After updating to El Capitan on my mid 2010 iMac | 3.08 GHz Intel Core i3 | 16 GB memory 1067MHzDDR3, the computer:
This seems to be a fairly widespread problem.
iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2010), iOS 9.0.2, just updated (darn it)
Mid 2010 13'' Macbook Pro (MacbookPro 7,1)
Same issue.
I installed El Capitan and immediately noticed the DVD drive was unusable.
I attempted to fix by resetting PRAM and SMC as per an online tut to no avail.
I attempted to fix by clean installing El Capitan, where the original install was performed over top of Yosemite. The drive is still currently unusable.
Second time an Apple software update has had a negative effect on the hardware (first time iPhone 4S iOS 7 bluetooth/wifi issue).
If I can get the drive working when my replacement Snow Leopard disc arrives tomorrow I'll stay with Snow Leo, the software this computer was built for.
Upgrading just isn't worth the risk anymore, IMO.
My mid-2011 iMac exhibited the same failure of the SuperDrive under El Capitan; however, in the last two weeks the SuperDrive started working again. Admittedly, one Sony/Columbia CD out of six others could not be imported into iTunes. I'm at a loss to explain why the SuperDrive stopped working but now functions mostly as it should.
Hey
Is there still no apple fix for this problem?
I have a Mid 2007 iMac 20", it was purchased with a new upgrade to El Capitan and the internal SuperDrive was no longer working. I purchased a refurbished working internal SuperDrive and replaced the broken one. This is still not working.
It can be seen In "about this Mac" but disc utility doesn't even see it. It doesn't draw in or eject discs. There is a disc stuck in it at present that I can't get out. I have tried terminal command 'drutil eject' on many occasions, you hear it trying to do something but it never comes out.
When I turn my iMac on you hear it trying to load the disc but never goes any further, I've tried holding down mouse button, eject button and c buttons on start up, none work.
Any ideas I'm totally at a loss. I just want to be able to boot camp and install windows 7. As it's an old Mac it requires and internal drive to boot from disc. My external USB drive won't work to boot from. It's driving me nuts.
Any help would totally be appreciated
Thanks
Serina
A mid 2007 iMac (like any mac with an Intel processor) CAN boot from a USB drive.
The drive must be partitioned as GUID and the system volume must be formatted as OS X Extended.
It appears that you may have a hardware problem (either the drive or the connecting cable or circuitry). Holding down the mouse button on start to eject a drive is something that acts before the OS even loads, so being in El Capitan or other OS should be moot.
*Just in case* there is a software problem, you could try starting in Safe Mode and see if you have any access to the drive while in Safe Mode.
Hey,
I was told by an apple genius that my particular model of iMac was not bootable via USB device. So if what you are saying is true about partitioning that would save me a great amount of time and energy. Most other people have advised me to use a virtual drive to use boot camp to install windows but it all seems like too much for an iMac noob to get her head around, your way sounds a lot easier. Thanks I'll look into trying that.
Thanks
Serina
Stellarserina wrote:
Hey,
I was told by an apple genius that my particular model of iMac was not bootable via USB device. So if what you are saying is true about partitioning that would save me a great amount of time and energy.
Your genius was mistaken - which, in this case, is good news for you.
Your mac can boot from usb - it will be slow, since this only USB2, but it will work.
Here is rather old link (2008) about macs booting from USB.
Mac 101: Yes, Intel Macs can be booted from an external USB drive
And here is the Apple support document about installing OS and booting from an external drive (updated recently for Sierra, but essentially the same old Apple support document, which is merely updated every year to reflect the current OS):
How to set up and use an external Mac startup disk - Apple Support
I had the same problem with my 2013 iMac when I upgraded to Capitan. As this was the first version without an internal drive i already had a usb superdrive. tell you the truth i forget what I did, but it's working pretty much as it should now. but i'm not upgrading either my OS or iTunes anymore until i absolutely have to. (btw, if you use Adobe Creative Suite you might want to be watch out for that too)
This is helpful. Thank you. I upgraded and the same thing happened. I cannot install my Office 11.
Try opening the terminal app first before running the install and hopefully it will install.
Tried number 5 (with a dry cloth) and it worked.
I think he meant external mac drive? do they still make those?
An external Apple SuperDrive is available but it only works for 2012 and later Macs. An internal DVD drive is available:
1) What about the 2011 mini with no internal drive?
2) It works on my 2009 mini. I reinstalled the OS with it.
Tracy
Trouble is, I can't install Sierra on the 2009 Mini. So superdrive still doesn't work
My dvd player is part of my imac, not a 3rd party.
Why doesn't it work?
Same problem.
El Capitan killed DVD drive
