Superdrive keeps ejecting

[Swip2]

Hi!

I have a Macbook Unibody (late 2008) that has started giving me problems with the Superdrive lately. After about 15-20 mins of reading a disc, it will auto eject the disc and give me a disc read error. Up until then it will be fine, either showing a movie without problem or transferring files.

So far I've only tested a few different DVD's, all are fine without scratches etc and everything was working fine just a few days ago.

However, I recently upgraded the RAM to 8 gb and changed the harddrive to an SSD, a clone from the HD I took out. While I did this I used a can of compressed air to blow out a lot of dust from within the mac. The only thing I can think of is that somehow I might have damaged or done something during this process to impact on the superdrive?

I'm more familiar with the RAM and HD portions of the Macbook than the Superdrive though and I'm wondering if there's anyone here with more knowledge of this issue or what I may do to resolve it?


Thanks in advance!


/Swip2

 

[east85]

Hi!

I have a Macbook Unibody (late 2008) that has started giving me problems with the Superdrive lately. After about 15-20 mins of reading a disc, it will auto eject the disc and give me a disc read error. Up until then it will be fine, either showing a movie without problem or transferring files.

So far I've only tested a few different DVD's, all are fine without scratches etc and everything was working fine just a few days ago.

However, I recently upgraded the RAM to 8 gb and changed the harddrive to an SSD, a clone from the HD I took out. While I did this I used a can of compressed air to blow out a lot of dust from within the mac. The only thing I can think of is that somehow I might have damaged or done something during this process to impact on the superdrive?

I'm more familiar with the RAM and HD portions of the Macbook than the Superdrive though and I'm wondering if there's anyone here with more knowledge of this issue or what I may do to resolve it?


Thanks in advance!


/Swip2

Have you tried resetting PRAM?

http://guides.macrumors.com/Resetting_the_PRAM

 

[Swip2]

Have you tried resetting PRAM?

http://guides.macrumors.com/Resetting_the_PRAM

You know, I totally forgot to try that. But I did it now, and everything seems to work fine now. And I was starting to look at the cost of repairs and replacements, haha. Thank you !


Edit: Hmm, it seems I spoke too soon. It took alot longer, about 40 mins now, but it just ejected another dvd for a reading error again. Dang.

 

[kpgh554]

You know, I totally forgot to try that. But I did it now, and everything seems to work fine now. And I was starting to look at the cost of repairs and replacements, haha. Thank you !


Edit: Hmm, it seems I spoke too soon. It took alot longer, about 40 mins now, but it just ejected another dvd for a reading error again. Dang.

have you tried running a dvd lens cleaner disc make sure no muck on lens.

 

[Swip2]

have you tried running a dvd lens cleaner disc make sure no muck on lens.

I haven't tried that, do those work on macbooks??

Do not use discs that have anything attached to them or dangling from them (such as "sweeper" or cleaning discs).

From: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2801

 

[kpgh554]

I haven't tried that, do those work on macbooks??



From: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2801

worked for me use a disc called av lens cleaner. do not use a cd cleaner as their cleaning brushes are too course. the av lens cleaner has soft brush on and found if run 2-3 times worked. but if disc got scratch or fingerprint etc on it won't make a difference

 

[tug]

found a solution! i got same macbook, same problem, so what to do is take the drive out and take the top cover off drive don't worry as long as you have the right tools and are careful there isn't much harm you can do.

now you will see the 'eye' get a cloth something like a soft tea towel (it has to be soft so as not to scratch but course enough to remove 'grit')

now very carefully rub across the eye, be gentle with it though!

now the reason for doing this is because after time dust that naturally gathers around electrics will turn into small pieces of grit, not that you can see them but they are there on the optical eye, which will cause this problem.

this is caused over time by the dust heating up and cooling down which turns the particles into grit.

now if you are careful and gentle you can actually feel them click off.

good luck.

 

[AceMason]

My SuperDrive in my MBP kept automatically ejecting as well. I'm posting my solution here in case it helps anyone in the future.

If the ejection is occurring immediately then the drive is faulty.

If the lens is dirty or something is wrong with the reader you will hear the drive spin up 3 or 4 times in an attempt to read the disc and it will take at least 20 seconds of trying to read before spitting it back out.

As for lens cleaning. One trick I read about is getting a thin and soft cotton cloth damp (not wet enough to drip) with rubbing alcohol. Wrap around a credit card and swipe pass the lens (you should not need to force it). The lens is in the left corner about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in. A couple of passes aught to clean it.

All I did was wet a microfiber cloth slightly and made sure to squeeze out the excess water and used a credit card to slide it about 1 inch into the left part of the superdrive and it's working now!!