iMac DVD player will randomly not recognize DVDs

[jackbauer686]

Hi,

I've been having problems with my iMac recently, more precisely with my DVD drive.

I think it's a software problem, and not a mechanical problem. Let me explain:

When I insert a DVD:
- it will sometimes work perfectly. I can read, burn or whatever I feel like…
- it will sometimes not work. I don't know why, but the drive gives a few try (mechanical noises), and than ejects the DVD. If I try a few more times to reinsert it, it will just keep the DVD and not eject it, without recognizing it. When I try to open the Disk Utility program, it will simply froze, or it will open after 5 minutes, but the DVD player will not exist and not appear.

I need to restart the computer. Sometimes it will work after the restart. Sometimes not. It's really random, and I haven't found out on what it depends… Sometimes, when I reboot the beast because of a trapped-unrecognized DVD, the DVD player won't open. "Initialization error [-70012]"…

I've tried Option-Cmd-P-R at the Start, but it didn't help… I feel like there's something wrong with the software and the connexion with the DVD drive.

It's a 2 years old iMac, up to date, using Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6.8).

I've tried looking on the net, but a lot of people are experiencing mechanical problems (it simply never works), which I think is not the case here (it does randomly work perfectly).

Any help would be amazingly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Puevlo]

Try inserting discs at the Startup Manager. Since there is no software being run here if any discs are automatically ejected it must be a hardware fault. Otherwise try running in safe boot to stop all unnecessary software from running.

 

[theSeb]

I can't help you, but I have the same problem with my 2009 MBP's DVD drive. It simply refuses to read some discs, which work on other computers and DVD players. It will sit there for 5 minutes making horrible grinding noises indicating to me in no uncertain terms that it is not happy.

 

[jackbauer686]

Now that you say that about the Start Up Manager, I've thought about something.

Could it be a problem related to the fact that I'm using BootCamp (900gb Apple, 100Gb Windows)?

 

[theSeb]

Now that you say that about the Start Up Manager, I've thought about something.

Could it be a problem related to the fact that I'm using BootCamp (900gb Apple, 100Gb Windows)?

Nope, it's completely unrelated. It's the drive itself that is a problem. Most likely a dirty or slightly misaligned laser pick up.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Nope, it's completely unrelated. It's the drive itself that is a problem. Most likely a dirty or slightly misaligned laser pick up.

I had a problem on my DVD player that it wouldn't recognise disks for formatting prior to recording. Cleaned the lens and works perfectly now.

 

[jackbauer686]

Hi everybody,

I tried to insert the DVD at the Startup manager. No dice. That would mean that it's not a software problem. I just don't understand why it sometimes works flawless.

Anyway, a lot of you told me to clean the lens. Before I do it, I'd like to ask you a few questions:

- If the lens has a problem, why do I get those "Initialization error [-70012]" and why does the DVD drive doesn't appear in the disc utility?
- If it's not the lens, what could be the problem? If I am to open my iMac, I'd like to do it just once

Thanks a lot!

 

[Apple fanboy]

You don't need to open your iMac to clean the DVD drive. Just buy one of those cheap DVD's with little brushes attached. That's what I used.

 

[jackbauer686]

I'll buy one of those now.

I just can't help but think that the lens is clean, and that there's a bigger problem.

For example, at the moment, I can't open the disk utility, it simply freezes. And it's been 30 minutes that it's frozen. Isn't it related?

 

[skuid87]

You don't need to open your iMac to clean the DVD drive. Just buy one of those cheap DVD's with little brushes attached. That's what I used.

Are these safe to use? I thought that you werent supposed to use these for slot-loading drives.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Are these safe to use? I thought that you werent supposed to use these for slot-loading drives.

Well they do in our IT department. If you have a defective drive I would give it a try before taking it to a repair centre or taking it apart yourself.

 

[jackbauer686]

Hi,

I tried those cheap DVD's with little brushes (even though it says you shouldn't use it with SLOT-IN disk drive, and... No dice...

What would be the next step?

Thanks!