i have an iMac G4 15 inch 700 MHz with combo drive, and when I put in DVD movies it says they are blank when they are not. I know the DVD drive works because I've upgraded to OS X tiger with no problems. how come it can read the OS X tiger install dvd but not be able to play dvd movies? I know the DVDs work because they play on my iMac G5.
iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)
Sometimes an optical drive cleaning disc or other methods may help
the DVDs to work in an older Combo or Super drive in iMac G4.
There are times however, when the drive may partially fail; when a
DVD may not be read or written to, but a CD disc media may work.
{Another sort of issue may arise when some kinds of media work OK
in certain versions of iMac (G4/G5) and the drive in a machine may
not be capable of playing certain formatted disks or types of DVDs.
I know there are limits in what the Combo & SuperDrives in iMacG4
can play; in fact the information is in system profiler hardware details.}
Troubleshooting either kind of factory equipped optical drive may be
a bit of work. Usually partial failure invokes need to replace the drive
if a lens cleaner doesn't work.
•Resetting the iMac (Flat Panel) Power Management Unit (PMU) - Apple Support
•iMac G4 Take-apart for Drive, RAM, & optical drive upgrade:
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/iMac_g4/imacg4_takeapart.html
•Mr Totes iMac G4 takeapart:
http://www.mrtotes.co.uk/page1/page1.html
• search result link - imac G4 optical drive not reading factory DVDs:
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=imac+g4+optical+drive+not+reading+factory+D VDs
In rare occasion, a PMU reset (power management unit) may help an
optical drive be seen by the system. OWC macsales may be a place
to check to see if they have suitable replacement superdrive or combo
drives. Otherwise, you'd need a FireWire external combo equivalent.
One of my iMac G4 1.25GHz 17-inch computers has a semi-defective
optical superdrive; in that it cannot be used to read/write DVDs. I feel
in this case a replacement is necessary; and have a spare parts iMac
that has other issues. Trouble is, opening up these is detail oriented
and takes considerable time. Then, there's the thermal paste, etc.
Perhaps BDAqua may see your post, or perhaps SpudNutty; both have
good ideas on how to deal with vintage hardware issues.
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂
iMac G4 reads DVDs as blank when they are not
