Sierra Apple USB SuperDrive Problem

[rawweb]

Any ideas what the heck is going on here? On my late 2013 Mac Pro with Apple Superdrive, every time I insert a blank DVD disk, it isn't recognized by the system and begins flashing (see video).

Tried plugging into multiple USB ports (thunderbolt display, directly to Mac Pro, etc), tried different disks...all produce the same result. Mac Pro reads burned disks just fine...was trying to duplicate a master for a client and this happened.

Interestingly, when connected to my 2014 MacBook Pro, it produced the same result.

EDIT: I just borrowed a Superdrive from another employee, and it's doing the same thing!!
[doublepost=1484167822][/doublepost]UPDATE: I logged into one of our spare 2012 iMac's which is still on El Capitan, works flawlessly with the same drive/disk. Appears to be a bug with Sierra. I also uploaded this to Apple feedback assistance.

MODS: Please move to macOS Sierra forum.

 

[orph]

id gess the drive is USB powered and the mac pro can not supply sufficient power to the drive.

if it is a USB powered drive use a powered USB hub to power the drive and plug the hub in to your macpro ^^

i use the USB hub on my display to do this

(if it is a mains powered drive ignore im wrong)

 

[rawweb]

Negative, as reported in my first post I plugged into multiple 6,1 (10.12.2) USB ports direct, Thunderbolt Display USB ports, same problem. Finder just continuously flashes the ignore/ok/eject screen . Only clicking eject makes it stop.

Direct into my 2014 rMBP (10.12.1) same result. Occurred on multiple Apple USB SuperDrive units.

As reported, the same disk drive/disk worked flawlessly on a spare iMac with 10.11.5 installed. So I was able to get this crummy request filled pretty quick with some minor investigative work. Based on my testing, this seems limited to Sierra 10.12.1 and 10.12.2 releases.

Bit surprised to see no other reports on a google search. Makes sense I guess, even I hate hauling out a DVD drive in 2017...

 

[h9826790]

Negative, as reported in my first post I plugged into multiple 6,1 (10.12.2) USB ports direct, Thunderbolt Display USB ports, same problem. Finder just continuously flashes the ignore/ok/eject screen . Only clicking eject makes it stop.

Direct into my 2014 rMBP (10.12.1) same result. Occurred on multiple Apple USB SuperDrive units.

As reported, the same disk drive/disk worked flawlessly on a spare iMac with 10.11.5 installed. So I was able to get this crummy request filled pretty quick with some minor investigative work. Based on my testing, this seems limited to Sierra 10.12.1 and 10.12.2 GM releases.

Bit surprised to see no other reports on a google search. Makes sense I guess, even I hate hauling out a DVD drive in 2017...

I've just used this drive 2 days ago on my cMP with macOS 10.12.2 official release (16C67). No problem at all.

If you are still with 10.12.1 or 10.12.2 GM, may be you should consider update your OS.

 

[rawweb]

I've just used this drive 2 days ago on my cMP with macOS 10.12.2 official release (16C67). No problem at all.

If you are still with 10.12.1 or 10.12.2 GM, may be you should consider update your OS.

My 10.12.2 is 16c67...nothing else to upgrade to.

 

[h9826790]

Not sure if this can make any difference. In order to make this super drive work on cMP. I have to add a boot argument. To simplify the process. You may type this in terminal.

sudo nvram boot-args="mbasd=1"

And then restart your Mac.

This command can make the unsupported super drive work flawlessly on an old Mac. You may try to see if this can make an officially supported super drive works better on the newer Mac.

 

[flowrider]

I have two optical drives in my 5,1 cMP. I use Toast 14 to burn discs, and I usually burn from disk to disk. Both drives are LG brand, one is BlueRay the other DVDRAM. No issues at all on Sierra with CDs or DVDs (single or dual layer).

My only issue, is why did Apple render the f12 key unable to eject discs anymore?????

Lou

 

[rawweb]

@h9826790 It's not that it isn't working. It shows up in system info on both the Mac Pro and MacBook just fine and attempts to mount the blank DVD endlessly. It also reads already created media just fine. I'll upload a video shortly that better illustrates the behavior. It's what I sent to Apple feedback.

