Ticket Options

Question Details

TICKET ARCHIVE -> iMac Superdrive

Abhilash - Jul 26, 2006 - 8:50 pm

Hi there: I have an iMac G5 20" which I bought in May 2005. I use Mac OS X 10.4.7. The machine has been generally fine and have been able to burn CD's/DVD's etc. fine. Last weekend while trying to burn a CD - I put in a Verbatim CD-RW formatted disc (as that was new and unused) and the iMac Superdrive spat it out. Since then, the iMac seems to be rejecting all my CD's/DVD's by spitting it out after few minutes of whirring and reading. Now, I can't read any CD including the iMac start up CD.

My Superdrive details are as follows:

PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-K04L:

Model: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-K04L
Revision: D441
Detachable Drive: No
Protocol: ATAPI
Unit Number: 0
Socket Type: Internal

PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-K04L:

Firmware Revision: D441
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)
Cache: 2000 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL
Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: No

Any leads would be greatly welcome and appreciated.

Cheryl - Jul 27, 2006 - 1:21 am

The first step is to reset the PRAM. This should reset the drive to default.

Shut down the computer.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.

Your time and Date may be off, but that can be easily corrected in the System Preferences>Date & Time panel.

If that does not work, use the Apple Tools/Hardware Test CD/DVD to start up the computer (insert the media, restart the computer and immediately hold down the C key). The Hardware Test will go through a series of tests and if you get any errors, I suggest you call Apple to relay the test results and get the machine repaired.

Some CDs/DVDs cause problems with Apple's drive. A dirty or bad disk does happen no matter what brand. Sometimes it causes problems that takes a bit of creativity to correct.

If it still rejects disks try this:

Insert a piece of card stock the size of a CD and insert it till it intercepts the drive mechanism.
There will be a "latching" noise like the drive unlatched or reset itself. You may need to 'play' with the card until you hear that unlatch.

Once that is done, give a CD/DVD a try.

Let me know how you do.

Cheryl

Abhilash - Jul 28, 2006 - 6:42 pm

Thank you Cheryl for your detailed note; and your time, interest and effort in this regard. Unfortunately, I have drawn a blank so far - tried PRAM change, H/W test using c etc. I have not tried the cardboard cut-out as yet. I will try using the CD cleaner tonight. In all cases it appears that the Superdrive seems to try and read the DVD/CD but then ejects it out.

I am quite disappointed in Apple's own troubleshooting guide and support. More so when this is my first Mac acquisition. Will keep trying through this forum.

Thanks, again.

Abhilash

Cheryl - Jul 29, 2006 - 1:13 am

Sometimes a computer - just like any other machine - will 'act up'. If the cardboard trick does not work, call Apple for a repair. It could very well be that the drive is faulty, but not documented on their web site.

Let me know how it goes.

Cheryl