iMac G4 SuperDrive issue

So, the SuperDrive can write to CDs and play them. However, it won't read DVDs. We're talking about officially licensed ones and not homemade burned stuff. I've tried two so far.

I've already repaired disk permissions and verified them afterwards:

Verifying volume “Macintosh HD”
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Checking multi-linked files.
Checking Catalog hierarchy.
%)
Checking Extended Attributes file.
Checking volume bitmap.
Checking volume information.
The volume Macintosh HD appears to be OK.
Mounting Disk

1 HFS volume checked
Volume passed verification

Click to expand...

I've also reset the PRAM and NVRAM with no luck.

It doesn't even appear in Disk Utility, but it still works...

SONY DVD RW DW-U10A:

Firmware Revision: A43h
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)
Cache: 8192 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW
Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: No

Click to expand...

If someone knows about firmware that can fix the problem, can you give me details on how to apply it? That's unless it's the usual DMG format of course.

By the way, this used to be a school computer, which could have a lot to do with the problem. Half of iLife was already missing, and the cache was a mess. It's running 10.4.11 still.

Terminal commands are well welcomed.

840quadra said:

Do you have access to installer media? If this was a school computer, it is quite possible that key components were stripped from the OS by their IT department to prevent forms of tampering. I have run into this with G5 towers a friend had purchased from schools in the past. I would fix one component, to find something else missing later on.

But before that, have you attempted to boot from a DVD installer? It is also possible that the installed drive is not able to read DVD media because of dirt, hardware issues, or similar.

Is that device output from System Profiler, or disk utility?

Click to expand...

I tried to install Leopard on it, but it wouldn't read the disk I burned. I sold my copy to buy the iPhone 4. I have no disks, except grey ones of Tiger for my MBP.

It's plugged in by the Ethernet, so I can't use Remote OS X Installer.

MacHamster68 said:

so better buy the disc back again if you want leopard on your G4 iMac

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You really think I want to buy it back after selling it for $162.50?! No, thanks. I'll just do a FireWire cable install instead.

Intell said:

Remember, the source and target Mac must both be the same CPU type. You can't have a Intell Macbook install Leopard to a G4 iMac's internal drive. The Leopard Installer will force the drive to be formatted to GUID, which is not boot able on PPC Macs.

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Ahhh, yeah, you're right. How about if I tried it on the G5? I'll go check its drive specs.

Yeah, this is what my G5 drive is. I'll try it then.

PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-106D:

Firmware Revision: A606
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2000 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds

Click to expand...