[snaithbert2]

This may be a really dumb question, but the truth is I'm a PC guy and I know very little about macs, so I thought I'd check this here before spending any money, etc.

My friend just got a used G3 that works great, but the CD burner won't burn CDs anymore.

So my question is, do you need a special CD burner for macs, or can you use the same type you use for PCs? Someone said this is the case, but I'm just not sure.

I'm hoping that you CAN use the same type, because they're pretty cheap now, etc. But if she needs a special burner that's just for mac, that could get a little costly I'm guessing.

Anyone have any info on this? Rest assured your thoughts are much appreciated.

Cheers,

Snaithbert

[NitroNic]

Originally Posted by snaithbert2

This may be a really dumb question, but the truth is I'm a PC guy and I know very little about macs, so I thought I'd check this here before spending any money, etc.

My friend just got a used G3 that works great, but the CD burner won't burn CDs anymore.

So my question is, do you need a special CD burner for macs, or can you use the same type you use for PCs? Someone said this is the case, but I'm just not sure.

I'm hoping that you CAN use the same type, because they're pretty cheap now, etc. But if she needs a special burner that's just for mac, that could get a little costly I'm guessing.

Anyone have any info on this? Rest assured your thoughts are much appreciated.

Cheers,

Snaithbert

Hey, I'm kind of in the same boat you are (I'm pretty much a PC guy), but at work we do have a small population of Apple computers, so I get to setup/troubleshoot with them too.

I've never had the exact situation you are in there, but I did once throw a regular ATAPI DVD-ROM drive from the spare shelf (they were bought only for the intention of going in PC's) in one of our Apples (I want to say it's a G4, but I don't know for sure.... most of the visible case was plastic, partly clearish and partly greenish), and it worked fine.

So I'm not for sure, but I would think that as long as the G3 machine has an ATAPI interface, then you could use an ATAPI cd writer in it without a problem, as long as you could find drivers and such for it.

If you have one laying arround or even in another computer, just take it out and connect it to your friend's apple, see if it works.

Good luck!

Nic

[emoxley]

It should work just fine. No special burners needed. But, let's try something first?
Are you using OS 8.6, or OS 9.2? If so, go into the system folder, then into the preferences folder. Anything you see in there, that might have something to do with the cd drive, drag it out, and into the trash can. I'd also look in there for a file called "System Prefs", and drag it to the trash. Then reboot. Then try the burner. If it still doesn't work, try another burner.

If you have OSX on there, I'm not sure about the prefs.............
Good luck!

[VegasACF]

You might also want to check in the Apple System Profiler (in the Apple menu) to see if this particular G3 even has a CD burner installed in it. Early G3 models (beige ones) didn't come with them as the stock optical drive, if memory serves.