I'm ready to smash my G5's DVD drive with a brick!

Sure seems like either a hardware problem or a dirty laser (of you've got a can of compressed air, you could try shooting some in). Is your G5 still under warranty? If not, replacements aren't all that expensive.

Moof1904 said:

If it's a hardware problem, do you think it's likely that the Hardware Diagnostic disk would detect it?

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It depends... if it's an issue with the laser itself, then probably not, because the system would think it was working unless it were actually burning a disk. It's worth a shot, and you absolutely should contact Apple if the air doesn't work.

Moof1904 said:

While I'm glad that I have Apple Care, the thought of being without my primary computer for possibly weeks is depressing.

Not to mention the risk of lost data, etc...

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negatory moof! I had a problem with the DVD burner on my g4mdd1.25...had applecare..called.

new burner in 3 days with super, super easy install instructions.

call them!

Moof1904 said:

While I'm glad that I have Apple Care, the thought of being without my primary computer for possibly weeks is depressing.

Not to mention the risk of lost data, etc...

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There should be zero risk of lost data because you would have backed it up. If not then you still don't have a "risk", more like a certainty that it will be lost.

Yu didn't say what kind of a G5 you have. But slot load "super drivers" sell for $100 and the larger ones used on the Power Macs sell for about $60. If you placed it your self that's what it would cost. I just bought a supper drive to put inside a Mac Mini that came with a combo drive. Was pretty easy.

Moof1904 said:

Keebler, you are correct! Spent some time on the phone with AppleCare confirming that said DVD drive is hosed. They're sending a new one for me to install.

Sweet.

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right on moof. glad to be of help. i know the feeling about separation..i was crapping my pants until they said it would ship fast.

Well please post videos of it's demise.

My brother put some lightscribe drive in his old Sawtooth & it's working great except for lightscribe though I think the drive was a SONY?

Don't forget to run a memory test. You never know.

OMG, my dad's imac G5 gave the same message! it won't burn cd's/dvd's But it is a few weeks out of warranty, and we don't get Apple Care in South Africa

dextertangocci said:

OMG, my dad's imac G5 gave the same message! it won't burn cd's/dvd's But it is a few weeks out of warranty, and we don't get Apple Care in South Africa

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We reall need an alternative... Applecare is awesome, Core group sucks

Jasonbot said:

We reall need an alternative... Applecare is awesome, Core group sucks

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Yup...

Jasonbot said:

We reall need an alternative... Applecare is awesome, Core group sucks

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Here in Canada we have Applecare but not many Apple Store (well, not as many as in the US). In smaller cities, we have to deal with service provider and the times I had to deal with them, the service sucked so now when I have a problem, I drive two hours to get the nearest Apple Store.

Frederic

First, use a hammer, not a brick. Less chance of eye or hand injury,

Second, even if your machine is out of Applecare, new high performance DVD writers (for G4 and G5 towers, at least), are $35 - $40, and available from every computer and office supply store, so its not worth even breaking a sweat over it.

Go to http://www.xlr8yourmac.com and check the drive compatibility databases to see which models of third-party drives play nice with your Mac.

That is great to hear. Apple so far is very good with replacing and fixing problem. They can usually overnight stuff for you out of their expense. However, I do feel they treat people with Apple Care nicer. Everytime I call in about a problem with my Apple Hardware, they will alway ask me if I have Apple Care and if I wanted one. Hmm..