Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

tlooknbill · Jan 10, 2006, 01:09 AM

New here, and appreciate the expertise and help.

I've taken my troubleshooting as far as I can. Since rarely anything goes wrong with this trusty powerbook, eliminating every possible cause of dvd nonplay but cds do confounds me so far. All it does with dvds is spins up for a few seconds then some swishy sound as if it's searching for something then spins down and locks the rest of the system, but the mouse still moves. If I pull the dvd out in time before it spins down, I can avoid a lockup.

I've had it for about two years without trouble. Since I rarely play dvds, I couldn't single out any new cause for the trouble. I've read these stock dvdrom drives can get flakey, but before I go and buy a new combo drive, I'ld like to be sure it's not something software or hardware related outside the module to avoid returning new product that may never work.

Is there some kind of test to single out what's wrong.

The new things I've done recently that got me chasing ghosts is I've played an Enhanced CD that autoplays some kind of flash animation upon launching. I've also recently hooked up an Eye-One Display calibration package and puck to the USB port with i1 Match v2 and 3. Also tried out a Samsung 930 LCD from OfficeMax which seemed to auto sense something off my vga video card as it adjusted perfectly to my resolution settting without any manual geometry adjusting. Don't know if any of this could be the culprit.

Zapped Pram and rebuilt desktop using Techtool Pro 3. Ran Techtool Pro diagnostics and optimized directory and volume structure, etc. Replaced the Region One Manager extension, cd/dvd driver and MacROM with a fresh copy. Trashed cd/dvd, Apple dvd player, file exchange, finder prefs. Made sure all dvd player extensions were present.

Any new ideas? Thanks so much.

Tim

Eriamjh · Jan 10, 2006, 06:36 AM

It's called a failed DVD-ROM drive. They are very common. I believe the ones made by LG were the worst. My first Pismo (in 2000) had a bad one after 11 months. It would play CDs, but not DVDs.

Upgrade to a UJ-820 4x Superdrive. The original Pismo bezel fits the drive so no one will notice.

You can also pick up an NEC 6500A for Dual Layer capability, but the bezel won't fit. You may need Tiger for full support for either drive.

tlooknbill · Jan 10, 2006, 06:17 PM

Thanks, Eriamjh.

I guess I can't complain. The darn thing lasted this long, so it was probably time for something to break on this work horse.

I'm on OS 9.2.2 and have found some compatible models even with some OSX versions mentioned by Charles Moore at PowerbookCentral.com. More interested in just a cdrw/dvd-rom drive that I can boot with C-key off an OS CD.

Any really realiable models that fit this please mention them, if you don't mind. Otherwise I appreciate the help and look forward to hanging out here more often.

finboy · Jan 11, 2006, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by tlooknbill

Thanks, Eriamjh.

I guess I can't complain. The darn thing lasted this long, so it was probably time for something to break on this work horse.

I'm on OS 9.2.2 and have found some compatible models even with some OSX versions mentioned by Charles Moore at PowerbookCentral.com. More interested in just a cdrw/dvd-rom drive that I can boot with C-key off an OS CD.

Any really realiable models that fit this please mention them, if you don't mind. Otherwise I appreciate the help and look forward to hanging out here more often.

You can either replace the drive, or get a better drive. Wegenermedia.com has several choices.

If it is an LG drive, I'd recommend finding a Panasonic. You'll need a different carrier.

If you want a SuperDrive, you can find those too.

Finally, the cheapest solution is to use an external. I've got a cheap Sony firewire external CD that will boot the Pismo fine.

tlooknbill · Jan 12, 2006, 10:13 AM

Thanks, Finboy.

I've been checking out FastMac.com's selection. Any word on them?

According to Charles Moore's 5 year homage to the pismo, the company uses the Panasonic mechanism in their SuperDrives and includes all the needed drivers and compatibility Authoring patch hacks for OS 9.2-10.3 in one complete package w/CD. I've Scrapbooked FastMac's selection and I'll post the link if anyone's interested.

http://store.fastmac.com/product_inf...products_id=97

I'll check out Wegenermedia.com as well.

Thanks,

Tim

Felix · Jan 12, 2006, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by tlooknbill

I'm on OS 9.2.2 and have found some compatible models even with some OSX versions mentioned by Charles Moore at PowerbookCentral.com. More interested in just a cdrw/dvd-rom drive that I can boot with C-key off an OS CD.

