Superdrive won't read DVDs after Mavericks upgrade

[aarondeines]

I've tried playing several DVDs in my MacBook Pro late 2011 since upgrading to Mavericks and, time after time, I receive an error message reading "the disc cannot be read by this computer". Despite this, regular audio CDs are read and played just fine. I fixed disc permissions with no results. I reset the PRAM and SMC with no results. I cleaned the drive with no results. I even ordered a new superdrive, installed it, and ran into the exact same issue. Does anyone know if Apple has a fix coming for this? It's ridiculous. Thanks.

 

[pm-r]

A few more details would help - sigh...

Like what non-regular disks have you tried???

Do commercial disks work???

 

[aarondeines]

Commercial DVDs (movies Beetlejuice, The Sandlot, Major League) and blank DVD+RWs are not readable. Commercial audio CDs (albums by No Doubt, Alice in Chains) are read normally and can be ripped into iTunes.

 

[Slydude]

I assume you are trying to use the DVD player software included with the Mac? I think that's the problem. I purchased an external DVD burner recently and encountered this. IIRC the DVD player software expects the drive to be internal.

Give this a try if it solves your problem. If it does I might be able to find other software.
1. If you don't already have it download and install VLC
2. From VLC's File Menu choose Open Disc.
3. In the next screen that appears make sure the tab is set to Disc and choose Open Video TS.

 

[aarondeines]

Slydude:

I have not tried opening or using DVD Player. The computer displays the dialog box with the error message immediately after trying to read the disc. After clicking the OK button, no disc icon is displayed on the desktop and viewing the contents of the disc in Finder cannot be achieved.

 

[aarondeines]

Also, I should mention that the superdrive is internal. Thank you guys for your help.

 

[pm-r]

I'd try using one of the Mac compatible CD/DVD disk cleaners with the small brush(es) and a few good blasts of Dust-Off with it's tube in the optical drive slot.

Most players have separate lenses for DVDs and CDs and your DVD part seems to be the worst as far as proper working goes.

 

[pigoo3]

Commercial DVDs (movies Beetlejuice, The Sandlot, Major League) and blank DVD+RWs are not readable. Commercial audio CDs (albums by No Doubt, Alice in Chains) are read normally and can be ripped into iTunes.

Can we assume that all of these disks worked before the Mavericks upgrade? If they didn't work before (older OS version)…they won't work now either.

If you're not sure…that would help too.

- Nick

 

[aarondeines]

Yes sir, Mr. Nick. They worked perfectly before the update to Mavericks. It had been several months since I tried though, so that's why I thought that, after repairing disk permissions and resetting PRAM and SMC, maybe the internal drive was just shot. That's why I thought I'd try a brand new internal superdrive. Unfortunately, I encountered the same result.

 

[pm-r]

Man, what's going on?? I can't believe all the optical drive problems so many have had after installing Mavericks as a google search showed:
https://www.google.ca/search?client...&oe=UTF-8&gfe_rd=cr&ei=AzG8U6mNI6qV8QeFqoG4Cw

And very few solutions that I could find except for maybe these:

Built-in Superdrive won't read DVDs after upgrading to OS X Mavericks - Super User

https://discussions.apple.com/message/24032581#24032581

The OP seems to have done everything but I'd be tempted to download and run the latest Mavericks 10.9.x COMBO Update, and I'd do it when booted into Safe Boot Mode and run DU repairs and verify while there, before and again after.

Then restart normally if still in Safe Boot mode.

 

[aarondeines]

Crap on a Stick

I tried all of those things after you posted the links along with fixing disk permissions while in Safe Boot. Nothing. I'm really getting upset at the possibility that I might have to actually take this in to the Apple Store. The only thing I want to know is how many times it took to type the "drutil" commands before it worked. Three times? 10 times? 50 times? Ugh...

 

[pm-r]

Is your MacBook Pro late 2011 covered with extended AppleCare?

If not, I'd sure try getting a clean previous OS X installed or borrow one on an external drive that you can use, where everything worked with whatever version you were using prior to your Mavericks "upgrade" somehow.

And I have no idea about drutil or the number of attempts it needs.