Mac mini no longer recognizes burned discs

[Sawdust]

Model Name: Mac mini
Model Identifier: Macmini4,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 8 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MM41.0042.B00
SMC Version (system): 1.65f2
Serial Number (system): C07CW5G8DD6L
Hardware UUID: E164E784-F20E-588A-B9DF-D441DA13E969

When inserting my burned archived discs Mac mini 2010 indicates the disc is empty? I have run utilities and although the disc is in the list it cannot be manipulated. Any ideas as to why and how to fix this problem? Thanks.

 

[opeter]

Maybe the laser of you DVD-drive died? Or ... are you sure, the burned discs are OK? Did you try them on other computers with CD/DVD drives?

 

[Micky Do]

As above….. Optical drives are probably the least reliable component of any computer that has one. Though controversial at the time, Apple was wise to drop them as an internal component. The optical drive on my Mini has long been picky with what it will play. I use an external OD now, on the increasingly rare occasion I use a an optical disc…..

Unfortunately, as I like the format. I'm not a fan of this having everything available on-line. It assumes everyone has reliable, fast internet, and a credit card. I didn't have decent internet until about 9 months ago, and I still don't have a credit card.

Then there is the disc itself…… Factory produced discs are pressed, and are good for many years. Burned discs don't have such a long lifespan. They deteriorate within a few years, and that could be your problem.

 

[Partron22]

You have, and have used an optical disk cleaning disk, with the little jar of cleaning fluid?
That's brought my dead internal superdrive back to life several times now.

 

[Sawdust]

Well, this is a conundrum. With 2 identical minis I have no problem with the other. The malfunctioning unit has no problem reading commercially made discs like FileMaker Pro, iWork, iPhoto, etc. but no burned disc is being recognized. The other mini has no problem whatsoever?

Gave it to the Genious Bar guys at the Apple Store and they couldn't find a glitch and returned it to me for no charge. Frankly, I now prefer thumb drives for archiving so I am going to try to transfer everything before more problems arise.

This problem did leave me with an odd problem in the side bar - 3 untitled CD folders w/"burned" sign? I am unable to delete them or manipulate them to the trash???

 

[MacinDan]

My brother's Mac Mini had this same problem, and it was fixed by covering a credit card with cloth and inserting it in the left side of the drive several times to clean it. There are several links describing the procedure. Here's one:

http://www.engadget.com/2014/02/11/use-this-clever-way-to-clean-a-macs-superdrive/

 

[Sawdust]

You nailed it! I used an old bandana some eye glass spray on the cloth, just a mist or two, and ran the wrapped card in the slot and the optical drive came to life.

Thank you.

 

[rigormortis]

you need 2 lasers to read a commercial disc. you need 3 lasers to read cd-r. so thats why the disc wasn't having problems reading commercial discs before you cleaned it. i've had 4 mac superdrive eventually wear out and fail on me too

 

[Sawdust]

So, why does the sidebar still list 3 burned discs just sitting there with no way to remove them? They don't appear to be interfering with anything, but they are related to the discs the optical drive created erroneously?

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"So, why does the sidebar still list 3 burned discs just sitting there with no way to remove them?"

Try logging out, logging back in, and then dragging them to the trash.

If that doesn't work, try a complete shutdown (power all the way off) and reboot...

 

[Sawdust]

Thanks for the advice, but this computer has been shut down at least 4 times and rebooted a couple times with no effect on the ability to remove the list?

 

[jpietrzak8]

Thanks for the advice, but this computer has been shut down at least 4 times and rebooted a couple times with no effect on the ability to remove the list?

Can I ask what version of OS X you are currently running? I used to have a problem with the Finder in older versions, where if I placed a link to a removable drive (or a folder on a removable drive) onto the sidebar, and then removed the media without removing the sidebar link, the now-useless link would remain there permanently. I remember that one of the ways I was able to fix the problem was to remount the exact same media and then manually remove the link in the sidebar; I thought that rebooting also worked for me, but I see that hasn't worked for you.

I don't recall having this problem with recent versions of OS X, so if you're already on the latest version, then just ignore me.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:
Try this:

1. Go to:
home/library/preferences

2. Move to the trash:
com.apple.sidebarlists.plist

3. Reboot

4. Empty the trash

Does this get rid of them?

You'll have to "set up" your sidebar lists again (deleting the file above will probably set everything back to the default setting).

 

[Sawdust]

Can I ask what version of OS X you are currently running? I used to have a problem with the Finder in older versions, where if I placed a link to a removable drive (or a folder on a removable drive) onto the sidebar, and then removed the media without removing the sidebar link, the now-useless link would remain there permanently. I remember that one of the ways I was able to fix the problem was to remount the exact same media and then manually remove the link in the sidebar; I thought that rebooting also worked for me, but I see that hasn't worked for you.

I don't recall having this problem with recent versions of OS X, so if you're already on the latest version, then just ignore me.

I was thinking on doing that, however, the downside could have added yet another burned disc.

OP:
Try this:

1. Go to:
home/library/preferences

2. Move to the trash:
com.apple.sidebarlists.plist

3. Reboot

4. Empty the trash

Does this get rid of them?

You'll have to "set up" your sidebar lists again (deleting the file above will probably set everything back to the default setting).

That did the trick. Thanks for the tips folks. Now all is right.