New M1 MBP Not Recognizing Samsung SE-218GN DVD Writer

[Ackbeet]

My system: 13" 2020 M1 MacBook Pro (MBP) running OS X 12.1 Monterey. Samsung (Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology) SE-218GN Portable DVD Writer. Apple-provided USB-to-USBc cable.

Symptoms: If I plug in the Samsung DVD Writer into a USBc-to-USB adapter cable, then plug that into the MBP, all I get is a blinking blue light on the portable DVD writer, and a light clicking sound. This is the case whether there is a disc in the writer or not.

What I have Tried: I saw this similar thread, and have tried everything that I could, short of a docking station like this, or a double cable (which I don't have). I definitely have Finder -> Preferences -> General -> CDs, DVDs, and iPods checked. An M1 cannot refresh the SMC or the NVRAM, so those aren't options. I have tried the entire DVD Writer/cable combo in another computer, and it works. So I'm thinking the cable and the writer are fine. We use this writer all the time to play DVDs, so I'm fairly certain the problem is not the writer. I tried going to the support website at Home - ODD Support English Toshiba- Samsung download center, but found the website completely unusable. Is the docking cable or double cable the only option? Or is there something else I could try?

Many thanks for your time!

 

[MacInWin]

Welcome to the forum.

Normally I would suggest that the OS does not recognize drive hardware, but the disk in the drive. But you said you tried it with a disc in the drive, so that would seem to be not part of the problem. You might try an already written disc in the drive to see if it mounts. If it does, then the connection is fine. If it doesn't maybe the disc you tried was defective, or not formatted.

 

[Ackbeet]

Welcome to the forum.

Normally I would suggest that the OS does not recognize drive hardware, but the disk in the drive. But you said you tried it with a disc in the drive, so that would seem to be not part of the problem. You might try an already written disc in the drive to see if it mounts. If it does, then the connection is fine. If it doesn't maybe the disc you tried was defective, or not formatted.

It doesn't work even with a regular DVD movie in the drive, alas.

 

[chscag]

You likely need a dual connector. The symptoms seem to indicate the Samsung is not receiving enough power. I have several DVD writers that I use and have had to use a dual connector cable on occasion even though my iMac provides enough power from its ports.

 

[Ackbeet]

Thanks, chscag! Do you think a docking station like this one would work as well? It plugs into both USBc ports.

 

[chscag]

It may, however, docking stations themselves induce resistance which could prevent your DVD writer from getting enough current. Give it a try to see if it works.

 

[Ackbeet]

It may, however, docking stations themselves induce resistance which could prevent your DVD writer from getting enough current. Give it a try to see if it works.

Will do! I'll post back here once I've seen what happens. Thanks!

 

[MacInWin]

Before you plunk down money on a dock, I looked at that drive online and the cord from it seems to have just ONE USB-A style plug. So you needed the adapter from Apple. What Charlie is talking about is a cable with TWO USB-A plugs, which both provide power.

But the Mac does things a bit differently, I think. I would try the plug in all of the sockets on the MBP before spending any more. Maybe the port you tried doesn't provide power? Maybe the adapter is not passing the power? But if the cord has only one USB-a plug, having more sockets for it won't make any difference.

 

[Ackbeet]

Before you plunk down money on a dock, I looked at that drive online and the cord from it seems to have just ONE USB-A style plug. So you needed the adapter from Apple. What Charlie is talking about is a cable with TWO USB-A plugs, which both provide power.

But the Mac does things a bit differently, I think. I would try the plug in all of the sockets on the MBP before spending any more. Maybe the port you tried doesn't provide power? Maybe the adapter is not passing the power? But if the cord has only one USB-a plug, having more sockets for it won't make any difference.

I have tried both ports, and neither one works. I think more power is needed. My hope is that, since the MBP gets its power normally through a USBc cable (thus using up one of your ports!?!), if I plug in the power USBc cable into a dock while the dock is attached to the MBP, there will be more than enough power for the DVD writer.

 

[MacInWin]

I have tried both ports, and neither one works. I think more power is needed. My hope is that, since the MBP gets its power normally through a USBc cable (thus using up one of your ports!?!), if I plug in the power USBc cable into a dock while the dock is attached to the MBP, there will be more than enough power for the DVD writer.

It might, IF it has a separate power supply for the dock. But the one you linked to didn't have a separate power supply, it takes power from the MBP through the ports. But I guess if you want to do the test, that's your call. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Ackbeet]

It might, IF it has a separate power supply for the dock. But the one you linked to didn't have a separate power supply, it takes power from the MBP through the ports. But I guess if you want to do the test, that's your call. Let us know how it goes.

Well, the MBP I have gets its power through one of its two USBc ports, anyway. I'm assuming that to power the MBP after I get this dock, I would either plug the usual power cable into the dock, or the dock's DC power input would be able to power the laptop in addition to anything else.