SuperDrive says "needs power" but...it's plugged into Mini

[eboychik]

I bought a new (gently used) SuperDrive to transfer CDs, but when I plug it into a powered hub, it tells me it needs power. Plugging directly into the Mac Mini also tells me I need power. Not sure what to do at this point. I'm looking for an external self-powered CD player/burner that plugs in to AC but not having any luck.

Does anyone have a suggestion?

Many thanks!

 

[Fishrrman]

Try this:
Unplug the SuperDrive from the hub.
Unplug the hub and anything else (drives) connected to the Mini.
Plug in the SuperDrive (so that it's the ONLY device connected to the Mini.

After doing this, do you still get the "needs power" alerts?

 

[PachaEOD]

This worked for me, base mini M4.

 

[PaulD-UK]

@eboychik "Plugging directly into the Mac Mini..."

So it's plugged directly into a USB-A port on a M1 or M2 mini?
That should work.

It needs to draw extra power from the USB-A port, (more than the USB-A standard), so the recommendation is to plug it directly into the Mac, or to a CalDigit TB3 dock using their special extra-power software

My SuperDrive works fine through the front USB-C ports of my M4 Pro Mac mini, using a Belkin USB-A to USB-C adapter.
It also works when connected to a 15w USB-A charging port on my Thunderbolt 3 dock.

The original recommendation was to use Apple's own USB-A to C adapter, as in the picture in the previous post, but other branded ones work.

If you are using a generic USB-A to C adapter - especially a small-form one, then it may not be passing enough power to the Superdrive.

 

[eboychik]

Thank you for these suggestions! I will try them!

 

[FreakinEurekan]

If the mini has USB-A, obviously plug it in there.

If it does not, use the Apple USB-C to USB Adapter. Yes, some other adapters might work. But that's the one Apple says WILL work. They also mention some multiport adapters - those will NOT work on some models of Superdrive made before 2010; yours is an unknown so I'd just assume they would not. But the USB-A to USB-C should work regardless.

 

[eSaF-Eddie]

Hi, I don't know if this will aid your situation but this is what I bought to power a CD/Burner I took out from my old P/C and now connected to my 2014 Mini and works perfectly. It is quite versatile as it can be utilised for other connections that needs isolated power.

 

[eboychik]

Hi, I don't know if this will aid your situation but this is what I bought to power a CD/Burner I took out from my old P/C and now connected to my 2014 Mini and works perfectly. It is quite versatile as it can be utilised for other connections that needs isolated power.

I ordered one. We shall see!

 

[BBS_Sysop]

This old Hackintosh trick works for me on my Mac Mini M2 using Sequoia.

- Enter Recovery Mode
- Open terminal and enter "csrutil disable"
- Restart the Mac and enter " sudo nvram boot-args="mbasd=1" " in terminal.
- Shutdown the Mac, connect the SuperDrive and turn on the Mac. The drive should be working.

 

[eboychik]

Thank you all! This terminal command sequence worked!! So grateful!

 

[haralds]

It needs to be plugged directly through a USB-A-to-C adapter. I tried it and it works.