Dodgy Superdrive on 27" iMac-help !

[dwighty pork]

My late 2009 iMac 27" needs the volume repairing but I have a problem.
The drive will read and play audio c.d.'s but refuses to read Dvd's or Apple software disks - even physically marking them when I eject them.
Is it worth trying to do a forced install by holding down key C on booting up or is this unlikely to work ?
My other option is to get an external drive but do all standard ones read Mac disks ?
Could I use target mode from another iMac with the Firewire cable - or even create a bootable USB to resolve this issue ?
Any thoughts gratefully received on best way to proceed !

 

[flatfoot]

My late 2009 iMac 27" needs the volume repairing but I have a problem.
The drive will read and play audio c.d.'s but refuses to read Dvd's or Apple software disks - even physically marking them when I eject them.
Is it worth trying to do a forced install by holding down key C on booting up or is this unlikely to work ?
My other option is to get an external drive but do all standard ones read Mac disks ?
Could I use target mode from another iMac with the Firewire cable - or even create a bootable USB to resolve this issue ?
Any thoughts gratefully received on best way to proceed !

Either use an external DVD drive (all should work) or use Target Disk Mode.

The internal drive is obviously faulty and I wouldn't risk destroying your install discs.