how to check my dvd drive

[zoran]

The DVDdrive of my mid 2010imac, seems to fail to read CDs and DVDs i mount. Ive installed 2 SSDs and i was thinking that maybe something happened and i might either unplugged or damaged the optical drive cause it was working before. Im not certain what could of happened, but i do find it a bit unlikely that i unplugged a cable, i would have noticed. Is there a way to check what might be wrong with the drive -if its broken or unplugged- without opening the iMac?

 

[Clover Hater]

It may be possible to put the drive in a sata usb enclosure to see if the drive is faulty.

 

[Clover Hater]

Something like this may help see if it's an optical drive problem:
https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-SATA-USB-Cable-USB3S2SAT3CB/dp/B00HJZJI84

 

[ApfelKuchen]

System Report will show you whether it's communicating with the SATA interface. However, that doesn't tell you whether the rest of the drive is functional.

DVD drives are typically the first component to fail in any computer. That's due in large part to its susceptibility to dust accumulation in the optical system, although its overall mechanics are also a factor. If it'll load/eject a disk but can't read it, then consider getting a CD/DVD drive cleaning disk (it's a disk that has some sort of brush attached to it). I can't guarantee results, but it's a relatively cheap item and doesn't require opening the box.

Back in my (relative) youth I ran the repair shop for a radio station that depended on CDs for most of its music playback - we had more than two dozen CD players in the on-air studios and production facilities that were in need of regular cleaning.

If you can't get it working, consider buying an external drive. No surgery required.

 

[Fishrrman]

Try a specialized "cleaning disc" in the drive.

If it works, it works.
If it doesn't, don't bother going through the cost and trouble of a repair.

Instead, buy a USB external DVD/CD reader. They're cheap.

One proviso:
BE AWARE that some external USB DVD/CD drives come with a "Y cable" that requires TWO USB ports. That's because they use more USB "bus power" than one port can deliver.

I'd pay close attention to user reviews and Q&A's to see if the second port was needed for Mac use.