External DVD-drive not working

[Mr.Blacky]

Hit here, quick question:
I got an M1 iMac yesterday and wanted to use my external LG DVD burner with it. But when I connect it to the Mac, the DVD burner just makes a ticking noise (like a clock) and nothing else.
Any ideas what's the issue?

 

[tehabe]

I have the same issue, my LG DVD drive (GP57ES40), doesn't work directly on the USB-C ports of my MacBook Air M1. Only when I put my Anker PowerExpand dock between it works.

 

[wonderings]

No answer for you but can tell you my USB Apple super drive connects (with adapter) and plays/reads DVD's on my MacBook Pro M1 Max

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

My guess is the LG DVD burner isn't getting enough "USB bus power" to run it.

Did the drive by any chance come with a USB "Y cable"?
A cable that has 1 USB plug on one end, and TWO plugs on the other?

These are intended to plug the Y-end into TWO ports on the Mac, "doubling-up" the amount of bus power supplied.

That's probably why tehabe's setup works -- the POWERED USB hub/dock is providing enough power to the drive to get it "up and going"...

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I have an external ASUS DVD drive (connected via a mini-USB to Type-C cable, same as before) that won't work on my M1 Pro MBP.

It worked perfect on my previous model which was 2018 13" MBP, but the new one doesn't like it.

I want to say it's a power draw issue as it makes a repeated clicking sound - once a second - as if trying to move lens motor. But if it worked on the older model then I don't see how this one would provide less power.

Happy to buy a new one if anyone has any recommendations?

 

[haralds]

My "Archgon Premium Aluminum External USB 3.0 UHD 4K Blu-Ray Writer Super Drive for PC and Mac" works great plugged into my Mac Studio.

 

[mcnallym]

My vote would be not enough power supplied over USB bus to the drives as Fishrrman said.
my own ASU’s blu ray external drive has power supply of own and works flawlessly on my Mac studio but has own psi brick and not reliant on usb power.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

My vote would be not enough power supplied over USB bus to the drives as Fishrrman said.
my own ASU’s blu ray external drive has power supply of own and works flawlessly on my Mac studio but has own psi brick and not reliant on usb power.

In this instance, how would one provide more power to a notebook? All the dual-USB cables I’ve seen are for Type A, which means that the only Apple Silicon Macs directly compatible would be the mini and Studio.

 

[lcubed]

you could try using a pair of usb-c to usb-a adapters