Apple iMac G3 - DVD drive Issues

[@DavidStahlOLDHAPPyMACs]

great video Jess when you take the drive apart it takes a square belt the round belt slips to much also there is a roller that is what ejects or pulls the cd disk it gets very grazed up with time clean the roller with alcohol add also the pullys that the belt goes on. these drives are unique to the slot load g3 and g4 cube I have service many of these drives when I did the g4 cube cd rom drive there is a like in that video for the belts hope this helps

[@techdept]

Hey Dave. Thanks for the info. I’ll look up the G4 cube video as my Cube will need the drive serviced as it’s screwed currently. So that video will help immensely.

[@timstacy8034]

As far as I can tell, the drives that first shipped with these were a lot better, would eject with no hesitation for not being belt driven, had all metal interior mechanisms but they were only cd-rom or cd-r though. Another problem with these were the speakers that deteriorate over time.

[@techdept]

Yeah. Everyone I’ve spoken to seems to have issues with these old drives. My G4 cube has a broken drive as well that I’ve yet to look at, but already know it’s probably not fixable. Such a same as those earlier drives were so much better.

[@1969longshanks]

Thanks, very helpful

[@jjlapierre]

I have a Tangerine with the exact same issue. I’ll dig into it ‘someday’. Your channel is awesome, very well done, and I love it. I feel like I’m techin around with a friend when I watch your videos. ❤

[@techdept]

Thanks. I really appreciate that!

[@rickkarrer8370]

Don't feel bad, slot loading drives are the worst. They look great esthetically, but even when they were new they could be problematic. I bought a batch of slim tray loading Firewire DVDs years ago, and use them most of the time on slot loading Macs.

[@techdept]

I’ve got a G4 cube with a bad drive. I already know it’s not gonna be fixable, but I’ll still give it a look.

[@turibinosanches4692]

Thank you for the video that shows the CD drive in detail and helped me fix a similar problem

[@techdept]

Glad it helped

[@aidenskye1635]

Where did you get the new PRam battery? I have looked everywhere and when I order “new” ones they arrived dead

[@rammsysman]

Genial video, eres como la tía que siempre quise tener

[@techdept]

Sabes que. El mejor comentario de todos los tiempos. Me encanta!

[@goovava]

I have an iMac DV, and I have the same problem too. I tried to fix it as you did, but now I gave up and decided to rely on a Firewire external ODD. 😢

[@techdept]

My second iMac DV has the same issue. I’ll try a fix again later this year.

[@jamesdecross1035]

I have this problem. I think it is the drive rollers in mine that are worn down and don't grip the disk any longer.

[@techdept]

Yeah, they’re very likely just worn out here also. Which I think is fair after 20+ years of use. :)

[@DeathFlame500]

What would be a good size width for the belt? Amazon has a set of different sizes

[@techdept]

Hey. I bought a 1.2mm x 58mm square belt though I might get an ever so smaller belt next time. More like a 1.2mm x 56mm, just to be a little tighter.

[@coffeeshangarworkshop8051]

RIP Ruby.

[@techdept]

Don’t worry. Ruby still works fine, it’s just the DVD drive that’s an issue. Ruby has come in handy already via her FireWire 400 connection in helping me unlock another G3 iMac.

[@EbenezerScroogeMcDuck]

off topic, is there such a thing as a hardware virtual drive? example, similar to a flash drive, but internally, it has the ability to mount ISO files so when you plug it into a PC, it comes up as a physical CD drive with a disc in it. reason for this.. Mac OS 9 cannot mount PS1 ISO files as it gives a "low memory" error (even though there's more than enough RAM or disc space). Therefore, we never got the ability to mount PS1 games to play on connectix Virtual Game Station (ps1 emulator). A bit of trickery like a physical drive that mounts ISOs without having to burn physical discs would be a great way to get through.

[@NexXxus86]

I need to do this on mine, what kind of belt do you need?

[@techdept]

It was a 1.2mm x 58mm square drive belt. I grabbed it from EBay so a little search there should yield a result or two. I really need to find a local supplier though.

[@cooperschwartz318]

These videos are very well made Also tiger does not run very well these

[@Funnystuff-qm1cc]

The madmac

[@techdept]

🤣 yeah, she’s not a happy bunny. Sadly my other slot drive iMac is also doing the same thing. Sigh.

[@ashtonmiller-z1n]

darn you late 2000's thoshiba compny RW-HD dvd drives disk feeding slots issues on the g3 imacs stike agien. this is why super drive for newer apple mac laptops and desktops of there comptuers are now bascly sold speralty and can be reasy replaced besue it a extrnal usb plug in perfral drive that don't have this bulit in hardwired crap that thoshba compny put in those apple g3 imacs on the later modles suck realy bad. they are super duper INFERATING!