iMac internal CD R/W upgrade to DVD R/W?

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rasberry@masonjar.com - 31 Jul 2007 13:05 GMT

I own a

Hardware Overview:

Machine Name: iMac
Machine Model: PowerMac4,2
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (2.1)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 700 MHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 256 KB
Memory: 640 MB
Bus Speed: 100 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.4.0f1

containing a

SONY CD-RW CRX170E:

Firmware Revision: 2.3d
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: No
CD-Write: -R, -RW
Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO

Can I swap the factory optical drive out for an Apple Superdrive or a
Pioneer DVR-112D to get DVD read/write capability?

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Malcolm - 31 Jul 2007 14:24 GMT

> I own a
>
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> Can I swap the factory optical drive out for an Apple Superdrive or a
> Pioneer DVR-112D to get DVD read/write capability?

It can be done, but you have to be very careful. See:
<http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/iMac_g4/imacg4_takeapart.html>

While you have it open, you might as well put in a new hard drive. Any
ATA drive should work. There is no size limit. The latest Tiger
(10.4.10) and iLife 06 burning applications will work fine with the
Pioneer drive. The DVD Player application won't be there if the
original drive was CD only, but if you are replacing the hard drive,
reinstalling OSX will get it. If not, use Pacifisl
<http://www.charlessoft.com>

If you are not running Tiger, you will need PatchBurn
<http://www.patchburn.de>

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Xavier Llobet - 31 Jul 2007 14:26 GMT

> I own a
>
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> Can I swap the factory optical drive out for an Apple Superdrive or a
> Pioneer DVR-112D to get DVD read/write capability?

My guess is no, you cannot. Years ago I tried the same trick on PowerMac
G4, and it did not work. Let's see if anybody has succeeded.

_x.

--
Only one "o" in my e-mail address

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Ben - 01 Aug 2007 18:09 GMT

>> I own a
>>
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
> --
> Only one "o" in my e-mail address

Yes you can do this with ease, I have a G4-700 iMac and have fitted a
111D (the 112 was not out when I did this) and it works fine, as someone
else pointed out you will need the free patchburn utility
(www.patchburn.de if I remember right) in order to use the Apple burning
software built into OSX (but it is not required to use things like Toast).
I also have a 112D in my G4 DP-876 MDD.
Both of these have been reflashed with the 111 / 112 (non-D) firmware to
enable the DVD-RAM function (the drives are the same, it is just a
firmware lock), I used a FireWire interface and a PC for this as most
flashing utilities are for Windows. (I also used region-free firmware as
I have DVD's from various regions)
Ben.

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Mac Forum / General / Hardware / August 2007

iMac internal CD R/W upgrade to DVD R/W?