Froggyskull_3_small
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Mac Mini eats disks

My Intel-based Mac Mini will not eject disks unless you open up the computer to physically get at it. There are no software solutions for this - you name it, I tried it. Should I bite the bullet and buy a new DVD drive, or is it worth the expense? (I have a quote of $199 for the drive and something like $120 to install it.)

Matt from Denver asked in Geek Week about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Gingerbread_man_small
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    Nathaniel Irons

    I'm guessing a certain repair shop on 45th gave you that quote.

    I'm also guessing the machine's out of warranty, or you wouldn't be popping it open to get discs out. I'll further assume you've done the due diligence and made sure the problem's repeatable even when booted from an OS disc, not that this sounds like any kind of plausible software issue, and that there's no physical obstruction or misalignment, so you can't eject a disc even when the case is off.

    If you only need DVDs on this machine once in a blue moon, and you have another Mac lying around, you can use Firewire target mode to loan the Mini the other Mac's optical drive. Boot the other machine while holding down the T key, connect it to the Mini with a Firewire cable, and any discs you put in the other Mac will show up on the Mini's desktop. (The utility of Firewire target mode is one reason we don't like the low-end Macbook, which lacks Firewire.)

    If you want to replace the internal drive, you can do so for well under $100. We use OWC as our benchmark for most parts searches, and this sort of thing is right in their wheelhouse:

    http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/mac-mini/superdrive/

    Note the installation video, which should let you know whether you feel up to doing it yourself.

    If you don't feel up to it, you could buy an external optical drive, which also cost well under $100. My mom just bought this $68 special, because it's bus-powered and she'll be using it with a laptop:

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MRSSP8XDL/

    You may be happy with one that expects AC power and costs even less.

    Nathaniel Irons answered in Geek Week about 1 year ago | Report
    3 comments by Matt from Denver, Nathaniel Irons, and Matt from Denver…
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  • N560099571_5781_small
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    I've got the same problem with my MacBook Pro. My wrist has been sitting on the top of the drive so long that I have to hold it open to eject disks. Not much of a problem as I use few disks, but still annoying.

    What I did was find a used USB DVD-write drive off CraigsList. It was about $50. I keep it in a drawer when I don't need it so I don't have it with me, but it's right there when I need it.

    Conversely, you can get an internal-style DVD-writer from a used desktop you or a friend might have lying around and place it in an external hard drive enclosure and voila: Cheap optical disk drive.

    If you use your drive more than enough for these solutions, I'd recommend getting it replaced. But if cost is your concern, either of these solutions will work on the cheap.

    Matt Hickey answered in Geek Week about 1 year ago | Report
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