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New iMac and scratching cd's/dvd's

MBP has destroyed dvd's originals

My MBP has destroyed about 6 of my original DVD's while ripping. super drive makes all kinds of funny noises which can be heard from across the room. I even have to reboot to eject as it will not respond to eject button. I will not use it anymore till I try and get a new super drive:mad:

Does anyone know of a different drive that will fit in a MBP?
 
this is a very old issue going back to the first aluminum iMac released.

I figure Apple has not fixed this because Apple actually wants you to stop using disks....(really).

why apple has not filed/smoothed out the very sharp edges around the drive slot is beyond me (see sentence just above)

also: there are threads here over 2.5 years old talking of the exact issue. the issue is still there, as are the sharp edges......
 
SaSaSushi said:
Design fault? OK, then how come mine doesn't have this problem? I haven't managed to scratch a disc yet and I insert them without looking, by touch and feel basically. Yes, the edges of the case around the slot are sharp but my Superdrive manages to suck the discs in and spit them back out again without ever making contacting with those edges. You'd have to push the outer edge of the disc back as you inserted it to get it to make contact.
Click to expand...

+1.

I had two discs with small scratches (typically 1-2cm in length, 1-2 locations on disc surface, 2-6 slightly wavy lines in a cluster, varying depth). Decided to run a more thorough test: take several different discs (CD, DVD), burn them full at max speed (speed varies depending on R or RW media), and then copy all files back to hd to temp directory. This done to test varying kind of use from the superdrive, as I suspected faulty drive.

It's hella slow but no scratches on a single disc. I can't explain this but like SaSaSushi I can't even get the disc to touch the edge of the aluminium without force, so I doubt that is the source of scratches. Its the drive itself or nothing at all.

edit: the drive is the HT-something-something, not Optiarc one, if that is of interest. Sorry cant remember off the top of my head as am not on the iMac now. Also might mention its the new 10/09 model of iMac in 21.5" size.
 
Seems like Apple was way too busy focusing on the iPad instead paying attention to all the little but important details that should have gone into this monster.

It's disappointing to be so hyped about such an awesome machine such as the i5/i7 iMacs because of these small issues.

All my discs have been scratched as well. That felt should have at least come all the way out to the cover. And that damn SD card slot being beside the DVD/CD slot is damn stupid. I thought it was funny someone said they accidentally placed an SD card in their DVD/CD slot, a few minutes later I did the same thing. I mean COME ON APPLE! Get your sh_t together!
 
Still no problems at all with scratching when using the LD superdrive (model designation begins HT) in my 2nd i7, but several scratched discs with the Optiarc in the first i7.
 
HDH said:
All my discs have been scratched as well. That felt should have at least come all the way out to the cover. And that damn SD card slot being beside the DVD/CD slot is damn stupid. I thought it was funny someone said they accidentally placed an SD card in their DVD/CD slot, a few minutes later I did the same thing. I mean COME ON APPLE! Get your sh_t together!
Click to expand...

Did you even bother reading any of the posts in this thread (the last 3 in particular) or did you, like so many others in these forums, just decide to read the title and fire away like a loose cannon?

There is no defect in the design of the iMac case. If you have a bad Superdrive and it is scratching discs then get it replaced. If you are pushing the disc back hard enough to cause it to make contact with the case on insertion then not only is it not Apple's fault you could also seriously damage the Superdrive and void the warranty in the process.

If you feel with your finger before inserting an SD card to confirm the slot and most importantly do not let go of the card until you feel it lock in firmly you will never lose a card in the Superdrive slot. There again, this is carelessness on the user's part so don't blame Apple.
 
SaSaSushi said:
Did you even bother reading any of the posts in this thread (the last 3 in particular) or did you, like so many others in these forums, just decide to read the title and fire away like a loose cannon?

There is no defect in the design of the iMac case. If you have a bad Superdrive and it is scratching discs then get it replaced. If you are pushing the disc back hard enough to cause it to make contact with the case on insertion then not only is it not Apple's fault you could also seriously damage the Superdrive and void the warranty in the process.

If you feel with your finger before inserting an SD card to confirm the slot and most importantly do not let go of the card until you feel it lock in firmly you will never lose a card in the Superdrive slot. There again, this is carelessness on the user's part so don't blame Apple.
Click to expand...

Rewind for a sec and read what people are writing on here, people are complaining about the actual casing, the slot that is causing scratches NOT the actual drive, and there is NOTHING wrong with my drive. And NO I am not pushing discs hard, I am simply placing it into the slot until it pulls the disc in. It's not THAT difficult to get discs scratched. The slot is damn stupid without any cushioning around it.

