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Mac laptops : MacBook CD/DVD drive won't read discs -- can it be fixed?
MacBook CD/DVD drive won't read discs -- can it be fixed?
by cindyg909 - 2/14/09 1:04 PMFirst, my MacBook is a little more than a year old and is no longer covered under warranty, so I would like to try any possible fixes (like cleaning the drive) before having to buy a new drive.
Here's my problem: when I put a CD or DVD into the drive, it spins around and clicks a lot but never seems to really catch, and after about a minute or so of this, it ejects itself. It never shows up on my desktop, so the computer is unable to read anything from the CD or DVD. I know the problem is not the CD or DVD, because I've tried the same discs on other machines and they work fine.
This problem came up on me gradually. It started happening a few months ago, and maybe only 1 out of 10 or 20 discs would it do this. Then it became a third of the time, then half of the time, and now it's about 99% of the time. I was able to get one disc to work a few days ago, but when I ejected it and reinserted it, it didn't work the second time.
Any suggestions on something I could try (other than buying a new drive)?
Try a lens cleaner but
by R. Proffitt
- 2/14/09 2:08 PM
In reply to: MacBook CD/DVD drive won't read discs -- can it be fixed? by cindyg909
Why not extend that warranty today?
Warranty extension
by mrmacfixit - 2/14/09 5:09 PM
In reply to: Try a lens cleaner but by R. Proffitt
Not sure that is going to happen as the original has expired. You can extend with AppleCare right up to the day of expiration, but not after.
An external would be the cheapest route.
P
Hint:
by R. Proffitt - 2/14/09 6:13 PM
In reply to: Warranty extension by mrmacfixit
"I was overseas and couldn't get to it until now."
Yes, a lens cleaner..
by jboroman - 2/15/09 2:17 PM In reply to: MacBook CD/DVD drive won't read discs -- can it be fixed? by cindyg909I agree with trying a lens cleaning disk. It's highly unfortunate for you if the drive has failed so soon; they should last for years. I guess the nature of laptops is that they are more prone to being around dirty environments; thus attracting more crud in the drive. If cleaning fails to fix the problem, you can replace the drive yourself. If you're averse to doing that, an external optical drive would be the cheapest way to go, but not very practical, hauling a laptop AND a drive around.
MacBook Air
by Jkirk3279 - 2/20/09 8:04 PM In reply to: Yes, a lens cleaner.. by jboromanWell, the MacBook Air doesn't have an optical drive, and it's set up to share drives with desktops.
I suppose you could look into that. As for the drive in question, replacing them isn't all that bad.
MacBook CD/DVD drive won't read discs
by bhumika23 - 12/8/09 12:56 AM In reply to: MacBook CD/DVD drive won't read discs -- can it be fixed? by cindyg909I have the exact same problem. I'd like to know what you did? Did you have to get it fixed? My CD's too get ejected and don't write correctly or don't write at all. This started happening just a few days after the computer ran its warranty period. I don't have Apple Care so I don't know what I must do.
A replacement one of these
by mrmacfixit - 12/8/09 9:16 AM
In reply to: MacBook CD/DVD drive won't read discs by bhumika23
can be had for $147 if you fit it yourself. (It's fairly easy)
Failing that, you could purchase an external enclosure and put a full size DVD burner in there. It would be cheaper but not as portable.
P
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