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    Ugh... CD-ROM Drive Must Be Bad

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by chelsel, Oct 21, 2006.

  1. chelsel

    chelsel Notebook Guru

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    Ok, so I'm trying to use Parallels to run Windows on my new Macbook... get half way through and Parallels can't read the XP install CD-ROM... retry, retry, retry, finally, ignore error and continue... Parallels/Windows XP seems to work... but not being able to read the CD bugged me so I tried to copy the I386 directory to the Mac desktop... no go... anyhow, took out CD, it's in perfect condition, no scratches, fingerprints, etc... put it in my HP notebook and made an exact copy... so can I conclude that I have a bad CD-ROM drive in this MacBook as well as a bad LCD inverter (flickering screen previous post)?

    I'm starting to worry about the Apple QC now :-( Also, I hear that the Core 2 Duo MacBooks are right around the corner... should I just return this one and hold out for the Core 2 Duo? Any idea if it really will be out anytime soon?

    Cliff.
     
    chelsel, Oct 21, 2006
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  2. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    bootcamp???
     
    usapatriot, Oct 21, 2006
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  3. chelsel

    chelsel Notebook Guru

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    I wanted to use Parallels instead of Bootcamp as the performance is virtually (no pun intended) the same (for the types of apps I use) according to the benchmarks that I've read... also I will probably keep my email in Windows for the time being as iMail isn't powerful enough to do what I need and I don't want to shell out another $300 for Mac Office...

    I will try Bootcamp to see if the CD problem goes away but I doubt it since even a native filesystem copy (drag the folder to the desktop) failed...

    Cliff.
     
    chelsel, Oct 21, 2006
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  4. chelsel

    chelsel Notebook Guru

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    Very entertaining conversation with Apple support... I described the above problem and the Apple tech support representative said "It doesn't sound like a hardware problem to me"... are you kidding? It sounds exactly like a hardware problem. Anyway, they suggested I make an appointment at an Apple Store... are the Apple Stores that busy with repairs that you need an appointment :-[
     
    chelsel, Oct 21, 2006
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  5. digital8doug

    digital8doug Notebook Consultant

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    Cliff, not a mac, but trying 10.4.x on my LT did not work either. Programs supposedly working, so I bought a new DVR-K06 slot load 5x DVD-RAM, but still no work. IMHO File System incompatibities, as even a single file missing can cause errors later. Something else is not installed correctly. U have OS X =version?
     
    digital8doug, Oct 21, 2006
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  6. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    Actually you probably don't have a hardware problem. Try another disc, like a DVD or another program and see if it works I was having the same exact problem with Parallels, but my drive is just fine.
     
    cashmonee, Oct 21, 2006
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  7. hollownail

    hollownail Individual 11

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    Hey, try making an image of the disc.
    As I understood it, parallels prefered images to the actual disk.
    It could be bad disc as well, but I dunno.
    Try using parallels image maker.
     
    hollownail, Oct 21, 2006
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  8. Wooky

    Wooky Notebook Evangelist

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    You already made an ISO at the other notebook... simply use that image.
     
    Wooky, Oct 21, 2006
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  9. hollownail

    hollownail Individual 11

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    BTW, I've had XP discs that will not work on certain machines. I've had terrible luck with the SP2 discs. Neither DVD drive on my desktop will read one of my XP discs while my other laptop could.
    And those are legal copies I own (thank you academic agreements!)
     
    hollownail, Oct 21, 2006
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  10. chelsel

    chelsel Notebook Guru

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    Good news... I was able to copy the XP install CD and load XP off the copied disc... the Macs must not like the taste of Microsoft plastic :) And, even though I think the notion of appointments for tech support is a little odd, when I showed up at the Apple store I was thorougly expecting a run around and mismanagement... but as soon as my appointment time came my name was called and the tech was very helpful... this was at the Boca Raton Town Center Mall Apple Store... good job Apple.

    Cliff.
     
    chelsel, Oct 21, 2006
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