Mac not reading/writing to CD drive

[FrankG]

I have OSX 10.5.8 on a mac intel tower.
The cd/dvd drive was giving problems so I replaced it with an LG hat is supposedly mac compatible (model GH22NP21).
I had no success and returned it and got another unit.
I bought it from Canada Computers but Otherworld Computing sell it too.
It worked intermittently so I tried moving the jumper to various positions, I tried removing the jumper altogether, and tried setting the drive up in the other drive bay, making sure the power and ribbon data cables are secure. All to no avail. Then after searching forums for tips,  I reset the PRAM and voila the CD popped up on the desktop and I could read it. I tried with a few CD's and thought the problem solved.
But then I re-started the computer and I'm back to square one - it doesnt read or write.
I'm definitely getting power and it seems that from the fact that I temporarily could read several cd's, that the data cable isnt damaged. Since it's unlikely that a second new optical drive unit is faulty, the only thing that remains, I think, is that there's something going wonky in OS X. It is listed in the left column of drives in Disk Utilities.
Can anyone shed some light or offer a solution?
Thanks
Frak

[jjj]

I seem to have nothing but trouble with DVD read/writers too. I'm using OSx 10.6.8

[John.Murray]

Assuming the stock IDE cable, make sure the drive jumper is set to cable select.  Incorrect jumper settings will result in exactly the behavior you're getting.  If you replace the cable pay attention to what you are getting, depending on cable type, you may need to change jumper settings on you optical drive(s) to master / slave

[FrankG]

I tried moving the jumper to all 3 pin position options, and with it out altogether.
In the C S position I cant even see the CD drive listed (disk utilities drive list). At least in the Master position I see it.
I am using the original data (ribbon) cable. Replacing it seems formidable. and as I said in the OP the fact that I have seen the files on the CD seems to indicate that it's OK ?

[John.Murray]

Very odd!  Did you buy this machine new?  I'm surprised you're getting any result w/jumper set to master - try substituying the cable (for test purposes just run it around)....

[shotworldwide]

I am on Snow Leopard and I am not able to write CD/DVD too ...

It looks like they have a bug within the system:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2131970?start=0&tstart=0

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http://shotworldwide.com

[RobSaecker]

I am on Snow Leopard and I am not able to write CD/DVD too ...

It looks like they have a bug within the system:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2131970?start=0&tstart=0

If you go to the last page of that thread, there is a report of success by setting Finder preferences to ignore when inserting a DVD, and an image of the suggested settings can be found on the previous page if you need it.

I've recently burned a CD on my SL system, but haven't tried DVD.

[shotworldwide]

If you go to the last page of that thread, there is a report of success by setting Finder preferences to ignore when inserting a DVD, and an image of the suggested settings can be found on the previous page if you need it.

I've recently burned a CD on my SL system, but haven't tried DVD.

Well, I have tried DVD and I wasn't successful ... They also tried to insert cleaning disc with a success but I haven't tried it yet ...

[John.Murray]

You might want to look in the logs:

Open Utilities | Console

[shotworldwide]

OK. My problem is this:

- I am able to read any DVD, CD

- when I inserted blank DVDs (three different), my DVD mechanic did not want to take them and ejected them.

I did not have this problem with Leopard 10.5.8 as I have written a lot of them. I am facing this problem with 10.6.8 Snow Leopard.
I do not like Lion, so I do not wish to upgrade now...

Thank you for your help

Filip

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http://shotworldwide.com

[John.Murray]

This utility is available in all versions of OS X - can be helpful to determine root cause of your issue.

[shotworldwide]

I have received informations regarding last successful attempt from last year ...

I was looking for another log file but I did not find any. Even if DVD medium is blank, doesn't it suppose to be mounted too? And if is not mounted in my case and ejected, shouldn't be written a log message about this process somewhere?