The Superdrives of both my MBP 2011 and my Imac 27" 2010 have both gone a little off kilter. They will read and write CDs, but simply refuse to do anything with a DVD - my MBP just spits it out, and my Imac sometimes won't even do that without my going into terminal and ordering it to eject from there.
Anybody have any ideas about what might be going on?
iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5), 27inch i7 2.93
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.
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Try a different brand. Top forum favorites
CDs
FUJI
TDK
Verbatim
DVDs
Maxell
Verbatim
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Apple's Disc Burning Quick Assist
Make sure the DVDs are not dirty, smudged and/or scratched.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2000Mac doesn't start up from install disc
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2801Apple Computers: Troubleshooting the slot-loading SuperDrive
*** Your drive may need cleaning. Cleaning kits can be purchased from any store that sells CD/DVDs. ***
Sometimes the PRAM battery can believe it or not cause the optical drive to misbehave. After you try everything above, look into that. Once a Mac is older than 4 years, the PRAM battery can start to create many odd misbehaviors with the optical drive and peripherals.
Hi
Thanks much for these tips, but none of these steps has really helped at all. The MBP just chews on the DVD for a while, and spits it out. Still plays and records CDs just fine.
How can it be hardware - more realistically firmware or software issue, no?
the iMac is just plain ornery, sometimes read and writes, sometimes doesn't, sometimes requires Terminal commands to spit it out.
Still does a great job with CDs, just like the MBP.
I hate to buy new hardware to resolve a non hardware issue, but nobody seems to have a handle on what is actually the problem.
As I understand it the pram replacement would be beyond my expertise. anytime I have to solder something to a motherboard I bring it to someone else.
I'd probably try an external burner first.
But thanks for the reply.
By the way, I always thought that the clock losing time was the first symptom of the pram battery going - is that not true any more?
Thanks
durantophone wrote:
As I understand it the pram replacement would be beyond my expertise. anytime I have to solder something to a motherboard I bring it to someone else.
You are not soldering anything. CLICKY CLICK---> How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support
I'd probably try an external burner first.
Probably your best bet. MBP optical drives tend to be very flaky.
But thanks for the reply.
By the way, I always thought that the clock losing time was the first symptom of the pram battery going - is that not true any more?
Answered in the KB Article link above.
Thanks
How can it be hardware
Optical drives are hardware. 😉
You have the option of taking your MBP to an Apple Store or an AASP. Diagnostic testing is FREE!!
It actually is the last symptom, except before sometimes it won't allow the Mac to boot at all. And the battery usually is in a removable case, and not something you have to solder on. But it does require you be aware of your static electricity when you access it.
Superdrive reads writes CDs, but not DVDs
