I currently have an OG, 2008 MBP running 10.7.5.

Had it for almost 5 years now, and just recently the optical drive went out. I knew the lame bit about the Apple Superdrive not being compatible with any devices that have an optical drive built into them (functioning or not), but there was an extremely simple hack that for most seemed to work great.

I'm not having that same luck...


Super simple hack (which you can find very quickly with a google search):

1. Open terminal

2. Copy and enter 'sudo pico /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist'

3. Edit the plist to add the bolded text...




4. Save and reboot



That's supposed to be it. But I'm not having much luck. I've heard what sounds like it spool up once or twice, but it quickly dies out and doesn't function at all. At one point when it was running I was able to have it accept a music CD, but shortly after, it "died" just like the other times and haven't been able to get it to do much of anything since. Tried it about 4 times with the same result. Even tried plugging the Superdrive in at different points of the hack/reboot.

Any ideas?


I bought it with anticipation that I'm saving/planning to buy a new MBP this summer since they usually have a promotion during the summer time. I thought this hack would go off without much problem. And now I have one of my favorite CD's stuck inside. At least for the time being.

 

Why not just buy a cheap USB CD/DVD drive? Is there a reason you wanted to stick with Apple brand for the drive? Any one will work.


http://www.newegg.com/External-CD-DV...ategory/ID-420


As for the stuck disk, open a terminal window and type "drutil eject" (no quotes)

 

Be happy, now your Mac is like the new ones they sell.

 

To be completely honest, I would've just liked to have stuck with the SuperDrive for its seamless design with my current/future computer.

Yea, I'm one of those guys.

Assuming I get a new one this summer, ill actually have use for it since they don't have internal optical drives on any of their computers now IIRC. Just sucks that I can't use it right now.

 

what do you use optical media for?

 

Have a shit ton of audio CD's that I'm wanting to put on iTunes, primarily.

Sometimes when I travel, I'll take a season of a TV show with me and watch that, although I'm not sure if I'd go through the trouble if I had to use an external drive.

 

Are you sure the drive didn't just die? I know SuperDrives are quite a common part to fail. If it's 5 years old, it could have just gone. Although if it will take in discs, and eject them, then obviously something else is up. Easiest way to try to eject it if it won't normally come out would be to shut it down and hold down the eject key on your keyboard while you turn it back on. Otherwise I think those older SuperDrives had the spot where you could use a paper clip to manually eject a disc.

 

I may have not clarified very well.

The optical drive in my MBP died. Which is why I bought a new, external superdrive to replace it. The optical drive in my MBP will take in discs, but it makes awful noises for about 30-60 seconds before spitting it back out automatically.

 

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/super...MacBook_Pro_15

Just replace the internal SuperDrive...

Easy

Unless yours is a unibody model...appears these wont work.