Just because you've had such a perfect relationship with your iMac doesn't mean everyone else is in the same boat. A little consideration wouldn't hurt. I'm not gonna get up and look at the side of my computer to see if I'm 1cm lower than the DVD/CD slot to not accidentally push in the SD card in there. ADMIT IT IT'S A STUPID F-EN DESIGN. They could have placed a few CMs lower or somewhere else on the damn machine. But 1CM apart???? COME ON!
 
I don't know about stupid design but SD+superdrive slot design is vulnerable at least, more so than anything else on the iMac. Moving the SD slot a bit lower and putting some sort of protection on the edge of the superdrive slot would probably not have gone to waste. I mean, there are also reports of protective tape on the edge of the superdrive slot stopping the scratching, so for some people it may be the answer.

I'll have to run more tests in the weekend because it still bothers me I can't explain why the two first discs had scratches and others did not. Their scratch patterns were too similar to not have come from the same source, so while I might have overlooked it at first and inserted a readily scratched disc, I doubt I would have done so with both. Problems I can't reproduce bug the hell out of me.

Some theories

- faulty discs / faulty surfacing? (does DVD-RW scratch easier than DVD-R?)
- drive inside case moves a bit and was misaligned at first to allow disc to touch case? (this would explain why protective tape works for some)
- foreign particles on disc / in drive?
- some issue with the mechanism of the superdrive that is responsible for insert/eject into position where disc can spin?

Good thing I've got plenty of warranty left if the problems re-emerge later on, but what worries me I don't want to use any irreplaceable discs with the drive until I'm sure it's good.
 
There are pages upon pages with complaints of scratched discs on the Apple website.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2105438&start=0&tstart=0

It appears that the external slot is causing the scratches. Poor design is right. The width tolerances are not being quality checked. To have to use medical tape and band-aids to prevent this on a machine which costs thousands is unacceptable.

Yet another flaw of the 27" iMacs.

Buyer beware.
 
I managed to scratch a disk the first time i burnt a cd, now I'm a bit more careful it doesn't happen.
 
This has been discussed to death. In order for a disc to make contact with the sides of the slot when it is being inserted a user would need to be pulling with considerable force on the disc as it is being pulled in by the drive. When I put discs in my Superdrive they don't come anywhere close to the sides of the slot on the case.

There are posters to this thread claiming design flaws that don't even own iMacs. Reader beware.

If the drive itself is scratching your discs internally that's a different matter and you need to send it in for replacement.
 
SaSaSushi appears to be an apologist for Apple.

The problem is real, and it's happening. It happens on my machine, too. 27" iMac bought new 3 months ago. SaSaSushi apppears to have a different semantic definition of design flaw, leading to the vehement denials .

Sorry, but I'm not going to use a Dremel on my $2K machine, nor put electrical tape around the edges of the drive opening. Back to the Apple store it goes until it no longer damages DVD's.
 
Apple knows about it. They were wondering if my new iMac was doing the same thing. Which it isn't currently.

Give them a call and they WILL send out a new computer.
 
sedulousape said:
SaSaSushi appears to be an apologist for Apple.
Click to expand...

No, SaSaSushi is a person who owns a 27" iMac and inserts optical media daily with nary a scratch yet.

SaSaSushi has nothing to apologize for.

SaSaSushi understands, as he has explained, that in order for a disc to make contact with the case upon insertion or ejection one would have to be pressing forwards on a disc as it is moving, possibly hard enough so that it would stop moving altogether.

Sorry, SaSaSushi is not willing to test it to find out.

The problem is real, and it's happening. It happens on my machine, too. 27" iMac bought new 3 months ago. SaSaSushi apppears to have a different semantic definition of design flaw, leading to the vehement denials .
Click to expand...

SaSaSushi denies that NO ONE might have a faulty Superdrive that is scratching discs. SaSaSushi advises anyone that is experiencing this to send their machines in to Apple for servicing.

Also, if the case is making contact with the discs you need servicing as well because then the Superdrive mounting is off.
 
natewsmith said:
Apple knows about it. They were wondering if my new iMac was doing the same thing.
Click to expand...

If it is a known issue with the Superdrives scratching discs internally that's a different matter. As I said all along, if this is the case send your machine in for drive service/replacement.

The discs do NOT make contact with the case upon normal insertion and ejection.

Which it isn't currently.
Click to expand...

Nor does mine. :)
 
i bought a new macbook pro 13" model on 4-19-10 and when i put dvds in it leaves a straight line scratch on them.
 
I've had a few imacs, most of which didn't scratch discs. The latest one did though, and I noticed that although you could manage to put it in without scratching, you had to be extremely careful not to let it touch the edges of the casing.

This would obviously the case with all imacs, however most of them were quite stiff and capable of guiding the disc in. The latest one allowed it to touch the sides with little to no pressure, scratching both the front and back of the discs unless you were standing over it.

There's a pair of rubber "lips" that guide the disc in. I suspect this fault would be less common if those lips were more rigid, or could be moved a few milimetres closer to the edge of the casing.

