AboutJeffrey J. Wrobel Expertise I can answer OS compatibility questions, from OS 7 to OS X 10.5.x Leopard. I have extensive experience in software installation, use, and troubleshooting as well as many aspects of high level hardware repair. Any questions about peripherals and their Mac-compatibility are also welcome. I am very current in all aspects of the Max OS, while having an excellent breadth of knowledge of older machines. My work keeps me in constant contact with Mac suppliers, products, and problems, enabling me to not only draw on my past experience, but also to add to that experience every day. Living in Rhode Island with family near Cape Cod, Mass has proven to be a bit lacking in Mac popularity (Yankees are slow to change), but momentum is building for Apple.
Experience
Past/Present clients My life experience has taken me from the US Army to working with the criminally insane. Pursued a philosophy degree while working in pyschology, then ended up doing graphic design, marketing modular construction products, and ultimately starting the computer business that I now own. At 41 years old, I plan to make my triumphant return to college and get a master's degree in philosophy.
Clients include a multi-million dollar international manufacturing firm, a nationwide jewelry/gemstone distributor, numerous town libraries, 2 school districts, a few celebrities, a famous author, a prominent film maker, Brown University & RISD faculty and students, and numerous small businesses and individuals in Rhode Island, Cape Cod, and Boston. I also have a nationwide Powerbook/iBook/Macbook repair program and I sell refurbished Mac parts. The growth of my company, which was a record-breaker in 2007, has been a direct result of my customer service and the experience gained through helping the folks that use All Experts.
Expert: Jeffrey J. Wrobel Date: 5/7/2008 Subject: Externel DVD-Drive does not show on desktop
Question Hello....
I just got a external enclosure and I put a dvd burner inside of it..... the box says
it's Mac compatible. I plug it in (usb) and nothing appears on the desktop, it's
like mac doesn't notice it there....
Answer Dear Justin,
Have you had the opportunity to try it on a PC or another Mac? The quality control within the electronics industry is very poor these days (yes, even at Apple on occasion) and it is very possible you got a defective enclosure (the USB bridge is not functioning). Let's assume for a moment that it is NOT a defect. Go into your Home folder (the house icon) and open the Library folder and find the Preferences folder. In there, take these two files and draw them to the trash and empty the trash. The files are: "CDDB"(anything that starts with that) and "CD Info.cidb"
Now, unplug the unit from the computer and restart the iMac. As soon as the screen goes black, hold down the OPTION, APPLE, P, and R keys all at once. Keep them held down until you hear three separate startup "chimes" then let go of the keys. The iMac will start normally. Power up the external enclosure and you should see the activity light on the DVD player/burner flicker on. THEN, plug it in to one of the USB ports on the BACK of the iMac (not the keyboard--keyboard USB is too slow.
If you don't see an activity light on the drive, the the drive is not getting power. Unplug the enclosure/drive. Open the enclosure and seat the power plug that goes in the back of the drive firmly. Also, while you're in there, check to make sure that the DVD drive is set on Master and not Slave. This is controlled by tiny jumpers on the back of the drive to the right of the ribbon data cable plug. There should be a jumper already in there. Find out from the documentation that came with the burner (or from the manufacturer's website) what the jumper settings are. Just googlle "<drive manufacturer + model number> jumper settings" You fill in the part in brackets. Sometimes, but not always, the jumper settings for Master, Slave, and Cable Select are stamped into the metal of the drive near the jumpers or they are clearly labeled.
Once you do all these things, it is safe to say that either the DVD player OR the enclosure is problematic.
Once last thing. In the Finder, go to the "GO" menu and select Utilities. In there, find Disk Utility and double click it. In the left column of the resulting window, click once to select the second disk on the list (first indented one), then go to the buttons in the lower part of the window and click on REPAIR DISK PERMISSIONS. Let that run and then exit the Disk Utility.
One of these things will do the trick in informing your what the problem is. Sorry it is so involved, but you have to eliminate things methodically to find out the problem. Thanks for writing and good luck.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Wrobel
