Remote Disc for MacBook Pro (dead DVD drive)?

[Tom Baker]

Hi there,

This is my first post on MacRumors but I'm by no means new to Macs. However, I haven't been able to find a solution to my rather difficult problem!

I've got a first-generation (Rev. C) MacBook Pro whose DVD drive has conked out. Upon inserting any discs they will be ejected automatically after about 2-3 seconds.

About every 20 tries of this, the CD/DVD will be stuck in the tray until the computer spits it out about 30 minutes later.

Anyway - I will be needing to install Windows via Boot Camp for school, and not to mention various DVD-only pieces of software (like iLife '09!) and I won't be able to do that!

Is there any solution to this? My first thought was a MacBook Air-style "Remote Disc" arrangement. I have a C2D iMac also, and an 802.11g network, so I assumed this would work?

Cheers

Tom Baker

 

[Quu]

You cannot install Windows XP via Bootcamp over Remote Disc as you need an operating system already there to work with the remote drive technology.

What I will suggest is you buy a USB to IDE/SATA adapater + Optical Drive (This will cost you like $40 max altogether and work fine). Alternatively purchase an External USB Optical Drive (A single Unit, which will cost more but also work fine).

Good luck!

 

[jackiecanev2]

To enable remote-disc, open terminal and

defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser EnableODiskBrowsing -bool true
defaults write com.apple.NetworkBrowser ODSSupported -bool true

then reboot. You should see the remote disc in finder now.

But it will not work for bootcamp. You are SOL there; even on the MBA, you have to use an external drive.

 

[Tom Baker]

Thanks for all your help - exactly what I wanted to hear.

I'll be investing in an external drive this week.

--Tom