Sudden Superdrive Sadness

The Doug · Dec 9th, 2006, 10:32 AM

This morning I wanted to import a couple of audio CDs into iTunes. I inserted a CD, the disc mounted right away, iTunes opened, and I began to import the tracks. Fine.

However halfway through the second track, I decided I did not want to import this particular CD after all. So I clicked on the "X" at the right side of the readout pane at the top of iTunes, expecting that the import session would terminate. Instead I got a spinning beach-ball that wouldn't go away. After 5 minutes, with iTunes still not responding, I force-quit it.

Now, audio CDs and game CDs will not mount at all - the drive simply ejects them after about 30 seconds.

The drive will successfully recognise and mount my Tiger install CD, and it also mounts & plays all DVDs just fine.

I've tried the following usual voodoo:

- PRAM zap
- Reset Open Firmware
- Repaired permissions
- Ran OnyX batches

I also poked around on the Apple Discussion Boards, where others have posted about the same sort of problem I'm seeing this morning. Based on suggestions I've seen on the boards, I've tried deleting several .plist files etc., and also shutting down & cold-restarting the machine after a few minutes. But the drive still won't mount audio CDs. I also tried burning a CD using iTunes, but the blank CD isn't recognised and gets spat back out after half a minute.

Apart from this, iTunes works fine, all my disc-handling preferences are set correctly, and I see no other operative problems elsewhere on my G5.

The Superdrive in my G5 Dualie (Rev A from 2003) is a Sony DVD RW DW-U10A, by the way. It is found by System Profiler, where it shows up properly in the ATA device list, and under Disc Burning.

Seems this must have something have to do with that audio CD import that I tried to abort, but I am at a loss as to what to try next.

SINC · Dec 9th, 2006, 11:04 AM

I know nothing about a G5 dualie, but when ever I had a problem with the superdrive in my Quicksilver, I opened it up and unplugged the power supply to the drive for about 30 seconds. That used to force it to reset itself as often as not. Kind of like unplugging your TV receiver box when it hangs.

Maybe it's worth a shot?

The Doug · Dec 9th, 2006, 11:50 AM

Thanks, already tried that - and I also reset the PMU. Problem's still there unfortunately.

Probably something in the OS is pooched, that doesn't affect the system overall. I'll think about reinstalling later.

CanadaRAM · Dec 9th, 2006, 03:06 PM

If its the drive itself (no indication here that it is, but in case you do narrow it down to hardware) new DL burners are available from $40 - $70, so don't sweat it too hard. Check the drive database at www.xlr8yourmac.com for specific drive compatibility info.

MacDoc · Dec 9th, 2006, 03:40 PM

Try a new user.

The Doug · Dec 9th, 2006, 04:13 PM

Tried a new user - still doesn't work.

Is there any (free) software that can test optical drives? I ran Apple Hardware Test (all tests passed) but it doesn't touch opticals as far as I know. Since the Superdrive shows up properly in System Profiler, DVDs are recognised and read properly, and the drive door opens & closes on command, it's obvious that the thing is getting juice, telling the OS that it's there as it should, and accepting commands.

Stupid question, but do these drives have separate heads & lenses for CDs and DVDs? Apart from some subtle screw-up in the OS itself, could it be that only part of the drive (e.g. CD head or whatever it's called) has failed, and doesn't read audio discs anymore - and it happened by coincidence as I was trying to import some music this a.m.?

Anyway, before I consider spending any money on a new drive (thank goodness they're relatively cheap these days) I'll try an archive & reinstall of Tiger tomorrow. I'm not gonna waste any more of my Saturday on this.

MacDoc · Dec 9th, 2006, 04:45 PM

Toast?

The Doug · Dec 9th, 2006, 10:40 PM

I put an audio CD in, and listened carefully - the drive clicks a few times every few seconds, like it's attempting to read the drive, but it never spins up and eventually the disc gets ejected. Whereas it does see DVDs & OS discs, and spins up as it should. Hmm.

Would a Pioneer 111D be a good replacement? It's available at a local store for about $45.

MacDoc · Dec 9th, 2006, 11:14 PM

Yes they are very good - but if it reads the boot discs it sounds like a system issue.

Tried installing a system on another drive?

The Doug · Dec 10th, 2006, 07:16 AM

Haven't tried installing a second system elsewhere.

It can read the Tiger install disc because it's DVD. The drive doesn't have a problem with any DVDs; they all work just fine. I'm inclined to think it's not the OS, but the drive itself. These have two separate optical subsystems, one for CD and the other for DVD. One can fail while the other remains perfectly operable.

I think I'll buy a Pioneer 111D later this week. Been thinking about it - since I've got Tiger set up just the way I want it, and it's nice & stable, I don't want to take a chance on an OS reinstall right now. A new optical drive that is faster & better than the OEM unit, at such a reasonable cost, is an attractive prospect. If the new unit still won't read CDs (e.g. pointing to an OS problem) then I'll reinstall the OS.