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Just upgraded my Mac to Sonoma 14.1.1. Computer was new July 2023. I want to upload some more CDs and the Mac doesn't recognize the CD drive. It is an LG Model GP65NB60. When connected to Mac it is on, can hear disk spinning, but can't access drive. Please help. Thanks.
Mac Pro (2023)
I have a couple of external CD burners that I use connected to a MacBook Prom with M3 Max chip and they are both flakey with Sonoma. I burn CDs to use doing my radio show. Here at a few things I have found out:
If there is a CD that it can't read in the drive try this. Hold down the mouse or track pad button while you are connecting the drive to the computer, often this will eject a CD that can't be seen or read. First it will try to read it and then spit it out. Another thing to try is shut the computer off with Cd drive connected. Hold the mouse button down while starting up the computer. Y will have to hold it down a long time! I think the finder is spitting it out, so that need to load first.
To burn Cds on my setup I have to connect the CD drive after I have logged into the computer. In System Settings I have under 'CDs & DVDs" I have "Ask What to Do" selected so it asks when I put in a blank CD. When I have it set to open Music it does not work well. When I put in a blank CD is asks what to do with "Open Finder" selected so I just choose "OK". Then I go into "Music" select the playlist I want to burn and choose "Burn Playlist To disk" from the "File" menu. It is still flakey. If the computer looses contact with my player I have to unplug the player and plug it back in. Then start over, both of my drives work fine on my older computer.
I also read an article about in Macworld about a USB bug in Sonoma where you may have to go into
"System Settings->Privacy & Security->Allow Accessories to connect.
They said you may need to disconnect all US devices, change the setting then reboot your computer.
This option is all the way down near the bottom of the list of things in Privacy & Security.
Change the setting to "Always" I think they also said you may need to change the setting to another option and then back to "Always".
I have a couple of external CD burners that I use connected to a MacBook Prom with M3 Max chip and they are both flakey with Sonoma. I burn CDs to use doing my radio show. Here at a few things I have found out:
If there is a CD that it can't read in the drive try this. Hold down the mouse or track pad button while you are connecting the drive to the computer, often this will eject a CD that can't be seen or read. First it will try to read it and then spit it out. Another thing to try is shut the computer off with Cd drive connected. Hold the mouse button down while starting up the computer. Y will have to hold it down a long time! I think the finder is spitting it out, so that need to load first.
To burn Cds on my setup I have to connect the CD drive after I have logged into the computer. In System Settings I have under 'CDs & DVDs" I have "Ask What to Do" selected so it asks when I put in a blank CD. When I have it set to open Music it does not work well. When I put in a blank CD is asks what to do with "Open Finder" selected so I just choose "OK". Then I go into "Music" select the playlist I want to burn and choose "Burn Playlist To disk" from the "File" menu. It is still flakey. If the computer looses contact with my player I have to unplug the player and plug it back in. Then start over, both of my drives work fine on my older computer.
I also read an article about in Macworld about a USB bug in Sonoma where you may have to go into
"System Settings->Privacy & Security->Allow Accessories to connect.
They said you may need to disconnect all US devices, change the setting then reboot your computer.
This option is all the way down near the bottom of the list of things in Privacy & Security.
Change the setting to "Always" I think they also said you may need to change the setting to another option and then back to "Always".
Hi, sorry this answer omes so late and I hope that you’ve found a solution before now. I’ve just bought an m2 MacBook Air and my external dvd drive wasn’t being recognised by my Mac (connected via usb-c adapter). What worked for me, rebooting the Mac with dvd drive attached, drive was recognised straight away.
Hope this helps someone!
I've got the same problem. Trying to load Turbotax onto my MacBook Air using an apple cd reader connected through an Anker hub. The computer was bought in December 2022 and I ran turbotax successfully in 2023 for my 2022 taxes. My system is now updated to Sonoma 14.2.1 and the cd drive doesn't show up on the desktop and I can't even insert the disc. It all worked last year. What is going on?
Hi,
Try rebooting Mac with dvd drive connected and a disc in the drive.
that worked for me.
This is what shows when I click on external. No idea what it means. Does not appear to be referring to my CD drive. The only other thing attached is the Samsung external drive that I use for Time Machine backup. I d on't think it's referring to that either. -
Connect the CD/DVD drive directly to the computer rather than through a hub or dock.
Go to System Settings and scroll to the bottom of the sidebar. Does CDs & DVDs show up there? That is one indication that the Mac identifies the drive hardware.
Do you have Finder > Settings... > General check marked to "Show CDs, DVDs and iPods on the desktop"?
EDIT - Pinch, poke, Old Toad... you owe me a Coke! 🤣
I sympathize. I ended up buying a new external drive. Never could figure out why the old one wouldn't work, but they are only about $30. New one is read by Mac just fine. Don't know how old you drive is. Mine was 6-7 years old and I just figured maybe the new OS didn't like it. Good luck
Solved this problem for my macBook.
1 in Finder>settings.General be sure th CDs, DVDs and Ipads line is checke
2 in finder>settings>sidebar check the CDs DVDs... line
3 use a CD drive with a USB-C plug. (Mine has a power connection but it is not connected)
two other drives with old USB plugs, which I tried connecting through an Apple adapter still don't work
Hope this works for you, too. My mac is a 16" MacBook Pro 2019 running Sonoma 14.5.
After chat with Apple this worked for me.
1 in Finder>settings >General be sure CDs,DVDs... line is checked
2 in Finder >Settings>Sidebar>Locations check the CDs, DVDs,... line
3 Use a CD drive which has a USB-C plug, plugged directly into your computer
(two drives with standard USB plugs connected through Apple adapter still do not work)
I am running a 16" 2019 MacBuuk Pro with Sonoma 14.5
I have been having the same problem. For now, I seem to have solved it. The trick was to: 1) install the latest OS update. 2) plug the optical drive directly into the iMac, i.e. no intermediate hubs. I have no idea if that will work for all. BTW, my optical drive was purchased in 2017. Good luck to all.
I did that, and I was shocked--it worked with a regular DVD and played the previews on the Blu Ray, but stalled at the movie itself. It made it to the Play/Extra Features screen, but when I tried to make a selection, nothing happened.
64LONG wrote:
Okay, back again. I got an adapter and plugged dvd drive directly into computer. It has electricity, as in open and closes to take CD, but it does not show in finder. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks/
I have to ask. Is there a disk in the drive? Like internal optical drives in older Macs, exernal players do not appear on the desktop or the finder sidebar, only the disk inside. No disk—nothing shows.
The Big Test: System information.
System Information User Guide for Mac - Apple Support
Optical player HARDWARE should show in SI if properly connected and functional, whether or not a disk is present.
His optical drive is not an Apple SuperDrive. It's a LG Model GP65NB60. So it may work from a hub. An adaptor will be cheaper as long as he doesn't have other devices to plug in.
Mac can't locate external CD drive
CDs are checked in Finder,
It's not connected directly because it has the old type of USB plug and computer doesn't. Not sure I can even get a new cord that would connect directly because of the end that goes into the drive. BUT, next question is: there are only 4 USB ports on back, so I think I will always need a hub for something. Are some hubs better than others? Thank you so much for answering.
Mac can't locate external CD drive
