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Kaps · Apr 1, 2006, 07:50 PM

The Combo Drive on a friend's G4 17" 1GHz iMac (OS X 10.4.5) doesn't recognize any CDs that are put in. So far I've: Zapped PRAM, ran Disk Utilities, ran TechTool Pro, and started up from an external hard drive. None of those helped. What else should I try before I take the drive out to test in an external enclosure that I have. (I hope to avoid opening up the computer, but can do so if need be.) If I do open the computer, the service manual mentions that I need to reapply the "thermal paste." What is this and where do I get it? If I do need to replace the drive, any recommendation?

Thanks!

runningdog · Apr 4, 2006, 06:29 PM

Most likely the drive is dead. The cd drive on my machine had been slowly dying. i'm not sure but i think the layout of G4 iMac encourages too much dust to pass by and even settle on the cd drive. i just replaced the combo drive in my G4 iMac this past weekend and it was pretty filthy inside. i had purchased a NEC DVD burner at NewEgg.com. Here's a database for finding compatible cd drives. Here's the thermal paste. These are the instructions i used to take apart my iMac. One key step before taking anything apart is to remove the little black plastic bar that is glued onto the front of the CD-drive-tray.

Kaps · Apr 10, 2006, 07:20 AM

Thanks for the reply!! Is the NEC burner 100% Mac compatible? Can you boot up from the drive?

Tuoder · Apr 10, 2006, 07:25 AM

You might try cleaning it with a can of air or of those cleaning discs before you actually call it dead, but yeah, if that doesn't work, give it the ax.

runningdog · Apr 12, 2006, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Kaps

Thanks for the reply!! Is the NEC burner 100% Mac compatible? Can you boot up from the drive?

Yes i can boot from this drive. When i replaced the cd drive i also replaced the hard drive with a faster, larger model and installed a fresh copy of Tiger. It's compatible.