EDIT:
Here is the video:

 

[h9826790]

@h9826790 It's not that it isn't working. It shows up in system info on both the Mac Pro and MacBook just fine and attempts to mount the blank DVD endlessly. It also reads already created media just fine. I'll upload a video shortly that better illustrates the behavior. It's what I sent to Apple feedback.

EDIT:
Here is the video:

I know, that's why I said that you may test that command if make a supported super drive work better.

 

[djlythium]

Just wanted to update the community on my solution to this issue.

So, after consolidating info from the net, here are the steps I used to get the Superdrive to work on a 2016 13" MacBook Pro w/ Function Keys:


1. Boot in Recovery Mode (hold CMD + R when booting up)

2. Open Terminal, which should start with the Bash prompt

3. Paste nvram boot-args="mbasd=1" and hit enter

4. Then, paste nvram boot-args to ensure "mbasd" was set to 1

5. Restart normally

6. Plug in Superdrive, and off you go.


Following these steps to the letter worked for me. Some instructions on the next say to paste in 'sudo nvram boot-args="mbasd=1"' to Terminal after rebooting, but you'll (probably) get the error that 'sudo doesn't exist', which is why I removed it from the command.

Also, use these steps if you're getting the nvram: Error getting variable - 'boot-args': (iokit/common) data was not found error when trying paste the above command into Terminal when login in normally.

 

[saulinpa]

1. Boot in Recovery Mode (hold CMD + R when booting up)

Thanks for the instructions on using the nvram boot-args="mbasd=1" command in recovery mode. It worked on my cMP. I guess Apple keeps locking things down trying to protect the unprotectable.

 

[walkerap]

@h9826790 It's not that it isn't working. It shows up in system info on both the Mac Pro and MacBook just fine and attempts to mount the blank DVD endlessly. It also reads already created media just fine. I'll upload a video shortly that better illustrates the behavior. It's what I sent to Apple feedback.

EDIT:
Here is the video:

Did you ever resolve this issue? I have a Mac Pro exhibiting identical behavior and none of the fixes listed here are doing the trick. Thanks

 

[rawweb]

Did you ever resolve this issue? I have a Mac Pro exhibiting identical behavior and none of the fixes listed here are doing the trick. Thanks

Both my 2013 MacPro and 2014 rMBP at work still exhibit this behavior. I didn’t have high expectations for fixing. I’ve considered a genius appointment but don’t really have time for their basic diagnostics, like fresh install.

Occasionally a client requests a DVD and it becomes a big pain.

I’ll try it on my 2016 tbMBP in a few and report back.

 

[walkerap]

Both my 2013 MacPro and 2014 rMBP at work still exhibit this behavior. I didn’t have high expectations for fixing. I’ve considered a genius appointment but don’t really have time for their basic diagnostics, like fresh install.

Occasionally a client requests a DVD and it becomes a big pain.

I’ll try it on my 2016 tbMBP in a few and report back.

Thank you for the update. I am waiting to see if my customer wants to give a rebuild a try as well.

 

[Goodboy18]

Any ideas what the heck is going on here? On my late 2013 Mac Pro with Apple Superdrive, every time I insert a blank DVD disk, it isn't recognized by the system and begins flashing (see video).

Tried plugging into multiple USB ports (thunderbolt display, directly to Mac Pro, etc), tried different disks...all produce the same result. Mac Pro reads burned disks just fine...was trying to duplicate a master for a client and this happened.

Interestingly, when connected to my 2014 MacBook Pro, it produced the same result.

EDIT: I just borrowed a Superdrive from another employee, and it's doing the same thing!!
[doublepost=1484167822][/doublepost]UPDATE: I logged into one of our spare 2012 iMac's which is still on El Capitan, works flawlessly with the same drive/disk. Appears to be a bug with Sierra. View attachment 683069 I also uploaded this to Apple feedback assistance.

MODS: Please move to macOS Sierra forum.

Not sure if this will help in someway, I was having the same problem and just went to my other Mac to burn DVDs but I was experiencing exactly the same problems as yourself. Tried everything updates and settings etc.
It's actually a very simple fix that worked for me.
When the finder box keeps flashing, click on the help /question mark symbol to the left of the Eject button.
When the help instructions appear there is a link to there listed to preferences, click on this. At this point it was still flashing for me but I just unticked ignore at the bottom of the preferences box and it disappeared straight away and I am now successfully burning DVDs again. Really hope it helps in someway.