BrokenG4

Q: PowerBook G4 dvd drive not accepting dics

PowerBook G4 will not accept disc, doesn't read If one is already in it

 

where do you buy external DVDs drive

PowerBook, 10.4

Posted on Feb 28, 2016 11:51 AM

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Q: PowerBook G4 dvd drive not accepting dics

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  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Feb 28, 2016 12:22 PM in response to BrokenG4
    Level 8 (38,248 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 28, 2016 12:22 PM in response to BrokenG4

    PowerBook G4 will not accept disc, doesn't read If one is already in it

    Seems like the solution is to remove the disc that is currently in the optical drive.    Is it stuck?

     

    https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/15314/How+do+I+remove+a+stuck+disk+from+driv e

     

    If you need an external optical drive because the built-in drive is broken, does your PowerBook have USB 2.0 or 1.1?  USB 1.1 is very slow, so if your PowerBook does not have USB 2.0 ports, the external drive should connect using FireWire.  Those are much less common, but OWC has a few (which also connect using USB 2.0/3.0), for example

     

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MR3F82SD24S/

     

    Also, a PowerPC Mac cannot boot from USB, so if you need to start up from an optical drive, it needs to connect using FireWire.  If you don't need to boot from it AND your PowerBook has USB 2.0, there are less expensive optical drives that connect using USB.  You should confirm with vendor that it works with older PowerPC Macs running Tiger (10.4).