Can the super drive be used as an extra drive (with a different region for DVD play) on a mac pro with an optical drive?
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)
You need a software hack. See:
How do I get a USB Superdrive to work with a Mac Mini that was built with an optical drive?
I would just get an USB connected DVD drive that has it own power supply.
The USB SuperDrive normally won't work with the older (pre 2013) Mac Pro, but if you use the Terminal command:
sudo nvram boot-args="mbasd=1"
then restart, it may work. Connect directly to the computer, not through a USB hub.
Resetting PRAM will clear the setting.
Have you tried VLC?
With most DVD drives, it will play DVDs even if the disc and drive region settings don't match.
If you do need a second drive, you can install one internally. Internal drives can be set to different regions.
http://store.mcetech.com/mm/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=MTOS&Screen=CTGY&Category_Co de=STORDVDRWINTMP
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/optical-drives/superdrives/
I have two MCE Blu-ray drives in my 2008 Mac Pro, set to regions 1 and 2.
The Apple superdrive is a special purpose, portable (read lightweight in every way) drive without a power supply. It needs more than the standard 500 MilliAmps power supplied by USB to work at all. Other responders have already indicated the "tricks" you will need to use to get it to work at all.
In my opinion, you would be much better served by buying an external desktop-style DVD reader in its own self-powered stand-alone enclosure. It is likely to be much more reliable (even though it will be more expensive).
Can the super drive be used as an extra drive on a mac that already has an optical drive? In my job I need drives that will play both region 1 and region 2 DVDs.
