Whenever I start my computer up or wake it from sleep the optical drive loads and it sounds like a 1980's VCR. Why does it do this and is there any way to keep it from doing so. I hardly ever use the drive and would prefer to forget it exists.
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Is there a way to keep the optical drive from loading all the time?
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It makes a noise like it is trying to load a disc or see if there is one in the drive at start up, but there is never a disc in there. I was hoping there would be a way to tell the computer not to do that.
Buying the air would solve that issue, but presents many larger ones. I much prefer the 15.4" matte display on the MBP, the two USB ports, and the support for 30" display...
well, So I think there is not a solution for your problem... why the noise bother you so bad? just forget it an enjoy the great machine you have 
I am sure there is a way to get rid of it, but do you really want to? What happens of you have to reinstall? You now have to reverse whatever it was that you did, and without an OS to help you either do it, or remember how to do it.
The issue is that the drive "tray" is always considered open when you don't have disc in it, so whatever you do, it will always "close" the tray to check if there is a disk inside, just like on any tray loading drive will retract the tray when you first boot up the computer.
This page from Apple Support might help you. You'll be able to tell if its a normal sound at least from here.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1723
As for disabling it, that I don't know. I suspect its like what an earlier poster said about it being akin to a CD/DVD tray on a desktop computer being retracted on power-on.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1723
As for disabling it, that I don't know. I suspect its like what an earlier poster said about it being akin to a CD/DVD tray on a desktop computer being retracted on power-on.
You can't stop it.. The system does it as part of the "power on" tests.
However, if you don't intend on using the SuperDrive for anything. You could take the drive out completely and replace it with a OptiBay, that'll allow you to install a second HD, could be used for RAID0 configuration or as a Backup drive.
You can't stop it.. The system does it as part of the "power on" tests.
However, if you don't intend on using the SuperDrive for anything. You could take the drive out completely and replace it with a OptiBay, that'll allow you to install a second HD, could be used for RAID0 configuration or as a Backup drive.
Yum 1TB RAID 0!
I know exactly what the OP is talking about and it is really irritating, especially when I wake up early and want to use (her) MB in bed; it makes this MEE MEE MEEEREEEE noise that sometimes wakes her up.
Surely there should be some kind of sensor to tell the machine when there is a disk in there. It must use up some power too.
[Edit] Just found those sounds on the support page and this one is going to become my ringtone... nice and mechanical, it kinda sounds like a clockwork mouse trying to escape from a trap. http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/51/3054781201801120/www.info.apple.com/images/kbase/305478/305478_mbinsert.aiff
Surely there should be some kind of sensor to tell the machine when there is a disk in there. It must use up some power too.
[Edit] Just found those sounds on the support page and this one is going to become my ringtone... nice and mechanical, it kinda sounds like a clockwork mouse trying to escape from a trap. http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/51/3054781201801120/www.info.apple.com/images/kbase/305478/305478_mbinsert.aiff
Yep!!
That's the one. It's PERFECTLY NORMAL for the MBP to make this sound. If mine stopped, I'll be worried the drive ceased to exist, or er.. worst, died.
Honestly I don't know why it annoys so many people....
- personally I'd love my partner to stop snoring, that's more annoying!! It's not something a lady should be doing.. arghhhhh!!!
I hate that sound too, especially because I never use the superdrive. Maybe I'll just open up my MBP and unplug the damn thing. I'll remove it if it doesn't mess with the balance that bad, there's no point in lugging around a superdrive 100% of the time when I'm going to use it 0% of the time.
That OptiBay looks good. A 7200rpm RAID-0 array would be a lot more useful than the superdrive.
I'd much prefer a second battery in place of the superdrive though.
That OptiBay looks good. A 7200rpm RAID-0 array would be a lot more useful than the superdrive.
I'd much prefer a second battery in place of the superdrive though.