DVD ejected before being recognised or read

[rra]

I own a iMac G4 flat panel 17" OSX 10.3.9, no complains about. I also own two games in DVD command and conquer and Call of Duty, originals. Since a few months untilll now, my computer stopped recognising both DVD's, I put them in the tray, that spins around for a few seconds and ejects them before even been read, no strange sound neither a message on screen. There is no problems with any other CD or DVD I play or read on this computer. About the games, whenever I play them on my MacBook black OSX 10.4, or on other iMac, there is no problem. Please help me with this, because I want to play them on a big screen at home!! Thanks

[Xairbusdriver]

That usually happens when the drive/computer can't read/find the built-in info on even blank disks ( these tell the computer what kind of disk it is, etc.

My first thought was that those disks might be damaged/dirty. They still may be, slightly. But if they 'play well with other' Macs, the problem is more likely to be the drive in that G4. You can probably buy an inexpensive drive cleaning disk. There could be some dust bunnies in there that make it harder to read slightly finger-smudged disks. Hopefully, it's not something more serious; anything from a failing laser to a misalignment. I assume that the drive is now more than three years old?

[rra]

Thanks for your time and kind answer, I will try that, but I still have a question: could it be a LASER problem if it reads all other, every one, new or recorded, music or data CD's and DVD's without a problem, but not these specific two? And other question do you know how could I force the mac to mount a CD/DVD in order to be read? Thanks

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

could it be a LASER problem if it reads all other, every one, new or recorded, music or data CD's and DVD's without a problem, but not these specific two?

Doesn't sound logical, does it. Makes the disks the prime suspects. Check them for scratches and finger smudges/prints. And clean carefully. Here's a <link to how to do that safely>. Here's a rather long discussion about the <longevity of DVDs> and also how to clean them.

QUOTE

how could I force the mac to mount a CD/DVD in order to be read?

You might try Disk Utility but don't be too disappointed if it just spits it out again. You can also try anything from Disk Warrior to that CD/DVD burning software which I can't seem to access the name of right now! Somebody help me! I'm stumped and can't remember the name of that popular burning program!

[chriskleeman]

QUOTE

how could I force the mac to mount a CD/DVD in order to be read? You might try Disk Utility but don't be too disappointed if it just spits it out again. You can also try anything from Disk Warrior to that CD/DVD burning software which I can't seem to access the name of right now! Somebody help me! I'm stumped and can't remember the name of that popular burning program!

Jim, would that be, uhh, duhh, Toast perhaps?

Chris K

[Gregg]

Toast is what you'd call Jim's brain on a Monday morning. (or Tuesday, Wednesday...)

rra to Techsurvivors! How did you find us?

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

Toast

Yeah! That's the name of it! Just what I'd call an app to burn disks when you really don't to "toast" one! Sounds too much like "coaster" which is what happened to a lot of disks when people 'burned' them the wrong way! And that's all I could think of; "Coaster!"

Hopefully, that's not what rra has in those two DVDs! Any other suggestions other than careful, gentle cleaning? Maybe a Restart with a whip in one hand! "Load!"