Wonderful SuperDrive feedback from Kevan R. Craft:
I have a MacBook Pro 15 Inch, 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3GB RAM running Mac OS X 10.5.8 and experienced the same problem with my Matshita DVD-R UJ-867 drive after downloading an Apple Security Update.
I tried everything from spraying air into the drive, a DVD Lense Cleaner Disc, Power resets and even banging the case. I’ve even flashed the DVD Drive but still couldn’t get the MacBook Pro to read either CD or DVD media blank or recorded or commecial discs.
Finally, before I jumped to buy a new drive I decided to buy a set of Torx screwdrivers containing a T-6 Torx driver so I could disassemble my MacBook Pro and remove the Matshita DVD-R UJ-867 drive.
I eventually removed the drive and removed the screws opening the actual drive to reveal the DVD-R drive contents inside. Onnce open I sprayed the optical lense with a can of compressed air and cleaned any dust on the lense and the rest of the inside of the drive. After that I replaced the DVD-R cover and replaced the screws. I then replaced the DVD-R drive back into the MacBook Pro and screwed it all back together.
Once I’d put it all back together I then powered the MacBook Pro up, booted the machine and inserted a music CD THE BEST OF BILL WITHERS and low and behold the CD disc mounted.
So stripping the DVD-R drive and spraying compressed air directly onto the optical lense removed the problem of not being able to load either CD or DVD discs. Now I can read any disc possible and the fix has returned the Matshita DVD-R UJ-867 drive so it now reads both CD and DVD discs as before.
The process is a fiddly but worth the effort. It is my guess that 99 per cent of Superdrive problems experienced by Apple MacBook Pro users using this hardware cleaning method will return their Superdrives to working state so they should be able to read and mount both CD and DVD media..
Job is a good one..
Regards
Kevan
P.S. post this on any and all MacBook Pro forums and blos as possible so other MacBook Pro owners can use the fix to repair their DVD-R Superdrive problem no being able to read and mount CD and DVD media.. Do what I did above and you’ll get your drive back without having to buy a new drive.. If your MacBook Pro is under warranty with Applecare then go to Apple. If the warranty has expired use my fix to repair your Superdrive..
Worth a shot if you’re out of warranty and need to fix that SuperDrive.
I just received a great email.
Richard:
I’m writing this to thank you for your help with my MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-857D problem. I followed your advice and wrote to Steve Jobs at his Apple e-mails and I got an answer; they fixed my superdrive for free. They realized that it was a worldwide problem and fixed it, no questions asked.
So thank you for the advice.
It’s times like these that I’m glad I wrote up a detailed article on fixing these SuperDrives. The entire SuperDrive saga is in the Matshita SuperDrive category of the blog.
Countless Macintosh users have been troubled over the last year by a firmware-corrupting update that Apple Inc. released for Matshita disc drives in MacBook and MacBook Pro computers, SuperDrive 2.1 Update. Possible solutions were premiered, but none proved permanent. I wrote this post to help those affected by this problem; if you’re lucky enough not to be plagued by this issue, skip this post.
My complete personal saga with this issue lives in the Matshita SuperDrive category of this blog. I encourage you to read the buildup to my permanent solution. Through these personal experience and heartache, I have determined that the only solution for this problem is a SuperDrive replacement.
First, a recap of my experience. In August 2007, after applying to SuperDrive 2.1 update, I realized that my MacBook Pro wasn’t recognizing or burning certain types of media. I sent my MacBook Pro in for a drive replacement. Unfortunately, Apple’s technicians only reinstalled Tiger on my computer, which didn’t solve my issue. Although I was outraged, I decided to deal with the issue another time. In late December 2007, I came across a firmware patch for my drive and applied it. It was only a temporary fix, as many users have found out. Come late January 2008, I finally decided to try Apple Support again. After two phone calls, I arranged a drive replacement.
After twelve days, I had my computer back with a brand new HL-DT-ST DVDRW GWA4080MA drive.
I believe that the only solution for this problem is to call Apple Support and demand a SuperDrive replacement. As far as I know, Apple have not officially recognized the SuperDrive problem. Here are my tips:
- Take names of your support agents.
- Stay consistent with your story.
- Don’t admit any firmware hacks, period.
