having a problem reading CDs on my MacBook

[David]

Howdy, everybody. I'm having a strange problem. I also have a laptop that uses Vista. (I know, I know, but bear with me. . . . ). I burned a disk yesterday that contained Word docs and jpgs. I made sure that I closed the session. Next, I inserted the disk into my MacBook, and the MacBook didn't recognize the disk. (I'm running 10.4.11). Then, I tried the same disk in my wife's MacBook. Her's in only a few weeks old, whereas, I've had my MacBook about a year. The disk worked perfectly in her MacBook. Why is this happening, + how do I correct this?

[Don Judd]

David,

There are two suggestions I can make here, but first I recommend burning a disk on your Macbook to see if you can burn and read.

Once you've verifed that much you will know if you have a problem with the OS or the hardware. If the disk burns and reads, its an OS problem. If the results are failure, you've got a hardware issue.

With 10.4.11, its likely hardware. So you can either:

Buy a cheap DVD cleaning kit and run it. It may be dirt on your lasers. The kit will gently brush those away and you can find them at any electronics store, like Best Buy.

If the kit fails, you may have a faulty laser. It happens. Take it to the Apple Store for service.

If it turns out to be an OS problem, download the 10.4.11 Combo update to your destop. Repair your disk permission in disk utility and then re-run the combo update. That will usually fix the problem.

If not, let me know and I'll help you dig deeper.

[David]

I was able to burn a disc on my Mac and then read the same disc. As it is, my wife's Mac, which is newer than mine, can read the disc that I created on my Vista machine. I'm out of town right now, but when I get back in 2 weeks, I'm thinking that I'm going to have to take my MacBook into the shop and have then work on it.