Questions & Answers for Apple USB SuperDrive

I just added a usb superdrive to my 2009 iMac 24", and like the others it did not work, as for the reasons given.
it seems that they only work with some macs.
Well looking round the net i found information on things to try nothing worked.

I then found a bit on a sudo command you put in with terminal.

ok your new superdrive dvd/cd rom want work on you mac?

it seems apple made this drive but its not back ward comparable with all macs.
Im told it works with 4 macs, that shipped without internal dvd/cd rom and a mac mini or two..

Well I found this in terminal type

sudo nvram boot-args="mbasd=1" Hit return

I rebooted my iMac and as the iMac was starting up it took the DVD that I had been trying to put in but all it did was push it back out.
Now with this little line of code script my USB superdrive is now working just fine.
I don't know much about this script code apart from what I read on the net, all I know it worked for me with no trouble I have wrote a few DVDS and wrote to a few re-writable CD and DVD with out any thing bad

hope it helps some of you out.
Leggoman

• Answered by Alan W
• Dec 15, 2015
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (2009 iMac and USB superdrive?)

I have a similar model (but late 2006) MBP with the exact issue with no optical discs being read or visible. I stupidly bought this USB Superdrive trusting that it would work. it does not; and I am not the least bit happy about it. I could have spent half the money on another drive that works on everything. BUYER BEWARE - Do your research first; don't assume an Apple device as simple as a USB external CD/DVD writer will work on your Apple device.

• Answered by Pierre S from Kingston
• Feb 3, 2013
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Is the usb superdrive compatible with a MacBook Pro 2007 ? My MBP has what appears to be infamous issues with reading DVDs)

There are several external Blu-Ray drives that work perfectly with OS X. Pioneer makes a couple as well as Lacie. All one needs is a drive and third-party software to watch your discs. My favorite player is Aurora Blu-Ray Player.

• Answered by Deborah S from Elkton
• Jan 31, 2013
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (How does one watch Blu-Ray discs on a new retina display mac?)

No it does not and yes you will have to buy the superdrive.

• Answered by Philip C from North East
• Feb 27, 2014
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (does the iMac 27 inch all in one have a disc drive already installed or do i have to buy a superdrive to play disc's?)

no, you can only use regular-sized dvd / cd disks. don't attempt to insert a mini-dvd or a mini-cd, as it will get stuck in, you won't be able to take it out and you will have to have your superdrive serviced. on top of that, it might jeopardize the superdrive's internal parts.

• Answered by Ciprian L from Manchester
• Dec 10, 2012
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (will it take mini dvd-r discs that are used in camcorders?)

I've just bought a MacBook Pro and also got the superdrive in case I want to play DVDs/CDs. I was warned that I'd need an adaptor, so I got a Targus hub that feeds 3 USB3 ports into the USB-C port. The SuperDrive doesn't power from this though, so I'm going to take it back to the shop. This isn't really good enough: Apple should have peripherals that work with their main computer line-up without having to buy an adapter for $75!

• Answered by James R from Leura
• Jun 14, 2017
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (does the new version of the Superdrive have a USB-C connector to plug directly into late 2016 Macbook Pro Retina with touchbar?)

I suppose this information might no longer be relevant to the original poster but it might still be relevant for others.

Essentially, yes, the superdrive will work on a windows 8 (or 7, or 8.1, or XP, etc...) pc on a powered USB port, just the same as it will work on a mac running bootcamp and windows 8. All you need to do is to the relevant install the drivers.

• Answered by Luis Miguel S
• Jan 22, 2015
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (can the super drive work on a windows 8 pc)