Any really realiable models that fit this please mention them, if you don't mind. Otherwise I appreciate the help and look forward to hanging out here more often.

I am also running OS 9.2.2.

The brezel will only fit on a new Matsushita drive if your Pismo came with the same make from the factory. The system profiler will show you.

Even with the LG, swapping is no problem. The carrier will always fit and you can attach the black Apple brezel with some superglue or leave it altogether if looks don't matter to you.

I have swapped to the Toshiba SD-R2412 (DVD-read only), as I was not sure how DVD-burning would be under OS 9. Maybe I was too cautionous. Nevertheless, after hacking this burner description file, the new drive is neatly integrated into the OS. Booting works with opening the selection screen. One problem remained with mine: I cannot watch DVDs when I have a 2nd screen attached, neither mirrored screen nor extended desktop. Also I have not burned faster than 8x, but I am not sure if this is a problem with the CD-Rs I use.

If you want code-free, you might prefer to hook up the drive to a PC first with one of these IDE-adapters for notebook drives, as often the necessary firmware is not available for application under Mac OS.

xlr8yourmac.com provides enourmous information.

Good luck, it is quite easy!

Felix

tlooknbill · Jan 12, 2006, 05:14 PM

Felix,

Is the inability to play dvds to a second display only specific to the Toshiba? If it applies to all nonOEM combo drives then there's no point for me in having a dvd player.

I already have a home entertainment dvd player for my TV. But I really like playing dvds to my calibrated 19" CRT. The picture is so much richer, film like and sharper. I can turn off all the lights and sit about 2-3 feet from the screen and its very much like sitting in a theater especially with a good sound system.

God, I hope there are modules that will allow a second screen.

finboy · Jan 12, 2006, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by tlooknbill

Thanks, Finboy.

I've been checking out FastMac.com's selection. Any word on them?

According to Charles Moore's 5 year homage to the pismo, the company uses the Panasonic mechanism in their SuperDrives and includes all the needed drivers and compatibility Authoring patch hacks for OS 9.2-10.3 in one complete package w/CD. I've Scrapbooked FastMac's selection and I'll post the link if anyone's interested.

http://store.fastmac.com/product_inf...products_id=97

I'll check out Wegenermedia.com as well.

Thanks,

Tim

The SuperDrive that I have is the 835, I think, Matshita.

But the one at FastMac is MUCH LESS that what I paid. The faceplate isn't worth $100 to me, unless it might catch on things.

Felix · Jan 13, 2006, 01:56 AM

Originally Posted by tlooknbill

Is the inability to play dvds to a second display only specific to the Toshiba? If it applies to all nonOEM combo drives then there's no point for me in having a dvd player.

I do not know. However, as far as I am aware xlr8yourmac.com does not have any reports on that issue so I guess it might be something with my particular setup.

My guess is that my drive is set to cable select. I think the Pismo has two IDE-ports and the drive should be set to master, but I am not sure how to fix that.

In any case, there are home dvd-players available with a VGA-port in the rear. I have one of these and it was 50 Euro.

Felix

tlooknbill · Jan 13, 2006, 12:50 PM

Felix,

What model is that home dvd player with the VGA out port? Would it happen to be a Samsung? I first saw one of those in I believe either Popular Mechanics or Popular Science about a year ago. Back then it was around $300. Ouch!

Finboy,

I take it the Matshita's have to use a faceplate that cost $100, instead of using the OEM. The OEM LG 8080B can use the original face, but I have to get an LG.

I think I can live without a faceplate since I use this pismo as my prime desktop. I've never used it as portable except when trying out external displays at electronic stores.

Thanks for the input.

Felix · Jan 14, 2006, 02:50 AM

Originally Posted by tlooknbill

I take it the Matshita's have to use a faceplate that cost $100, instead of using the OEM. The OEM LG 8080B can use the original face, but I have to get an LG.

I think I can live without a faceplate since I use this pismo as my prime desktop. I've never used it as portable except when trying out external displays at electronic stores.

If you have Matsushita installed and replace with Matsushita the frontplate switch ist very simple.

In any other case you have to refit the faceplate. This works with some superglue. Not too difficult...

My DVD player is one of these rather cheap no-name things. I doubt it would be sold in the US under the same brand. If you search a little bit I am sure you will find an interesting offer, too.

Felix