Maybe someone could create an aftermarket product that fits into that recess to help guide the discs?
 
Breezy2000uk said:
I've had a few imacs, most of which didn't scratch discs. The latest one did though, and I noticed that although you could manage to put it in without scratching, you had to be extremely careful not to let it touch the edges of the casing.

This would obviously the case with all imacs, however most of them were quite stiff and capable of guiding the disc in. The latest one allowed it to touch the sides with little to no pressure, scratching both the front and back of the discs unless you were standing over it.

There's a pair of rubber "lips" that guide the disc in. I suspect this fault would be less common if those lips were more rigid, or could be moved a few milimetres closer to the edge of the casing.

Maybe someone could create an aftermarket product that fits into that recess to help guide the discs?
Click to expand...

bingo!

and yes, certain members cited above, IMHO, throw truth and logic out the window to blatantly defend one of the most economically powerful corporations on earth. It is one thing to love Apple products, as I do, and another thing to reject a necessary "critical eye" that only, eventually, helps a company achieve near perfect industrial design.

also, again, APPLE REALLY DOES WANT YOU TO STOP USING "THE DISC" it is so 20th century....
 
SaSaSushi said:
The discs do NOT make contact with the case upon normal insertion and ejection.)
Click to expand...

I'm glad yours works so well, but it IS a basic design fault. The few times it's happened by me was on ejection and with just the lightest touch forward if the drive hasn't completely settled (but is still ejected). I've learned how to take the CD out without it scratching, but I had to train myself. This problem is not being caused by, as you put it, careless users. The suggestion has often been made to put a piece of felt or tape there, which is probably a good idea.
 
Nihilvor said:
I'm glad yours works so well, but it IS a basic design fault. The few times it's happened by me was on ejection and with just the lightest touch forward if the drive hasn't completely settled (but is still ejected). I've learned how to take the CD out without it scratching, but I had to train myself. This problem is not being caused by, as you put it, careless users. The suggestion has often been made to put a piece of felt or tape there, which is probably a good idea.
Click to expand...

No, it is not a design flaw. Mine does not scratch discs because it is properly assembled and I have a fault-free Superdrive.

I didn't say the problem is caused by careless users I just said that on an iMac without faults like my own one would have to apply serious downward pressure on the disc to get it to make contact with the sides of the slot.

If yours is making contact with the slot without any such pressure you have an iMac with a bad or improperly assembled Superdrive and should send it in to Apple for repair.

My own machine is proof that it is not a universal design flaw.

Unfortunately, it seems to be a common thing in user forums for disgruntled users to want to share the misery.
 
Sir Cecil said:
Still no problems at all with scratching when using the LD superdrive (model designation begins HT) in my 2nd i7, but several scratched discs with the Optiarc in the first i7.
Click to expand...

Experiencing the exact same results. My new "HT" SD is much quieter, quicker and scratchless compared to my first i7 which had an Optiarc.

Any idea what HT might stand for? Hitachi?
 
This is funny...

Today i was inserting a DVD into the drive to burn a disc, when suddenly, I felt a slight scratch. Normally I've never scratched a disc but today I guess I wasn't careful enough (I don't have eyes on my fingers).

After immediately removing the disc from the drive, my intuition was right, I did notice slight vertical scratches. I tried inserting the same disc at a slight angle and sure enough, the aluminum casing is touching the disc and causing it to scratch.

I then thought... I wonder how many people would have this same issue like me? And I stumbled onto this forum.

Apparently A LOT!

This is classic Apple... When design comes before function! Remember that Mac that had a speaker magnet too close to the hard drive?

Luckily these weren't my Final Cut Pro discs.
 
Same issue - scratched DVDs

I have the same issue as everyone here. My scratched dvds look just like the ones posted in the photo above.
I had not seen these posts prior to taking my iMac to the Apple Store for repair. I was told they hadn't seen this issue before.
First repair - They replaced the optical drive, same issue.
Second repair - Replaced the complete outer casing of the iMac, same issue.
Mind you with waiting for parts to come in, and time in the shop for repair, I was without my iMac at least a month.
I asked for a new machine, but first they tried putting DVDs into other iMacs on display in the Apple Store. Guess what???? Same Issue!! Then one of the managers admitted HIS new iMac scratches dvds too....but they still play even though they are scratched!!!
I don't want a new machine if it is going to do the same thing.
So....because they ALL do this it is acceptable, I asked?
I think NOT! It is an obvious design flaw that needs to be addressed by Apple. Apple Store employees were unable to offer any kind of resolution to the issue.
I don't blame the employees at the Apple Store. They have worked hard to resolve the issue, but it is beyond their capabilities.
Now waiting to hear from senior engineers but I'm not holding by breath. I am waiting for return calls from Apple Customer care. For now, I'll try the tape over the slot trick to see if I can preserve my dvds until this issue is resolved.
 
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