Internal or External Cd Drive

[straight-talk]

Hi

New subscriber so need a bit of help.

I purchased a new iMac 2010, I think Alu, for my daughter. The Cd drive stopped working shortly after but she didn't take it back to the store.
When she eventually did, it was out of guarantee and they suggested fitting the macbook air as an external drive, needless to say it didn't work and after reading many forums I believe it wont. Wonder why the guy in the shop wasn't aware.

Frustrated, I have removed the internal drive and finding it really difficult to get an exact replacement which is an Optiarc DVD RW AD- 5680H

Just to add to this, after removal, I noticed the fan speed had increased which I suspect/hope it would be ok once a replacement has been fitted, if not any advice appreciated

So after that long winded approach my questions are: is there a replacement for the above or perhaps a better version or is there an external CD/DVD writer/reader etc that will work with the above machine.

Thanks in anticipation

 

[MrCheeto]

Any USB or FireWire drive should work just fine.

I highly recommend against doing any DIY repairs. It can only exacerbate the problem and likely lead to you directing your anger at Apple for something that would have easily been solved if the correct actions had been taken in the first place. I know it's frustrating to spend so much money on a machine and for it to fail right off, but components will never be perfect and we can't really blame Sony for their failed drive, nor Apple.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I purchased a new iMac 2010, I think Alu, for my daughter. The Cd drive stopped working shortly after but she didn't take it back to the store.

Did you buy a 2010 or 2011 iMac? Or when did you exactly buy it where?

When she eventually did, it was out of guarantee

It was a 2010 iMac then?

and they suggested fitting the macbook air as an external drive

The MacBook Air has NO optical disk drive (ODD), do you mean a MacBook (Pro)?

needless to say it didn't work and after reading many forums I believe it wont. Wonder why the guy in the shop wasn't aware.

Using another Mac with optical disk drive (ODD) will work with DVD or CD Sharing enabled in System Preferences > Sharing:

Frustrated, I have removed the internal drive and finding it really difficult to get an exact replacement which is an Optiarc DVD RW AD- 5680H

www.ifixit.com or www.ebay.com might help.

Just to add to this, after removal, I noticed the fan speed had increased which I suspect/hope it would be ok once a replacement has been fitted, if not any advice appreciated

That is because the temp sensor has been removed and is now "free". It is the same, if you replace the HDD in that machine and don't attach the sensor properly.

So after that long winded approach my questions are: is there a replacement for the above or perhaps a better version or is there an external CD/DVD writer/reader etc that will work with the above machine.

I have used external CD/DVD writers connected via USB with success on my 2004 iBook, 2007 iMac, 2008 MacBook and 2009 MacBook Pro.
Strange it does not work with your daughter's Mac, but what exactly does not work with an external CD/DVD reader/writer?

 

[straight-talk]

Any USB or FireWire drive should work just fine.

I highly recommend against doing any DIY repairs. It can only exacerbate the problem and likely lead to you directing your anger at Apple for something that would have easily been solved if the correct actions had been taken in the first place. I know it's frustrating to spend so much money on a machine and for it to fail right off, but components will never be perfect and we can't really blame Sony for their failed drive, nor Apple.

Fully agree and understand where you are coming from but have already removed the drive, however I did use all the anti-static stuff that goes with it and this component is probably as far as I would go with any confidence but I do appreciate your comments

 

[straight-talk]

Did you buy a 2010 or 2011 iMac? Or when did you exactly buy it where?

It was a 2010 iMac then?

The MacBook Air has NO optical disk drive (ODD), do you mean a MacBook (Pro)?

Using another Mac with optical disk drive (ODD) will work with DVD or CD Sharing enabled in System Preferences > Sharing:

Image​

www.ifixit.com or www.ebay.com might help.

That is because the temp sensor has been removed and is now "free". It is the same, if you replace the HDD in that machine and don't attach the sensor properly.

I have used external CD/DVD writers connected via USB with success on my 2004 iBook, 2007 iMac, 2008 MacBook and 2009 MacBook Pro.
Strange it does not work with your daughter's Mac, but what exactly does not work with an external CD/DVD reader/writer?

