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Jared Winter Author

Level 1

58 points

External DVD drive not working post-Mojave update

Ever since I updated to Mojave, my external DVD drive no longer works. I am using a Late 2016 MBP w/ Touch Bar (4 Thunderbolt 3 ports). When I plug the DVD drive in, I can tell that it makes the disc spin, but it no longer shows up in Finder (i.e., the drive/disc never mount).

Here is what I've already tried:

1.) Double checking finder preferences to make sure external drives will show up

2.) Trying the DVD drive on another computer (PC). It works on PCs, so the drive isn't the problem.

3.) Trying different USB ports on the MacBook

The same drive always worked before Mojave. I'm wondering if Mojave reduced the power available for USB accessories.

Anyone else having this problem? Any solutions?

PS: Yes, DVDs are antiquated at this point, but I have no choice in the matter.

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016, 4 TBT3), 27" external 1080p display HDMI

Posted on Oct 11, 2018 2:54 PM

Top-ranking reply

rachelden

Level 1

9 points

Posted on Oct 29, 2018 9:26 AM

I'm having the same problem on my 2017 iMac. The external DVD drive is Apple model number A1379 and it's only a couple years old. It worked fine before I installed Mojave. The drive no longer shows up in Finder. I've tried the obvious things like restarting and plugging into different USB ports. The drive shows up in Disk Utility, but the buttons for First Aid, Mounting, etc. are grayed out. The same is true for my co-worker's iMac. I really hope we don't have to buy new external drives. We work with large files that need to be given to vendors and DVDs are the easiest way.

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65 replies

reloader

Level 1

9 points

Feb 4, 2019 6:39 AM in response to Jared Winter

There appear to be several options with this issue. One was the restart - I recommend holding the command/option/Pand R keys all together as it boots, and it should boot and reboot again.

My problem was on a MacBook Pro 2018 Mojave (10.14.2) with 4 USB-C ports. The SuperDrive would not let in a disk. It did work with my MacBook Pro 2013 running Mojave (10.14.2) - and its built-in USB (A) connector. I have two adapters that connect to the USB-C ports on my new MacBook and neither of them worked with the DVD drive. Went to the Apple store and tried an Apple USB-C to USB 3.0 (A) and it worked! Guess it was the power because plugging the Apple adapter into the power supply USB-C port on my other adapters did work while plugging the SuperDrive into their USB 3.0 ports did not, and plugging the Apple adapter into their other USB-C ports did not work.

timloyal

Level 1

8 points

Feb 27, 2019 5:23 AM in response to Jared Winter

I have had the same problem. The only fix I have found is restarting the computer and it will then read the disk as normal. Yet if it goes to screen saver or the drive goes lax in anyway then it looses its mind and doesn't find it. Then restart the computer and it will find it also.

External programs such as Express burn will still burn to my disk. Even when it doesn't find it. Yet sometimes it won't find the disk drive. I have a feeling its the same thing they done to the iPhones on the Battery issues.

Forcing upgrade to the latest greatest thing. As their sales have droooooooppppped since the old man who was king died. They have no directions and have alienated the true believers in the product with this samsung lifestyle to attract the new crowd. Instead of making it great for the ones who truly shell out the money instead of hackintoshing it. Which I'm about to do as their new hardware is two years old out of the stall and so over priced that foreigners are leaping to there death building them.

I think Im wiping and heading back to siere or high siera where things JUST Worked as the old forgotten slogan spoke.

JimP737

Level 1

4 points

Mar 4, 2019 9:32 PM in response to Jared Winter

Having similar problems. I have a new 2018 MacBook Air with the USB-C ports and a superdrive that is probably 8 years old. I use the Apple USB-C multi port adapter. My super drive will not play or even see DVD's. It does see and play audio CD's. The superdrive always worked with my old Air which I don't have anymore, and still works with my older iMac that has not been upgraded to Mojave. I do not need to use an adapter with the old iMac because it has the old school USB ports which connect directly to the superdrive. Have tried the German restart thing, and it did see and start to play a DVD, but it won't continue to work normally. Sometimes if I restart it will see some DVD's, but still not play them normally and some DVD's it still doesn't see at all, so you can't even eject it. Plug the superdrive with the same DVD in my old iMac without Mojave and it runs normally and of course can be ejected. Going into the Genius Bar tomorrow without much hope. Frustrating.

Apr 11, 2019 6:12 AM in response to Jared Winter

No need to do any of the re-boot, reset PRAM, get out DiskUtil, or wave a dead chicken over your computer - none of that works. The simple solution if you are not trying to burn a single folder is to have the super drive connected, under Finder select "New Burn Folder" and create that on the desktop or somewhere convenient. Next copy your files to the new burn folder (it makes aliases to the files). Once all of your files are in the burn folder - then burn that folder by right clicking on it. If its just a single folder you want to burn, just right click on the file or folder and select "Burn...".

Apr 14, 2019 7:13 PM in response to ChrisWalken

I have a SuperDrive pulled from an older MacBook Pro (when I replaced it with an SSD) housed in an external drive housing sold by Other World Computing. It worked great with that MacBook Pro, but wasn't working with my 2017 MBP which has 4 USB-C plugins. I was plugging in the USB-A into my adapter system, and although it would make noises like it was trying to spin up to speed, it didn't sound right and it wasn't recognized.

The drive container has two USB -A cables ganged together, one for data and one for external power (only necessary I think when the data connection doesn't carry enough power, which can happen with laptops). I tried plugging in that secondary USB connector into a small USB charger (similar to what Apple provides with an iPhone) and the drive was able to spin up and easily was recognized by the MBP.

So although some people may have problems with external drives due to OS issues, in my case it was a power issue; once I recognized this as a possibility, it was easy to resolve.

Apr 14, 2019 8:47 PM in response to EricBobrow

OK Apple...do you or anybody else have a "SuperDrive" that does work with a 2017 MBP? It appears to me that the problems is on your end...either with the MBP or more likely, Mojave. If you do sell a device that does work with a 2017 MBP, I will buy it because I am sick & tired of trying to shoot this problem. Apparently your SYSDIAGNOSE has a bug as does the Feedback app with which I have wasted hours trying to get to create & submit data. I'm thinking that I have purchased my last Apple product if this is how you are going to treat your customer's problems & concerns.

Apr 30, 2019 1:16 AM in response to Jared Winter

After following advice below and going into Disk Utility where I could see the DVD was indeed mounted, I was able to right-click on the DVD icon, which then gave me the option to Show in Finder. I am now copying it to my desktop and it IS very slow.