- Don’t take “no” for an answer.
- Call back if you don’t get what you want.
- Mention all of the articles you’ve read online of people saying its a corrupted firmware caused by an Apple update.
- If you’re told to reinstall your operating system, tell the support agent you’ll do so and call back in an hour.
- Email all of Steve Jobs’ email addresses. I’m serious. (steve@mac.com, sjobs@apple.com, sjobs@mac.com). Tell your story and show your disappointment in the company. You’ll likely get contacted by Apple’s Executive Office.
Please leave any thoughts and experiences in the comments. I hope every last person affected by this issue gets his or her SuperDrive replaced.
It’s been a while since I wrote about my college admissions experience. That’s because I’m playing one of the most boring games ever right now, the waiting game. As soon as I have any news, I’ll post it.
I’m playing the waiting game in more than one way, though. It’s been a week since I’ve sent my beloved MacBook Pro to Apple for a SuperDrive replacement. The replacement SuperDrive has been on order for five days now, and I see no end to this torture in sight.
With those two factors combined, I have fewer things to write about than usual. I’ll see what I can do.
In the meantime, there are plenty of older posts to check out. I also invite you to watch my movies or add me on some social networks.
My MacBook Pro is making a pilgrimage to Apple’s laptop technical support center in Texas for what is hopefully a SuperDrive replacement. In that time, however, I need a computer to use.
My answer is my G4 Cube. For the next week or so I’ll be living with a 450mhz, 640 megabyte (RAM) machine. This’ll be fun. I’ll be sure to give my thoughts on the experience.
My dearest MacBook Pro’s SuperDrive is at it again: it won’t burn discs. To save you from reading up on my two past experiences (one, two), I’ll summarize them.
A long time ago, I applied the SuperDrive 2.1 Update from Apple, as anyone who runs Apple’s Software Update utility should. Essentially, that update has been either bricking or severely limiting the function of drives everywhere. I sent the MacBook Pro to Apple, and rather than replacing the drive, they reformatted the drive and reinstalled Mac OS X Tiger. Eventually, some enterprising coders wrote a firmware patch utility, which actually solved my problems for a limited period. This last week, the problem reappeared, and I spent most of my day working to solve it. I twittered my experience with Apple Support:
- On with Apple Support to fix SuperDrive. 15 minutes waiting, starting now, for a rep.
- Hold music is awful. Surprise! But, I can forgive that. So far, no strikes against Apple.
- My problem? The infamous SuperDrive 2.1 Update hosed my drive. Apple refuses to acknowledge it online… let’s see if they do on the phone.
- I sent it in for a drive replacement in the past… instead, they reinstalled Tiger. I’m angry and finally have enough time to deal with it.
- Hold music stopped… I’m just sitting alone, cold, and scared.
- I feel like my call has been dropped into a bottomless pit. Calling again. >:/
- Extended wait time. “You may prefer to call back later.” – How about no.
- Current hold music: Coldplay – In My Place … I love that song! That almost makes up for my disconnection and extended waiting.
- Connected to an agent. Let’s see how it goes.
- “Let me see what I can do here.” I bet you that you can’t do anything. I’ve tried all the standard troubleshooting steps. The drive is bad!
- “Let’s see if I can cure this somehow.” I’d be overjoyed.
- “I think it’s a software issue.” It’s not!
- He wants me to reinstall Leopard! It’s. Not. Software.
- They refuse to acknowledge that the SuperDrive 2.1 Update firmware was corrupt. Off the phone. I was told to reinstall Leopard… AHHHHH!
- I’m going to have to reformat my system this evening. Of course, it won’t fix the problem. Then I’ll call back for more bogus advice.
- Guess what? A Leopard reinstall didn’t fix the corrupt firmware on my MacBook Pro’s SuperDrive. Calling Apple again.
- Estimated wait time, fifteen minutes. Here we go again, twitter friends. Let’s hope that I’ve now proven it’s not an OS issue.
- On the phone with a technician.
- 32 minutes on the phone, they’re sending me a box. Promised me they’re replacing the SuperDrive this time.
As you can tell, it took three phone calls and two support agents before I was given what I want: a box sent to my house to send the computer to Apple and the promise of a new SuperDrive.
I’ll keep everyone posted.