Thanks for that great response, you worked it out right, it is a 2010 model

I understand the bit about the fan being associated with the removal of the DVD/CD Drive so thanks for confirming that

The drive which doesn't work with my Daughters Mac which was recomended by the apple staff rightly or wrongly is the Mac book air superdrive and they did not suggest an alternative, probably for commercial reasons again which I understand, so this leaves me with the question what would you or anyone else suggest as an external DVD/CD drive, which works with the 2010 Imac Alu as an alternative

Great appreciation and many thanks

 

[simsaladimbamba]

The drive which doesn't work with my Daughters Mac which was recomended by the apple staff rightly or wrongly is the Mac book air superdrive and they did not suggest an alternative

Either those people are a bit daft or they misunderstood, what Mac you have, as that SuperDrive only works with the MacBook Air and the 2011 Mac mini, to make up for their missing ODD.

Anyway, you can buy any available external ODD out there, just look for some models on your favourite shopping sites or Amazon and read the reviews.

I just bought an LG ODD, which I didn't research, and it worked flawlessly.
I now have my SuperDrive from my 2009 MBP in an external enclosure, and that works with other Macs too.

 

[straight-talk]

Either those people are a bit daft or they misunderstood, what Mac you have, as that SuperDrive only works with the MacBook Air and the 2011 Mac mini, to make up for their missing ODD.

Anyway, you can buy any available external ODD out there, just look for some models on your favourite shopping sites or Amazon and read the reviews.

I just bought an LG ODD, which I didn't research, and it worked flawlessly.
I now have my SuperDrive from my 2009 MBP in an external enclosure, and that works with other Macs too.

Thank you very much for the quick response and info, will get on to it right away and post the outcome

 

[G4er?]

External of course, you own a Mac. Who cares if Apple goes to a lot of trouble making its computers look good? You are supposed to connect a bunch of non matching external devices that don't look good hooked up to your nice looking Mac.

At least that's what a lot of Apple fans said to me when I complained about the ODD being taken out of the mini.

 

[Spike88]

On my 2010 iMac, think I used its internal CD/DVD drive 2 times during the last 1.5 years. With today's USB sticks and wireless networking, internal CD/DVD drives are becoming old technology (thing of the past).

With this in mind, I'd probably install an internal SSD (where its internal CD/DVD drive is installed), find a fix for the fan (so it doesn't run full RPM) and connect an external DVD/CD drive via its USB port. With SSD prices coming down, it might be a good (affordable) upgrade as well.

Hope these ideas help….

 

[snberk103]

....

Anyway, you can buy any available external ODD out there, just look for some models on your favourite shopping sites or Amazon and read the reviews.

I just bought an LG ODD, which I didn't research, and it worked flawlessly.
I now have my SuperDrive from my 2009 MBP in an external enclosure, and that works with other Macs too.

Good advice here... I will add just one more bit....

I added a Lightscribe external CD burner to my MacPro. Its a more expensive, but the "Lightscribe" allows you to flip the CD over, and then "burn" a label onto the top of the CD. Looks much more professional than using marking pen to label the disc. You also need special Lightscribe compatible blank CDs.

I can justify the added cost since I use this for professional purposes. It's likely that you don't need this ability, but I offer it just in case it's something your daughter could in fact use. You'll need to do some research on "Lightscribe".... it's been a few years and whatever I knew then won't necessarily be applicable to a purchase made this year.

Luck.

 

[straight-talk]

Either those people are a bit daft or they misunderstood, what Mac you have, as that SuperDrive only works with the MacBook Air and the 2011 Mac mini, to make up for their missing ODD.

Anyway, you can buy any available external ODD out there, just look for some models on your favourite shopping sites or Amazon and read the reviews.

I just bought an LG ODD, which I didn't research, and it worked flawlessly.
I now have my SuperDrive from my 2009 MBP in an external enclosure, and that works with other Macs too.

Just like to say thanks for everyone's help, I did by an LG as above and it works just fine, the amazing thing is that when my daughter went to PC world to buy the LG drive, after returning the apple drive back to apple, they recommended the Mac air again despite her telling them it doesn't work................... unbelievable and this guy claimed to be the Mac expert!!

At least we are up and running in a few simple steps and more the wiser for it