Any software available to read Windows CDs on a Mac?
Feb 16, 2018 18:56:29 #
I have thousands of CDs backing up more than a decade of my photo assignments from my Windows computers at my previous job. We are all Apple at home. Some of the CDs I can read, most, it seems, I can't. Is there a software solution to get my IOS to recognise the Windows CD format, folders and psds and jpgs, or do I have to buy a cheap Windoze CPU and create a network? Installing a Windows OS would probably choke this old Mac beast, although I do have 16 gigs Ram, and several external HDs. Are there any inexpensive recommendations for a Windows computer that might be easier?
Thanks, Adam
Thanks, Adam
Feb 16, 2018 19:08:34 #
You should find a friend with a Windows PC and make sure the CDs are readable. CDs can go bad after a few years. Then look at buying an inexpensive used PC or Windows laptop. Probably anything with Windows XP or later would work.
Feb 16, 2018 19:24:15 #
CDs are standard across platforms. You may just have some that have deteriorated or been scratched.
If scratched, gently rub with toothpaste and rinse.
Optical drives may also get out of alignment. If you can try a different (external) optical drive on your Mac, you may find your issue. I had that issue once.
If scratched, gently rub with toothpaste and rinse.
Optical drives may also get out of alignment. If you can try a different (external) optical drive on your Mac, you may find your issue. I had that issue once.
Feb 16, 2018 19:25:17 #
Any reason why a laptop? I'd do my work xferring the files from home. I have my old screen, keyboard and mouse I bought and used with my old work Dell laptop at one of the satellite offices, and see the BestBuy near me has some really cheap HP and Dell refurbished units.
Feb 16, 2018 19:27:35 #
Good suggestions, I'll give cleaning a try, and maybe by an external CD reader, if that doesn't work, do you think i should go for a new Dell or HP? I see refurbished ones are under $150!
burkphoto wrote:
CDs are standard across platforms. You may just have some that have deteriorated or been scratched.
If scratched, gently rub with toothpaste and rinse.
Optical drives may also get out of alignment. If you can try a different (external) optical drive on your Mac, you may find your issue. I had that issue once.
If scratched, gently rub with toothpaste and rinse.
Optical drives may also get out of alignment. If you can try a different (external) optical drive on your Mac, you may find your issue. I had that issue once.
Feb 16, 2018 20:10:43 #
burkphoto wrote:
CDs are standard across platforms. You may just have some that have deteriorated or been scratched.
If scratched, gently rub with toothpaste and rinse.
Optical drives may also get out of alignment. If you can try a different (external) optical drive on your Mac, you may find your issue. I had that issue once.
If scratched, gently rub with toothpaste and rinse.
Optical drives may also get out of alignment. If you can try a different (external) optical drive on your Mac, you may find your issue. I had that issue once.
Could it also be an unclosed disk? It's been so long since I touched a CD... also, any chance the Mac in question only has a CD drive vs a DVD drive? I don't know when Apple dropped CD only drives.
Feb 16, 2018 20:23:30 #
It's the drive that is knocked out of alignment. I dug out and booted an older Mac, that drive reads the CDs I've loaded so far, so I guess I can network the two and share the files. Thanks everyone!
Feb 17, 2018 00:26:24 #
Designdweeb wrote:
Good suggestions, I'll give cleaning a try, and maybe by an external CD reader, if that doesn't work, do you think i should go for a new Dell or HP? I see refurbished ones are under $150!
A cheap PC is, well, a cheap PC. Cheap in the sense that it sucks rocks for breakfast. If you're going to get a Windows box, get a really good one. Or get a Mac and run Windows 10 in Parallels Desktop. I'd definitely test those CDs on another drive before buying a computer.
A note to everyone... Don't buy the cheapest CDs and DVDs. They don't last. Some of them are so bad they don't even record!
When you burn, always verify the disc afterwards.
If you're buying a new disc burner, get one that burns all flavors of Blu-Ray, DVD, and CD, in the M-Disc formats. Use M-Discs if you want your files to last...
Feb 17, 2018 07:51:59 #
Glad you got them to open on another Mac. A external cd/dvd drive won’t work on a Mac that comes with a cd/dvd. Apple for some reason won’t allow it. I have a laptop with the same issue.
Feb 17, 2018 09:51:52 #
Designdweeb wrote:
Good suggestions, I'll give cleaning a try, and maybe by an external CD reader, if that doesn't work, do you think i should go for a new Dell or HP? I see refurbished ones are under $150!
Save your money!! Simply have your computer store or a friend transfer them to an external hard drive that you can open. Even if you have to buy a 500 GB or 1TB hard drive for $50, they never go unused, and should be used to keep all of your photos off of your computer hard drive anyway for maximum speed. Never a virus or a cold on a MAC since 2005...chucked the PC and never looked back. Wouldn't touch that crap.
Feb 17, 2018 10:31:03 #
Bikeman wrote:
Glad you got them to open on another Mac. A external cd/dvd drive won’t work on a Mac that comes with a cd/dvd. Apple for some reason won’t allow it. I have a laptop with the same issue.
There is a simple OS hack that enables the external Apple SuperDrive on almost any Mac. I read about it just a few days ago.
http://www.hardturm.ch/luz/2016/07/how-to-make-the-macbook-air-superdrive-work-with-any-mac-el-capitan-onwards/
Also, third party burners WILL work. See macsales.com for options.
Feb 17, 2018 11:45:47 #
burkphoto tganks for the info. Will try the link you mentioned. Tried it in the past and wouldn’t work for my MacBook but see it’s updated.
Great to know third party burners will work. Would have gone that route had I known.
Great to know third party burners will work. Would have gone that route had I known.
Feb 17, 2018 21:00:35 #
Designdweeb wrote:
I have thousands of CDs backing up more than a dec... (show quote)
I don't think there is any difference when it comes to JPG, TIF, RAW, PDF or PSD files. I have a number of windows machines which I use most of the time and I also have a "MacBook Pro". Several friend have windows or MACs and we use each others photo CD/DVDs all the time and have never had any problem with and type of photo file or PDFs.
Feb 17, 2018 23:52:11 #
Why not just get a USB external cd machine? They work on both Windows and Mac.
Here's an example for less than $20.00 USD.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Slim-External-USB-3-0-DVD-RW-CD-Writer-Drive-Burner-Reader-Player-For-Laptop-PC/371839197984?hash=item569357e320:m:mN0e9ycPshjVGnHl79N1w_A:sc:USPSFirstClass!37323!US!-1
Here's an example for less than $20.00 USD.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Slim-External-USB-3-0-DVD-RW-CD-Writer-Drive-Burner-Reader-Player-For-Laptop-PC/371839197984?hash=item569357e320:m:mN0e9ycPshjVGnHl79N1w_A:sc:USPSFirstClass!37323!US!-1
Feb 18, 2018 00:03:44 #
If you don't find a cheaper, simpler answer, you can always purchase a copy of Windows 10 and bootcamp it onto your Apple Computer, as I have onto my MacPro. When booting up you can switch between Windows 10 and El Capitan or whatever version you might have. Windows 10 will cost you about $120. Be sure to get a loadable disk versus downloading it over the internet. Apple support will help you in loading Windows 10. They were very helpful to me.
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