macbook pro not reading burnt cd/dvd-r

[benneh]

Hi,

My macbook pro cd drive seems to be acting up. It doesn't like to read any of my burnt cd/dvd-r, but it reads 'proper' and blank DVDs just fine (by 'proper' i mean like DVD movies, Apple Tiger OSX dvd, and such)..
The discs that it refuses to read are fine, no scratches or anything. It takes the disc in, spins and tries to read it for about 3 times and spits it out.
I've tried using those DVD lens cleaner discs with brushes on them.. but they didn't help. I've also tried resetting my PRAM (and the other one where you hold the power button for 5 seconds while shut down), and that didn't help either..
If it matters, my superdrive details are:
MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857D:
Firmware Revision: KCV9

My machine is bit over 2 years old, so it's no longer on warranty/AppleCare. Has anyone encountered this before?

 

[Blue Velvet]

How are you burning these disks?

 

[benneh]

How are you burning these disks?

I've burnt those discs using Toast on the same machine and superdrive in question...

 

[Killyp]

I'm having the same issues right now. The SuperDrive in my MBP has been replaced (for one from a different manufacturer, can't remember which one it was) and it still won't read DVD-R or CD-Rs - only 'supplied' media. I would re-install OS X, but I simply don't have the time.

Maybe there's a way of manually re-installing only the optical drive drivers in OS X. Anybody know?

 

[nosajnedgo]

Same Problem

I'm having the same issue. Did anyone every find a resolution?

 

[gpeden]

I'm having the same issue. Did anyone every find a resolution?

Oh yes, the spinning for awhile and then ejecting (in my case it was disks I'd burned at the moment and earlier too) is a symptom of a common problem - the drive has crapped out. Mine was replaced under warranty as have many others who have posted here over the last 16 months that I've been watching.

Cheers!

Glen

 

[Killyp]

I'm having the same issue. Did anyone every find a resolution?

I stuck a Sony CD lens cleaner in mine and it suddenly started working again, despite having had a mech replacement.

I'm not really an advocate of lens cleaners but in this case it seemed to work.

 

[wesrk]

same problem here
it reads regular discs, but not ones that I burn, even if they are fine in other computers
I'm going to set up a meeting and get this fixed

 

[wesrk]

how long is the replacement process? do I have to leave my mbp at the apple store or can they, once they've look at it, order the replacement and I come back and they install it?

 

[James Cole]

Depends if they are in stock.

 

[LongJnSilver]

DVR working again - DUST BUNNY removed!

Hi, All,
I've been tearing my hair out for weeks looking for a fix for my MacBook Pro (Unibody) DVR drive. I was ready to buy a replacement when I happened upon this discussion. (It would play DVDs but not read - or rip - CD-Rs.)
Popped into STAPLES today and bought their CD/DVD drive cleaner and, hoping against hope, gave it a spin.
VOILA'!
Drive is working perfectly. I was amazed to find little dust bunnies on the two brushes on the underside of the disc.
My wife's old HP laptop has had a bum CD drive for a year now. We were about to replace it too, but the magic disc fixed hers as well.
So... do yourself a favour!
THANKS for pointing me in the right direction!
- LongJnSilver - Johnny Long

 

[Bob Kline]

Another fix

I also started having an issue with my MacBook Pro not reading home burnt DVDs. After reading the post and suggested solutions I tried using a can of compressed gas "Dust Destroyer" and spraying it into the slot. It worked!

 

[Lilimay]

Genius!

Hi, All,
I've been tearing my hair out for weeks looking for a fix for my MacBook Pro (Unibody) DVR drive. I was ready to buy a replacement when I happened upon this discussion. (It would play DVDs but not read - or rip - CD-Rs.)
Popped into STAPLES today and bought their CD/DVD drive cleaner and, hoping against hope, gave it a spin.
VOILA'!
Drive is working perfectly. I was amazed to find little dust bunnies on the two brushes on the underside of the disc.
My wife's old HP laptop has had a bum CD drive for a year now. We were about to replace it too, but the magic disc fixed hers as well.
So... do yourself a favour!
THANKS for pointing me in the right direction!
- LongJnSilver - Johnny Long

Thank you very much for sharing the easiest answer to a problem that neither Apple Care (1 hour on the phone!), nor the company who burned my disks could answer: CLEAN THE DRIVE!!! Now my burned disks play in my optical drive without a problem.

CHEERS!!!

 

[surfbo740]

Hi, All,
I've been tearing my hair out for weeks looking for a fix for my MacBook Pro (Unibody) DVR drive. I was ready to buy a replacement when I happened upon this discussion. (It would play DVDs but not read - or rip - CD-Rs.)
Popped into STAPLES today and bought their CD/DVD drive cleaner and, hoping against hope, gave it a spin.
VOILA'!
Drive is working perfectly. I was amazed to find little dust bunnies on the two brushes on the underside of the disc.
My wife's old HP laptop has had a bum CD drive for a year now. We were about to replace it too, but the magic disc fixed hers as well.
So... do yourself a favour!
THANKS for pointing me in the right direction!
- LongJnSilver - Johnny Long

Had the same issue. Had some canned air/keyboard cleaner sitting around. Put the tube just inside the superdrive and blasted it along the whole front of the disc slot. This solved my problem. The actual disc cleaner may be a better solution though for actually getting the dust out instead of just off the laser lens.
Just my 2 cents