Help with CD, won't read.

[Bridgebuster]

This is on a DVD/CD reader burner that I've used for years. Now it won't read an inserted CD and doesn't show up in Finder. Any thoughts?

 

[MacInWin]

Is the disk upside down?

 

[IWT]

Happens a lot, Jake. But we need to wait and see if that's the problem.

Ian

 

[Bridgebuster]

Is the disk upside down?

No sir. I've tried multiple insertions and with multiple disks. Won't burn a CD either. I've checked the connection.

 

[MacInWin]

Well, sounds like she's dead. It happens. Fortunately, the drives are not that expensive.

 

[Bridgebuster]

Don't know if this means anything, but it does initially spin up and sounds like it's seeking.

 

[IWT]

I think it's knackered

Even if you got it to work once, which I doubt, it's no longer trustworthy.

As Jake said, replacements are relatively cheap these days.

Ian

 

[Bridgebuster]

Thanks for your help folks! I think I have another one lying around. I'll try to find it, install and see if it's any better.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

The spinning is mechanical, the read/writing of data is through lasers. These drives don't do well with dust. Back in the day when we all used them, they used to sell a lens cleaning CD that essentially had a brush affixed to it, it would spin and clean the lens. There isn't any other real way of getting access to the lens.

So you might try that to see if it does anything..

 

[RadDave]

The spinning is mechanical, the read/writing of data is through lasers. These drives don't do well with dust. Back in the day when we all used them, they used to sell a lens cleaning CD that essentially had a brush affixed to it, it would spin and clean the lens. There isn't any other real way of getting access to the lens.

So you might try that to see if it does anything..

Agree with Ashwin, in bygone days I had a lens cleaning kit + a can of compressed air to 'gently' blow in the slot - in 2013 with my first Apple laptops I bought the SuperDrive (i.e. the slot feeder) - well the device is still working! I burned a purchased CD-R WAV the other day. But these non-Apple drives are going for only $20-$30 on Amazon, so if still a heavy user of this technology, invest in a new one. Good luck - Dave

 

[Bridgebuster]

Thanks folks! I'm retired and have fallen pretty badly off the tech curve. Don't have the knowledge or coin to keep up with the latest. That's interesting about the two different realms inside the drives. You're right about what they cost now; so I just ordered a new one. This one has carried me a long time so can't complain.

 

[jpdemers]

The key word there is "years".

 

[Raz0rEdge]

The key word there is "years".

Wait, are you calling us old?

My first CD-ROM drive that I paid, literally, an arm and a leg for..