Install DP7 on MBP with faulty Superdrive??

[maxpatch]

Any ideas people?

I have just upgraded to DP7 and I'm sitting here with my shiny new CDs, manual and MacAudioLab training DVD. However.... the CD/DVD drive on my MacBook Pro is pretty flaky - CDs don't always mount, discs are unreadable (perfect on other machines) and I can't write anything. When I put in the MOTU discs, they come up as blank, untitled CDs. Time to get a new drive!

BUT it's Sunday tomorrow and I'm really itching to get to grips with DP7 so...

I've hijacked my daughter's old G4 Powerbook. I've put the DP7 CD into the Powerbook, created a Disk Image using Disk Utility, booted the Powerbook in Target Mode, connected by Firewire to the MBP. I dragged across the DMG, opened it up and ran the installer. Fine. DP7 now in the Applications folder. You know what happens next....!! Launch, but, Doh! I need to have the original CD in the MBP's drive. I can do this but it just isn't recognised.

Anybody know any way in which I can use the Powerbook's CD drive as the authorising drive for the MBP or am I just going to have to wait till Monday morning and get a new drive?

Thanks!

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Sounds like you covered most of your bases. I would have tried all those things as well.

I know nothing about calibration of drives, etc. Tech trick #1 and every tech knows it - but you didn't mention it so I will: canned air. Blow the crap out of the misbehaving drive. Dust and dirt lodged on the head can be a cause of this behavior. You might not need a new drive at all.

Another thing (if this is possible) is to make a disc image of the CD, and burn it from the G4 powerbook but using the errant drive. If it is possible and it is a calibration issue, perhaps the machine will recognize the new disc? I think Toast does allow for selection of which drive to burn to. I'm thinking of the drive can be made to burn the CD then it might be able to read it.

In any case, I'd go for the canned air first.

[newrigel]

You'd have to make an image in disk utility and mount it but coming from another machine, I doubt it will place the auth file in the correct directory (it may try to write it locally on the laptop or get an error that DP isn't installed) but it's worth a try but my guess is that the machine has to have the image (HD or optical) mounted within the directory and see DP in that directory to do it... it is copyright protection you know... just go get an new optical drive! I also know that there is a utility for MacBook Airs called Remote Disc that will let you use an optical for installs from another machine to the MBA so you may try that over wireless.

[maxpatch]

Thanks guys - will try your suggestions and report back!