Replacement Superdrives for 2009 Mini

[MTI]

I've cleaned, dusted, checked the ribbon connector, pretty much everything, but the Superdrive in the A1238 2.0ghz Mini will spin, but doesn't want to read any discs.

Are there any Macbook or other model 12.7mm sata superdrives that are swappable with the one in the Mini?

 

[philipma1957]

there are a few but why not use


http://store.apple.com/us/search?find=macbook air superdrive


cost 79 bucks and works with mac minis


https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1178755/

I just watched red hill with this mac mini a 2.66 2009 modded using a macbook air drive


here is and internal costs more


http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Panasonic/MMINISL8XDL/

 

[accessoriesguy]

I've cleaned, dusted, checked the ribbon connector, pretty much everything, but the Superdrive in the A1238 2.0ghz Mini will spin, but doesn't want to read any discs.

Are there any Macbook or other model 12.7mm sata superdrives that are swappable with the one in the Mini?

This actually happened to my macbook pro after about only 2 years of having it.

I was in shock that it would get messed up so quickly, but after doing some research I found out that its common, that the device just got dirty.

It may be that your having the same problem if that is the case you just need to get an air duster and spray it. or you can just get a thin cloth, the kind you use on your glasses, wrap it around a credit card and stick it into the CD drive to clean it out well.

I have used external DVD before on my mac and they have worked. It comes out cheaper too, so that's an alternative you can think about doing.

Here's one:
http://www.cellularfactory.com/computer/DELL/40/39142/697/

 

[MTI]

Yup, I've aware of externals, including the MBA hack, but just wondering about any compatability issues in using an Apple sata (not IDE or PATA) Superdrive from a laptop. I'm not certain, but I recall reading that some Unibody Macbook superdrives were only compatible with those Macbooks.

 

[philipma1957]

delete post

 

[paulcone]

compressed air to the rescue!

It may be that your having the same problem if that is the case you just need to get an air duster and spray it.

Great tip -- this worked for me. I can read DVDs again!

 

[davidmartindale]

Hmmm

there are a few but why not use


http://store.apple.com/us/search?find=macbook air superdrive


cost 79 bucks and works with mac minis


https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1178755/

I just watched red hill with this mac mini a 2.66 2009 modded using a macbook air drive


here is and internal costs more


http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Panasonic/MMINISL8XDL/

According to Apple and a lot of people around the web, the Apple USB SuperDrive only works with Macs that do NOT have a SuperDrive built in. This is do to a lack of drivers on Macs WITH a SuperDrive built in. I have been having basically the same issue in my 2009 Mac mini as the guy who started this thread. It spins, tries to read and then ejects. I believe a drive cleaning kit might work, which is just a CD with a microfiber brush on it to clean the laser. Does anyone know if air duster will work, or will that damage a slot loading drive?

 

[brand]

According to Apple and a lot of people around the web, the Apple USB SuperDrive only works with Macs that do NOT have a SuperDrive built in. This is do to a lack of drivers on Macs WITH a SuperDrive built in. I have been having basically the same issue in my 2009 Mac mini as the guy who started this thread. It spins, tries to read and then ejects. I believe a drive cleaning kit might work, which is just a CD with a microfiber brush on it to clean the laser. Does anyone know if air duster will work, or will that damage a slot loading drive?

Drivers actually have nothing to do with it.

 

[Mojo1]

In my experience, if cleaning it with canned air or other methods doesn't work, it's simply toast.

If anything is going to break on a Mac it's going to be the so-called SuperDrive. The more you use it, the more likely it will crash and burn. But the SD in my current iMac has been used only a handful of times and it is non-functional. (I've worn-out other drives ripping my CD collection...) The guts of the drives are cheap plastic and relatively fragile; I'm amazed that some of them last as long as they do under Real World use.

I'm happy that Apple is transitioning away from installed optical drives. Good Riddance! There are decent externals available for $40; if it breaks it's No Big Deal.