Replacement optical drive on Power PC G4 OSX 10.4.11

[snowy owl]

The optical drive wasn't working, so ordered a replacement drive from the States. When the drive was installed the computer wouldn't boot. Ordered another replacement drive and the same thing happened. The laptop with the old drive or even without any, boots - just not with either one of the replacements. The US company insists that it is the right CD/DVD drive. Any ideas?

 

[Cory Cooper]

Hello and welcome.

-Which exact model is the Power PC G4?
-Which brand/model is the CD/DVD drive?
-Will the Power Mac startup if the CD/DVD drive is disconnected?

C

 

[snowy owl]

Hi Cory,

Thanks for the quick response.

Model: it's a PB G4, 17", PB 5.9

The optical drive is a "refurbished" drive (Apple)
Model UJ-835-C (super 835-CA)
made in Indonesianto comply with DHHS rule 21 CFR subchapter J

Yes, the computer boots without any drive in it.

 

[Cory Cooper]

No worries.

If the issue happens with both the original and refurbished Apple optical drives, then there may be another issue - cable, locig board, etc.

C

 

[snowy owl]

No worries.

If the issue happens with both the original and refurbished Apple optical drives, then there may be another issue - cable, locig board, etc.

C

Hi Cory,
the original optical drive rejects both DVDs and CDs, but the PB powers up. It won't power up with the replacement optical drive. When I first encountered difficulties I removed the VLC programme from the computer. Do you think it is possible that something necessary was also removed? And in this case would doing a re-install with the original Install CDs help?

 

[Cory Cooper]

Hello,

If the original drive won't read the discs and ejects them, then the laser has probably failed. If the PB doesn't startup with the refurbished drive, then it is either defective or has an issue with the connector/cable.

Removing VLC wouldn't remove any support files for OS X, nor cause the power issue.

C