Camotoy
Level 1 (1 points)

Q: eMac ejects CDs, will not read them

Hello!

 

I have an eMac that, it seems whatever I do, will not read discs. The disk I am working with is a Leopard install disc/DVD, but it is not the only one that does this problem. It appears to spin for a few seconds in the CD/DVD drive, then ejects it. I have tried getting it to work in Safe Mode, resetting the PRAM, and currently I am attempting to clean the drive using a compressed air duster.

 

My eMac, bought from eBay many years ago, is an educational model, with 1 GHz processor, an upgraded 1 GB of RAM (it appears to have originally come with 512 MB, according to the DVD drive door), and the ATI Radeon 9200 Graphics.

 

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

eMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Apr 29, 2015 4:29 PM

by Allan Jones,Solvedanswer
Allan Jones Allan Jones
Level 7 (34,985 points)
iPad
A:

That indeed is a special eMac version sold only to educational institutions. The good news is that it was based on the newer USB 2.0 logic board and, in spite of Apple's outdated specs, can handle up to 2GB RAM and, of course, has USB 2.0. The ATI 9200 video chipset clearly makes it as variant what Apple called a "eMac (USB 2.0)" with the model identifier "PowerMac6,4." The commercial model had a 1.25gHz processor; the 1gHz was used in the edu-model to reduce costs.

 

The bad news is that, although I cannot find it in the limited specs published for this special model, another cost saving measure Apple had applied in other edu-model Macs was to downgrade the optical drive, so I would not be surprised if yours has a CD or CD-R optical drive. The commercial model typically had a "Combo" drive, capable of read/write with CDs and read-only for DVDs.

 

The check BDAqua posted will tell you for sure.

 

Many 1.0 and 1.25ghz USB 2.0 models had a bad logic board problem. The affected units fell in these serial number ranges:

  • G8412xxxxxx- G8520xxxxxx
  • YM412xxxxxx - YM520xxxxxx
  • VM440xxxxxx - VM516xxxxxx

 

If yours in in one of those ranges but is still working after all these years, it is probably OK.


As for the DVD instal disk, Leopard 10.5 was available on CD on special order. If you are in the US, I'd phone the central Apple Store (1-800-MY-APPLE) and ask for an operating systems specialist. Tell them you bought a DVD retail install disk but need the CD version for the older model Mac. That may still be able to arrange an exchange so you have compatible discs.

 

If you have a newer Mac with a working DVD-capable drive, you may be able to use FireWire Target Disk Mode to mount the eMac's hard drive on the newer Mac and then put your current install DVD in the new Mac but point the installer to the eMac. I've done that before, but I have piles of Macs from different eras.

Posted on Apr 30, 2015 7:32 AM

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Camotoy

Q: eMac ejects CDs, will not read them

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Camotoy,

    Camotoy Camotoy Apr 29, 2015 5:04 PM in response to Camotoy
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Apr 29, 2015 5:04 PM in response to Camotoy

    An update: it may be possible that my eMac can only read CDs, NOT DVDs.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Apr 29, 2015 5:41 PM in response to Camotoy
    Level 10 (123,467 points)
    Apr 29, 2015 5:41 PM in response to Camotoy

    Which exact eMac?

     

    If you don't know the model, find the Serial# & use it on one of these sites, but don't post the Serial# here...

     

    Using this serial number locator is way better than Chipmunk, and more secure:

     

    https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do

     

     

    http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html

     

    http://www.appleserialnumberinfo.com/Desktop/index.php

     

    How to find the serial number of your Apple hardware product...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1349

     

    Or...

     

    At the Apple Icon at top left>About this Mac, then click on More Info, then click on Hardware>Disc Burning & report what it says, like ...

     

    Interconnect: ATAPI

    Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)

    Cache: 2048 KB

    Reads DVD: Yes

    CD-Write: -R, -RW

    DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL

    Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes

    Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes

    Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD

  • by Allan Jones,Solvedanswer

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Apr 30, 2015 7:32 AM in response to Camotoy
    Level 7 (34,985 points)
    iPad
    Apr 30, 2015 7:32 AM in response to Camotoy

    That indeed is a special eMac version sold only to educational institutions. The good news is that it was based on the newer USB 2.0 logic board and, in spite of Apple's outdated specs, can handle up to 2GB RAM and, of course, has USB 2.0. The ATI 9200 video chipset clearly makes it as variant what Apple called a "eMac (USB 2.0)" with the model identifier "PowerMac6,4." The commercial model had a 1.25gHz processor; the 1gHz was used in the edu-model to reduce costs.

     

    The bad news is that, although I cannot find it in the limited specs published for this special model, another cost saving measure Apple had applied in other edu-model Macs was to downgrade the optical drive, so I would not be surprised if yours has a CD or CD-R optical drive. The commercial model typically had a "Combo" drive, capable of read/write with CDs and read-only for DVDs.

     

    The check BDAqua posted will tell you for sure.

     

    Many 1.0 and 1.25ghz USB 2.0 models had a bad logic board problem. The affected units fell in these serial number ranges:

    • G8412xxxxxx- G8520xxxxxx
    • YM412xxxxxx - YM520xxxxxx
    • VM440xxxxxx - VM516xxxxxx

     

    If yours in in one of those ranges but is still working after all these years, it is probably OK.


    As for the DVD instal disk, Leopard 10.5 was available on CD on special order. If you are in the US, I'd phone the central Apple Store (1-800-MY-APPLE) and ask for an operating systems specialist. Tell them you bought a DVD retail install disk but need the CD version for the older model Mac. That may still be able to arrange an exchange so you have compatible discs.

     

    If you have a newer Mac with a working DVD-capable drive, you may be able to use FireWire Target Disk Mode to mount the eMac's hard drive on the newer Mac and then put your current install DVD in the new Mac but point the installer to the eMac. I've done that before, but I have piles of Macs from different eras.

  • by Camotoy,

    Camotoy Camotoy Apr 30, 2015 2:38 PM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Apr 30, 2015 2:38 PM in response to Allan Jones

    Thank you for the input. System Profiler tells me that I have a CD-ROM drive. I do have another computer that supports the disk, and I think I will go for the FireWire Target Disk mode sometime in the future, if I get a FireWire cable. Thank you once again!