JohnF1983

Q: SuperDrive won't read Windows 7 DVD's

Hello everyone.

 

I have an iMac mid 2011 with Lion 10.7.5 installed and also Windows 7.

My problem is that I need to do a reinstallation of windows 7 but every DVD that I insert, even the original one that I have with Windows 7 Pro, are shown either blank or they are automatically ejected from drive. I also tried installing windows with external usb dvd-drive but all I got was a black screen after selecting the dvd.

Is there any solution that I can do so to reinstall Windows? I use them olny for a specific program for my job that is not available on Mac.

 

Thank you in advance.

John

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Oct 10, 2014 11:04 AM

Close

Q: SuperDrive won't read Windows 7 DVD's

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Oct 10, 2014 11:06 AM in response to JohnF1983
    Level 9 (58,914 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Oct 10, 2014 11:06 AM in response to JohnF1983

    Are you attempting to install MS Windows using BootCamp, Parallels, or Fusion. If you used BootCamp then I'd recommend posting in the BootCamp forum, if you use Parallels or Fusion use their forum. If you would like this thread moved to the BootCamp forum please let me know and I will ask the moderator to do so for you.

  • by JohnF1983,

    JohnF1983 JohnF1983 Oct 10, 2014 10:29 PM in response to rkaufmann87
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2014 10:29 PM in response to rkaufmann87

    My problem is with bootcamp. Please move it to the correct section.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Oct 11, 2014 5:12 PM in response to JohnF1983
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Oct 11, 2014 5:12 PM in response to JohnF1983

    1. Do you already have an existing Windows 7 installation on the iMac?

    2. Are you using the built-in internal SuperDrive or an external USB SuperDrive?

    3. Does the SuperDrive read other DVDs successfully but always reject this specific one?

  • by JohnF1983,

    JohnF1983 JohnF1983 Oct 13, 2014 3:14 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 13, 2014 3:14 AM in response to Loner T

    1. I already have an existing installation of Windows 7. I did it by making a partion with bootcamp manager and then installing windows from my DVD.

    2. I have tried both the internal and an external one.

    3. The superdrive reads every other dvd without any problem.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Oct 13, 2014 4:30 AM in response to JohnF1983
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Oct 13, 2014 4:30 AM in response to JohnF1983

    1. Do you have access to a Windows machine where this DVD can be read and verified?

    2. On machines that have internal Optical drives, using an external Optical drive will cause problems during Windows installation, for example, black screens, no boot device, etc.

    3. If a USB is used after modifying internal files, there have been some issues with KVM. This method needs the user to support it themselves.

    4. Do you have the ability to create another copy or download the W7 DVD from the Microsoft website using your current product key?

  • by JohnF1983,

    JohnF1983 JohnF1983 Oct 13, 2014 5:07 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 13, 2014 5:07 AM in response to Loner T
  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Oct 13, 2014 6:46 AM in response to JohnF1983
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Oct 13, 2014 6:46 AM in response to JohnF1983

    Not sure if you intended a blank response.

  • by JohnF1983,

    JohnF1983 JohnF1983 Oct 13, 2014 8:10 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 13, 2014 8:10 AM in response to Loner T

    I didn't want a blank response, maybe I pressed something.

    I tried all my DVD's on computers that work with windows and they are all working.

    Once it tried to boot with the usb but it stuck right after I chose to boot from DVD.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Oct 13, 2014 8:31 AM in response to JohnF1983
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Oct 13, 2014 8:31 AM in response to JohnF1983

    If it is readable on a Windows machine, can you create an ISO file on the Windows machine, move the ISO to OSX and try to open the ISO using OSX? It will remove the two Optical drives from the equation to verify if either has an issue with the original DVD or not.

     

    If this ISO method works, it can be burnt to the internal SuperDrive  and verified before being used.

     

    A Mac with an internal SuperDrive (in most cases) will not support a USB installation, the following are exceptions (as documented in Boot Camp 5.1: Frequently asked questions). I have used the USB method on a 2012 13 MBP.

     

    Can I use a downloaded (ISO) version of Windows with Boot Camp?

    MacBook Air (Mid 2011 and later), MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 and later, including Retina models), Mac mini (Mid 2011 and later), and iMac (Late 2012) can install downloaded (ISO) versions of Windows 7 and 8.

  • by JohnF1983,

    JohnF1983 JohnF1983 Oct 13, 2014 11:58 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 13, 2014 11:58 AM in response to Loner T
  • by JohnF1983,

    JohnF1983 JohnF1983 Oct 13, 2014 12:04 PM in response to JohnF1983
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 13, 2014 12:04 PM in response to JohnF1983
    I don’t know what is happening, I’m pressing reply, write my message but blank message appears.  I’ll try to burn the iso with  superdrive and see what happens
  • by JohnF1983,

    JohnF1983 JohnF1983 Oct 14, 2014 12:49 AM in response to Loner T
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2014 12:49 AM in response to Loner T

    I have tried 2 times to burn the image that I downloaded from microsoft, but I cannot write it. I tried another DVD, not with windows, and it was written fine.

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Oct 14, 2014 4:56 AM in response to JohnF1983
    Level 7 (24,596 points)
    Safari
    Oct 14, 2014 4:56 AM in response to JohnF1983

    On the OS X side, can you right-click on the ISO and click on Get Info and post a screen shot?