[Sage]

I have a 20" iMac G5 (rev. A). Today it suddenly stopped reading CD-RWs—when I pop one in, it never even shows up in the sidebar or on my desktop (I have to use the Eject button to get it out). I've tried with blank CD-RWs and ones I've already written to, and none of them work. However, the Superdrive still reads regular CDs and DVDs and DVD-Rs just fine.

Any ideas?

Oh, and, specs, if needed:

Model: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-K04F
Revision: I437
Detachable Drive: No
Protocol: ATAPI
Unit Number: 0
Socket Type: Internal

[Sage]

Any ideas? Now it makes bleepy bloopy noises for a little bit and then spits out the CD-RWs.

[Sage]

*A week later*

Nobody at all?

[spacefreak]

I am experiencing the same exact problem, though with a PowerMac G4 Dual 1.25 Ghz MDD. CD-R doesn't show up anywhere, but a regular CD (Achtung Baby) comes up right away.

Somebody with a Powerbook is also having similar problems:
http://forums.macnn.com/69/mac-notebooks/258757/superdrive-failed/

This is totally a recent thing. I haven't burned a disc in about a month or so, but when I did it all worked fine. It seems way too coincidental that we are all experiencing what seems to be identical problems, all at the same time.

Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Model: HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GCA-4020B
Revision: D02E
Serial Number:
Drive Type: CD-RW/DVD-RW
Disc Burning: Apple Supported/Shipped
Removable Media: Yes
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk1
Protocol: ATAPI
Unit Number: 0
Socket Type: Internal

OS: 10.3.9

[spacefreak]

Just an FYI... I was able to burn a disc (that didn't show up on my desltop or in the finder pane) in iTunes.

[Mac frustrated]

Having the same kind of problems + my superdrive doesn;t seem to read DVD-R 4 times and the firmware that apple suggests is not compatible. What is wrong with these people and their non working drive. Does anyone have an idea about how to fix this? should we collectively write to apple so they get us rid of these Hl-DT-ST problem drives?


Mine is a :

Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Model: HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GCA-4020B
Revision: D02D
Serial Number:
Drive Type: CD-RW/DVD-RW
Disc Burning: Apple Supported/Shipped
Removable Media: Yes
Detachable Drive: No
Protocol: ATAPI
Unit Number: 1
Socket Type: Internal


the Imac is a:

flat panel 17" G4 800mhz with 256 MB SDRAM.

I'm getting a bit desperate. grateful for help


all the best. g.

[bjlyon615]

I purchased an iMAC with superdrive about 14 months ago. Yesterday, it suddenly would not read any of the DVD's I made with IDVD. It still reads DVD's that I rent from the local video store and also reads CD's. .I suppose the optical sensor may be dusty or whatever, but I figured it would be more costly to take the computer in for repair than to just purchase an external DVD burner/player. So, I just ordered one from Sony. The one I ordered received the MacAddict's Editors Choice Award and has more options and faster burn speed than the built-in Pioneer that came with the iMac. Here is a link to the item if you're interested:

http://www.sonystyle.com:80/is-bin/I...SKU=DRX710UL/T

I hope that Apple will consider installing higher quality DVD drives....I love the Mac but am very disappointed with so many folks experiencing the same problem.

Originally Posted by Mac frustrated

Having the same kind of problems + my superdrive doesn;t seem to read DVD-R 4 times and the firmware that apple suggests is not compatible. What is wrong with these people and their non working drive. Does anyone have an idea about how to fix this? should we collectively write to apple so they get us rid of these Hl-DT-ST problem drives?


Mine is a :

Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Model: HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GCA-4020B
Revision: D02D
Serial Number:
Drive Type: CD-RW/DVD-RW
Disc Burning: Apple Supported/Shipped
Removable Media: Yes
Detachable Drive: No
Protocol: ATAPI
Unit Number: 1
Socket Type: Internal


the Imac is a:

flat panel 17" G4 800mhz with 256 MB SDRAM.

I'm getting a bit desperate. grateful for help


all the best. g.

[ghostieo]

On July 27th I burned a dvd and then I took it out, put it back in a few minutes later and it didn't show up on the desk top and a minute later it ejects it. Long story short I figured out that it just stopped reading burns. Just like that (snap). I ran the repair from disk utility and from the original install disks and it didn't work. I've got a g5 with this superdrive:
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-106D:

Manufacturer: PIONEER
Model: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-106D
Revision: A606
Serial Number: DBDL930436WL
Drive Type: CD-RW/DVD-RW
Disc Burning: Apple Supported/Shipped
Removable Media: Yes
Detachable Drive: No
Protocol: ATAPI
Unit Number: 0
Socket Type: Internal

So what have we figured out? Anything yet? Am I going to have to replace my drive?

[Helmling]

Have you tried cleaning the lens? My dirty lens was causing all sorts of eratic behavior with the drive, but a $20 kit from Radio Shack fixed me right up.

[abelg99]

I'm having the same problem, I just ordered a newdrive and its supposed to come in tomorrow...but don't know how to install it.