Been thinking about going back to a computer based system (been looking at DACs ) but my only hesitation is that my MacBook won't read some of my CDs. Drive reads 99% of my CD collection, 100% of my DVDs and it's not random either, meaning it won't read the same CDs.

Here are a couple it won't read:

Radiohead - In Rainbows (from box set)

Mark Knopfler - Sailing to Philadelphia

Any thoughts? I guess I could get an external drive

symptom? does it chew on them and never spit them out?

Have you tried burning them to CD/DVD and then trying to read the copy?

symptom? does it chew on them and never spit them out?

No, CD will spin up and down, up and down and then just get spit out

Have you tried burning them to CD/DVD and then trying to read the copy?

I have not. I'll try importing them on my wife's computer and then burning a copy. You thinking is could be an issue with the MacBook readin the TOC?

... You thinking is could be an issue with the MacBook readin the TOC?

Yeah, could be. There is nothing known weird about those CDs AFAIK and I actually have both and never had a problem with them.

I wonder if it's DRM...

There have been a lot of complaints about Macbook optical drives suddenly getting very fussy about certain media. It's an ongoing issue, particularly with the Matshushita drives.

Damn. First my logic board and now this. All signs are leading to an external CD/DVD drive purchase now. I'm buying Applecare next time

I have the same very occasional problem. Use work laptop for those CDs/DVDs.

I had to replace my MatsuSHITa drive for this very reason, and that it was not recognizing burnable media either.

My sister's blackbook has the same problem definitely lunched matsuSHITa

I have been having the same problem with my Macbook Pro. For example, it wouldn't read the "Rodrigo y Gabriela 11:11" cd but it would read the dvd that came with it. I have a 3 year warranty (it is about 1 1/2 years old). Should I take it to the Apple store? I really hate going there and would hate to be without my laptop for a day, but if it could fix the problem, it may be worth it.

I would get it fixed while you still have warranty coverage. Tell them you want a new optical drive.

Should I take some CDs with me that it doesn't read or will they just take my word and give me a new one?

I'd just tell them it doesn't read maybe 30-40% of your CDs. Given it's a known issue, I doubt they're going to test. And it's a quick swap.

Thanks.

My Macbook Pro started doing that soon after it fell out of warranty and it just kept getting worse over time. I can still get it to read the occasional disc, but it just spits the majority of them back out now. I don't really care too much as I only ever use it for installing operating systems. It's one of those Matshushita drives.

Update: I just replaced my Superdrive (bought from Macsales.com). I'm now importing CDs that my Macbook hasn't been able to read for as long as I can remember.

I bought an external drive so I don't put wear and tear on the internal one. MacFixit should probably have instructions on how to replace it for those of you who want to do it yourselves. I upgraded my hard drive from a 160 gig to 320 gig.

Probably a stupid question but are your cds clean? No fingerprints?

CD were clean. In a couple case they were brand new. Macsales has online videos and provide instructions with replacement drives.

I just bought a toshiba external to solve that problem

Sounds weird, but sometimes I have luck with different apps trying to read the disk. Sure there are some OS level issues (not to mention hardware ones), but depending on your settings in preferences for CD/DVD media (may want to test different actions - including turning all off), having Toast launched prior to inserting CDs sometimes loads problematic discs versus automatically having iTunes (or possibly other OS defaults) do their work. Almost like it grabs the disc before something else goes wrong.

The drive was definitely my problem. The new one is a lot quieter. I was importing a Liam Finn disc two days ago and thought the drive had literally eaten the CD. It spun up really fast and then just stopped, like the spindle locked up. The sound it made was awful. I immediately ordered a replacement.

My mini won't read the Living Stereo hybrid sacds. So I just rip them at work now until my PC is set back up. It does seem to read the Analogue Productions hybrid sacds though.

The drives that have problems reading SACD's are usually DVD-ROMs, at least. If you can get access to a pure CD-ROM (no DVD-anything) -- E.G. an external USB drive -- it shouldn't have a problem.