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Lots of vibration in DVD drive

C

crh3ff

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 26, 2010
97
0
Does anyone experience a LOT of very noisy vibration when using the CD/DVD drive? I'm running a presentation off of it, and every time it spools up to read more info, it's got a lot of extremely loud vibration. Using this support article, I notice a HUGE difference:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1723?viewlocale=en_US
 
If the disk has to really spin up it will make noise, but all drives will.
 
Unfortunately the only real option would be to have it on your HD or run it off a flash drive. Personally I find flash drives a lot more convenient these days especially since they can be had for the price of lunch at McDonald's these days.

The faster the CDROM, the more potential for noise and vibration there is. Not sure if you saw the Mythbuster's episode about the exploding CDROM but they tend to vibrate, particularly if they have a label or something that may make them slightly off balance. Slightly off balance and 50 speed can certainly cause vibration. :)

Mike
 
hm. I've just never had a drive that has so much vibratory noise, when the computer is still on a flat surface. I'll try to record it and post a file if I can...
 
here you go. microphone right next to drive, but this is basically what I hear sitting at the keyboard working
 

Attachments

  • vibration.zip
    230 KB · Views: 334
thinking I might run to the Apple store and let them listen to it and see what they think...
 
I have the same problem with my Mac Pro. I don't believe its normal.
I think that it's not properly mounted. I haven't opened the case and
looked at it yet because I don't use the drive much ;)

Let me know how you do getting yours looked at.
 
Two said:
I have the same problem with my Mac Pro. I don't believe its normal.
I think that it's not properly mounted. I haven't opened the case and
looked at it yet because I don't use the drive much ;)

Let me know how you do getting yours looked at.
Click to expand...

yeah, it's not something I use very often either, and you're right, it does sound like a mounting issue. I'll let you know...I'm going to try for Monday afternoon at the Apple Store.
 
crh3ff said:
yeah, it's not something I use very often either, and you're right, it does sound like a mounting issue. I'll let you know...I'm going to try for Monday afternoon at the Apple Store.
Click to expand...

I have the EXACT same problem. Let me know your findings.
 
Neo-Tech said:
I have the EXACT same problem. Let me know your findings.
Click to expand...

At the apple store, the guy said "yeah that's a bit much" and ordered a new drive. Once, installed, I will try to remember to get back on and update
 
I might visit them too then... My drive started doing that noise as well. I bought my MBP last September. I don't know if it's a new issue or if it was like since the beginning because, believe it or not, I never used the SD before!
 
crh3ff said:
At the apple store, the guy said "yeah that's a bit much" and ordered a new drive. Once, installed, I will try to remember to get back on and update
Click to expand...

In the words of James May "Oh cock!" :(

That means sending mine off, and having no MBP for a week, I can't have that right now.
 
Neo-Tech said:
In the words of James May "Oh cock!" :(

That means sending mine off, and having no MBP for a week, I can't have that right now.
Click to expand...

FIXED. So replacing the drive (or remounting, or whatever they did) ended up solving the problem. Still vibrates when initially loading up, but now it's just a sensation of vibration (yeah baby....) without the low pitched, loud buzzing that it was before. IE, it was definitely a mechanical issue...something in the drive (or the drive itself) wasn't seated correctly and was rattling the whole computer instead of just isolating itself.

And for those who might get it done at the Apple Store, I dropped it off in the morning, they told me "it'll be done sometime tomorrow" and it got done by the same afternoon.
 
crh3ff said:
FIXED. So replacing the drive (or remounting, or whatever they did) ended up solving the problem. Still vibrates when initially loading up, but now it's just a sensation of vibration (yeah baby....) without the low pitched, loud buzzing that it was before. IE, it was definitely a mechanical issue...something in the drive (or the drive itself) wasn't seated correctly and was rattling the whole computer instead of just isolating itself.

And for those who might get it done at the Apple Store, I dropped it off in the morning, they told me "it'll be done sometime tomorrow" and it got done by the same afternoon.
Click to expand...
Good to hear you got it fixed. I'll have to drop mine sometime soon :(
If only I read your post earlier, I went to the Apple Store a few days back :p Mind you, I don't think I would have got it fixed the same day, because of all the iPad craze.
Btw, did you set up an appointment at the Genius Bar prior for leaving the Apple Store? Or did you just walk straight in?
 
Neo-Tech said:
Good to hear you got it fixed. I'll have to drop mine sometime soon :(
If only I read your post earlier, I went to the Apple Store a few days back :p Mind you, I don't think I would have got it fixed the same day, because of all the iPad craze.
Btw, did you set up an appointment at the Genius Bar prior for leaving the Apple Store? Or did you just walk straight in?
Click to expand...

I had a genius bar appointment initially for a Monday, but on Friday my ipad came in. While i was there, i asked about the computer (i was coming from work and it was in my bag), and they went ahead and looked at it then. They had to order the drive, so i had to go back to drop it off, then back again to
pick it up.
 
crh3ff said:
I had a genius bar appointment initially for a Monday, but on Friday my ipad came in. While i was there, i asked about the computer (i was coming from work and it was in my bag), and they went ahead and looked at it then. They had to order the drive, so i had to go back to drop it off, then back again to
pick it up.
Click to expand...
Ah right. I think I'll have to do the same. Only problem is I can't do it right now :( Exams.
 
Thanks for the update. I hope it's not a drive issue because
I'm out of warranty as I bought it last september. Looks like
I'll be popping open the case on the Mac Pro to see if its
something simple. I'll update with my findings.

Again, thanks for letting us all know how it turned out.
 
Well, I think I may have found what was causing all the noise with my
superdrive. I pulled the cover on the MacPro then, pulled out the 'cage'
that holds the drive(s). (This thing is a joy to work on). The drive has
a 'bezel' (some might call a trim piece) on the front. In the old days, this
part would be seen as the front of the drive on PC's in years past. The
bezel snaps onto the housing of the drive itself. My bezel has some
play in it and when the drive spins up and vibrates, that play was allowing
the bezel to vibrate and produce that annoying noise.

I had the choice of removing the bezel permanently or 'shimming' the
bezel to remove the play. As the bezel seems to provide some protection
(however minimal) from dust, I chose to shim the bezel.

For now, using the drive is a very pleasant experience after listening
to that racket for so long :)


EDIT:
I also have a MacBook Pro and its never made the kind of noise my Mac Pro used to.
 
Glad to see this thread —my Mac Pro sounded exactly like the mp3 posted above. Going off of Two's advice, I opened up my Pro while a CD was playing and was able to hold the housing around the drive in such a way as to eliminate the buzz.

Looks like the housing is slightly loose and was vibrating against the plate just below it.

Seems like this could be caused by just jostling your computer the wrong way (moving it across the room, etc.), or even playing a lot of discs. Or just the manufacturer not tightening screws enough.

I inserted a small piece of tissue paper, doubled over a few times, in the narrow gap between the housing and the plate. Voila. I can hear music and not buzz again!
 
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