I have a Samsung USB2.0 DVD/CD writer for Karaoke that powers through the USB connector. While it worked on my older iMac, my new one will not recognize the external drive. I have it connected using an adapter to the Thunderbolt port. The blue light is blinking, but it will not open the slot for a CD/DVD. I have tried researching the issue without any luck. The finder setting are correct and I have restarted without any success.
iMac 24″, 13.0
It may be possible to use a powered hub but some drives do not work through a hub even with sufficient power. You could investigate some hubs and try one and return if it did not work. Not the best process but know no other
Well, I spent an hour on the phone with Apple support and we tried everything. The drive is recognized on my wife's MacBook but not on my iMac. It definitely appears to be a power issue. No one seems to have a solution and external CD/CD-G burners seem to have gone by the wayside. I have no idea how to get sufficient power to this external drive and neither does Apple.
Problem solved. I just received a powered hub in the mail. Hooked it up and that was the answer to the issue. The CD/CD-G drive is now recognized by the iMac and most importantly, the Karaoke program.
Try flipping the adapter over. Some are a certain side dependent. The other possibility is that the new iMac cannot supply enough power to the drive.
I believe the second suggested issue is the problem. Thanks for the reply and validation.
Interestingly enough, I did just that. LOL...I figured it was worth a shot. Thanks for the response and giving me a second opinion on what I just did. Re-enforces the purchase idea. Much appreciated.
DVD External Drive not recognized
