Mac superdrive.

Elcarajillo

Anyone with a Mac computer and superdrive had problems with drive ejecting discs and not recognising them ?
Mrs El c has a Mac cp and I have a Macbook pro, the superdrive suddenly started ejecting discs after about 30 secs and failing to recognise them.
Looking online this seems quite a common problem without any conclusive reason or cure.
I do wonder if it is something to do with updates ? It is happening on both machines and seems too coincidental to be machine problems.

MediumRoastSteam

Elcarajillo is this the external unit or internal unit?

wilburpan

Elcarajillo I think what you’re describing is unfortunately, the first sign of your Superdrive failing due to age. it’s not clear how old your Superdrive is, but it was first released 10 years ago from what I could find. Most computer parts are designed for a 5 year lifespan, according to my brother who works in the industry. So unless you bought your Superdrive relatively recently, it might be doing this just because of old age (in computer terms).

Elcarajillo

MediumRoastSteam yes it is.

MediumRoastSteam

Ps: did some research some say to hold the CMD key while inserting the disk, others say to try and clean the optical reader and another said that holding it at a 90 degree worked. I thought my Mac had a superdrive, but it does not.

Elcarajillo

I have just tried holding down cmd, still ejects disc. I did try cleaning out with compressed air earlier still no go🙄

Ernie1

Been using Macs for 25 years and this used to happen to their internal disc drives when they were on their last legs. CD drives in general were never the most reliable of hardwares.

Macs stopped using disc drives about 10 years ago so if the SuperDrive is that sort of age it might be suffering.

I’d forgotten about these but do they still make those CDs with the brushes on to clean the lens? Might be worth a go?

Elcarajillo

Thanks to everyone who replied.