How to disable Superdrive and use external instead?

Question

Level 1

6 points

How to disable Superdrive and use external instead?

Hello Apple Community,

I have a 2011 iMac and my Superdrive is broken. I have purchased a USB external drive, which works fine with iTunes but doesn't seem to work with other application like Burn or Burner.

How can I disable the Superdrive and use the external instead? Is there a method to remove the Superdrive from being recognised and the external to be the recognised DVD/CD drive?

I have looked at adding the mbasd=1 line to the apple.com.Boot.plist but it states the file is in use when I try to save.

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011), iOS 10.2, null

Posted on Dec 31, 2016 4:40 AM

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Answer 1

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,492 points

Dec 31, 2016 5:33 AM in response to JokinJP

Take it out and install an SSD in it's place. Put your os and apps on it and use your internal HDD for storage....have a fast iMac! That's what I did.

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Answer 2

stuartjash

Level 4

1,482 points

Dec 31, 2016 9:47 AM in response to JokinJP

Run the following from Terminal, but it depends what operating system. The first is first anything pre-Yosemite. Go to the bottom for the way to do Yosemite and up. Be certain to type it exactly as stated below (excluding the word type)

Type: sudo pico /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist (Press Enter)

Type: your Admin Password (it will not look like you are typing anything, but you are) (Press Enter)

Change the area that says: <string>x</string>

to

<string>mbasd=1</string>

Type Control+X

On Yosemite or El Capitan,

Type: sudo nvram boot-args="mbasd=1” (Press Enter)

Type: reboot

Let me know if you have any questions before you do it. I would be happy to clarify!

Good luck!

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Answer 3

Dec 31, 2016 10:42 AM in response to JokinJP

Why not just ignore the SuperDrive and use the external drive solely. That's what I have done on a late 2009 iMac and I have had no problems. DVD Player will not automatically start on dvd's but I use VLC player to circumvent that.

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Answer 4

mjugend

Level 1

8 points

Oct 11, 2017 3:35 PM in response to stuartjash

Hi CrashBurner,

No luck with your idea, after I type Reboot, what souls I do? Enter again? And then what?

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Answer 5

Oct 28, 2017 8:07 AM in response to garyfromrio linda

I'm a little late to this, but can I ask what external drive you used?

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