[G4] Help: can't read internal CD drive

[Alex]

On Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004, at 19:29 Canada/Eastern, Eytan Bercovitch 
wrote:

> [...] I've noticed that my internal CD drive has stopped 
> reading/recognizing CD disks when they are put in the internal drive. 
> [...] I am running MacOSX 10.2.8.  I am running on a 400mz G4 of the 
> Yikes (PCI) model with 728 mg RAM. [...] When I restart in OS 9.2 
> (which is also on my hard disk) the internal CD works fine, and reads 
> disks normally.

Let's take this methodically. It sounds like the symptom is that Finder 
doesn't mount CDs. Since the symptom is OS X-only, it's not likely to 
be a hardware issue.

First, and most important question: When did it happen? After 
installing some new software? Installing or connecting some new 
hardware? After a crash, power blackout,... meteor strike?

Second, does this apply to any kind of discs? Have you tried different 
physical formats (CD-ROM/CD-R/CD-RW) and logical formats (blank, Mac, 
PC, audio)?

Third, you say you ran Disk Utility. What do you mean? DU doesn't see 
the CD? (It should.) You tried to use DU to repair the boot volume? 
(Can't be done -- DU cannot verify or repair the boot volume.) You 
tried to use DU to repair permissions? (Good idea, even if it may not 
help.)

What to do next depends on the answers to these questions. But there 
two further things to check. First, as Mike asked you, to verify if 
Apple System Profiler sees the drive under OS X. (Check under the 
Devices and Volumes tab, and see what ASP reports for it in the Bus 
section. Click the triangle for full info.) Quickest way to launch it: 
[Apple Menu] > About This Mac > More Info... Second, verify if your Mac 
can boot in OS X from the OS X install CD. If yes, use the install 
version of Disk Utility to verify/repair your hard disk. (However, do 
not use it to repair permissions on the hard disk.)

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