up is to get a drive-cleaning disk and run it. Many times this is all that is needed to restore function.

Put the Install Disc in the MBP, boot the MBP into FWTDM holding t key down, connect Firewire cable, boot the eMac holding alt key down, hopefully the Install Disc in the MBP shows up as a boot option.

Check whether you need a 6 pin to 9 pin FW cable or whatever each end has.

I think you'll need 9-pin on the MBP side as I recall, & 6-pin on the eMac end..

http://eshop.macsales.com/Search/Search.cfm?Ntk=Category&Ns=P_Popularity|1&Ne=5000&N=7157&Ntt=cables