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

EricBobrow

Level 1

9 points

Posted on Apr 14, 2019 7:13 PM

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.

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65 replies

OpalXIII

Level 1

4 points

Jan 24, 2019 5:37 PM in response to Jared Winter

Thank you, SHBean!!! I had this same issue and could find no solutions - until now. Yay, my external cd/dvd drive works again!!!

OpalXIII

Level 1

4 points

Jan 24, 2019 5:38 PM in response to SHBean

Thank you, SHBean!!! I had this same issue and could find no solutions - until now. Yay, my external cd/dvd drive works again!!!

Jan 25, 2019 1:28 AM in response to OpalXIII

Hello everybody,

after the update to 10.14.3 it works fine on my MacBook Pro 2012..........

Jan 25, 2019 11:42 AM in response to PhotoStudioInParis

After updating 10.14.3 problem still persist. MacBook not recongnising any music CD inserted into the USB-DVD drive. It’s saying: Eject or initialize...

Jan 28, 2019 2:30 AM in response to SHBean

Thank you very much for your solution, SHBean - you saved me from buying a new DVD drive!

Jan 31, 2019 9:58 PM in response to Jared Winter

it worked but it didn't burn anything. thank u however

cynsha

Level 1

8 points

Feb 5, 2019 11:12 PM in response to Jared Winter

Thank you!!! Saved me a lot of searching!!

Feb 14, 2019 1:16 PM in response to Jared Winter

The DVD player crashes my hard drive.

sherndon

Level 1

8 points

Feb 23, 2019 3:45 PM in response to Avsfan1_2000

I have the same issue with the same burner.

Did you ever get a resolution?

Oct 19, 2018 8:12 AM in response to Jared Winter

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but have you tried it with another USB cable? The reason I ask is that I also still use an optical drive (I buy all my music on CD), and the particular drive I use only works with one specific cable. With other cables, it spins up, but nothing appears in the Finder (or iTunes). It's hard to discern any difference between the cables, but I suspect it's a specification difference (voltage perhaps?).

Probably won't make a difference, but it's worth a try. Also, make sure you're connected to power, not running on battery - macOS seems to lower the available power to USB ports when on battery only.

Good luck!

kls67

Level 1

4 points

Nov 21, 2018 7:59 AM in response to Jared Winter

I'm having the same problem & wondered if you'd managed to find a solution yet?

I buy CD's & use a DVD drive to add them to iTunes. This has worked perfectly for 5 years on my MBP, but after updating to High Sierra I'm getting the same error message as you. This is so frustrating!

tlw97

Level 1

4 points

Nov 25, 2018 7:35 PM in response to caribo

Thank you caribo for the info!

I have been searching everywhere, and these 3 simple steps resolved my issue.

For others with similar issues...

I have a MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018) running macOS Mojave Version 10.14.1.

For some reason I started receiving the same error as pictured above, and could no longer use my LG GP65NB60 external USB drive. I tried different cables and adapters with no luck.

However, I could use the same drive and cables on the same MacBook within my Parallels (Version 14.1.0 (45387)) VMs of Windows 7 and Windows 10, so I new the drive wasn't bad.

Thanks again caribo!

BeterP

Level 1

8 points

Nov 26, 2018 6:46 AM in response to Jared Winter

I have tried all the tips and tricks but none of them are working.

I need to burn DVDs as well as iCloud storage and only came to do this today after upgrading to Mojave.

My emails have also been disrupted since some are being deleted without any action I have taken (separate thread on this).

Just unfortunate? More than a coincidence that these issues have only appeared since the upgrade.

In the past I have always waited six months or so, but this time got fed up with the 'upgrade now' box appearing on the desktop.

The whole thing is a debacle when you are being pushed down a route that plainly has flaws.

Even this post will go un-noticed by Apple (either deliberately or cynically)

Nov 29, 2018 8:52 AM in response to Jared Winter

I have the same issue on my Macbook Pro Retina 15``. Since I update to Mojave my external LG DVD writer stop working, the icon don't appear on my desktop and I don't able to run first aid on Disk Utility.

BeterP

Level 1

8 points

Dec 2, 2018 2:56 AM in response to SHBean

Snap! Discovered this yesterday and was just about to post (No, honest!)

This works perfefectly for me but still begs the question as to why a blank DVD does not show on the desktop.

Another example of a developer shoving something onto the market with flaws and the attitude of "work it out for yourselves"

We just have to wait until they fix it (after all we are only customers who have made them even richer).

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External DVD drive not working post-Mojave update