Apple advises on ejecting copy-protected audio CDs
by Peter Cohen, pcohen@maccentral.com
May 10, 2002 4:00 pm ET

By now many consumers are aware that the music industry is beginning to press audio discs that have been copy protected to prevent them from being ripped to MP3 on a PC or Macintosh. But did you know that in some cases, if you insert such a disc, you might not be able to get it out again?

The problem is documented in a recent Apple Knowledge Base entry entitled Mac OS: Cannot Eject Copy Protected Audio Disc, Computer Starts Up to Gray Screen.

These discs aren't strictly CDs, according to the technical definition of the term, since they don't follow the basic CD standard for how data should be written to a disc. Even though they're labeled "Will not play on PC/Mac," there's still a risk that Mac users may insert them in their systems.

According to Apple, when such a CD is inserted, the CD isn't recognized, and when the Mac is restarted, a grey screen can appear that prevents you from doing anything further. If your Mac lacks a manual eject button or pinhole for its optical drive, you may be stuck that way, too -- Apple offers some advice for what to do under those circumstances.

The documentation provides instructions for forcing your Mac to boot into Mac OS X on restart (holding down the X command on boot) or to force-eject a CD on boot (by holding down the mouse button when the Mac starts up). Forcing the Mac to boot into OS X won't eject the disc arbitrarily, but you may be able to by clicking on the Eject button in iTunes or DVD Player.

There's one other extreme option, too: Booting into Open Firmware and using a command line prompt to force the CD to eject, as well.

If all else fails, Apple noted that you could bring your Mac to an authorized service center to be fixed. But probably the best solution is just to avoid using these audio discs all together.

A list of some of the affected discs is provided in Apple's documentation.

Click here for a list of today's stories

Reader forum - Join the discussion about this article Post New Message

Horrible arkitoure   - 05/11/02 01:28 AM Copy Protection Law kahako1   - 05/10/02 11:56 PM Who Is publishing these cd's? Nicap1   - 05/10/02 11:23 PM Whoo-hoo, I *LOVE* copy-protection!!!!! kevine   - 05/10/02 08:37 PM How's this for a possible consequence GingerBeer   - 05/10/02 07:45 PM Re: How's this for a possible consequence objectivist   - 05/10/02 07:52 PM Re: How's this for a possible consequence penguinstorm   - 05/10/02 09:06 PM Distribute on DVD's plaguebearer   - 05/10/02 07:43 PM Re: Distribute on DVD's 3xtrmn8r   - 05/10/02 07:57 PM Re: Distribute on DVD's Jagil   - 05/11/02 12:43 AM Time to go criminal? dahlenu   - 05/10/02 06:59 PM Re: Time to go criminal? yossarian   - 05/10/02 11:54 PM Re: Time to go criminal? gojira02906   - 05/10/02 07:56 PM Shakira? J-Lo? Celine Dion? 3xtrmn8r   - 05/10/02 06:52 PM Re: pantera, static-x, fear factory cygnusx1   - 05/10/02 10:01 PM Re: pantera, static-x, fear factory yossarian   - 05/11/02 12:20 AM Re: pantera, static-x, fear factory bdusen   - 05/11/02 01:34 AM Great suggestion, Peter! bsexton   - 05/10/02 06:21 PM Compact Disc Non_PC   - 05/10/02 06:20 PM Computer Users Unite MHLO   - 05/10/02 05:32 PM Re: Computer Users Unite castellan   - 05/10/02 05:59 PM Why you can never truly copy-protect music: READ Stahlman   - 05/10/02 05:28 PM you can even circumvent without going analog hankythexmaspooh   - 05/10/02 06:43 PM Re: you can even circumvent without going analog stealthrocket   - 05/10/02 08:38 PM Re: Why you can never truly copy-protect music: READ slippery   - 05/10/02 06:23 PM Re: Why you can never truly copy-protect music: RE pwrmacjedi   - 05/10/02 05:51 PM Sue'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CCB   - 05/10/02 05:27 PM Re: Sue'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mike   - 05/10/02 10:01 PM Re: Sue'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! techguru   - 05/10/02 05:34 PM Re: Sue'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CCB   - 05/10/02 05:50 PM Re: Sue'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pwrmacjedi   - 05/10/02 05:47 PM Anyone taking bets.... jscotta   - 05/10/02 05:26 PM Re: Anyone taking bets.... pwrmacjedi   - 05/10/02 05:49 PM Re: Anyone taking bets.... jscotta   - 05/10/02 06:52 PM Re: Anyone taking bets.... slippery   - 05/10/02 06:26 PM blind leading the blind cejones   - 05/10/02 05:18 PM Don't knock 12 year olds leicaman   - 05/11/02 12:47 AM Luckily I'm not a big Shakira or J-Lo fan! *NM* andrew   - 05/10/02 05:13 PM If it comes to this.... BlazzingInferno   - 05/10/02 05:08 PM Re: If it comes to this.... jrpacman   - 05/10/02 05:30 PM They're Digging Their Own Grave! Grateful11   - 05/10/02 04:55 PM The Second Best Solution faeylynryan   - 05/10/02 04:52 PM Re: The Second Best Solution techguru   - 05/10/02 05:30 PM Re: The Second Best Solution mjdth   - 05/11/02 01:15 AM Re: The Second Best Solution faeylynryan   - 05/10/02 07:37 PM Re: The Second Best Solution slippery   - 05/10/02 06:33 PM No, it's not a bug leicaman   - 05/10/02 05:28 PM Re: No, it's not a bug faeylynryan   - 05/10/02 07:04 PM Re: No, it's not a bug leicaman   - 05/10/02 08:17 PM Give us our paperclip hole Montgomery_Burns   - 05/11/02 12:39 AM Good point leicaman   - 05/11/02 01:02 AM Better if Apple doesn't fix it andrew   - 05/10/02 05:16 PM The next copy-protected audio disc RAVasquez   - 05/10/02 04:50 PM Screw 'em geozinger   - 05/10/02 04:50 PM Re: Screw 'em BigArtGeek   - 05/10/02 05:40 PM Isn't it nice... rapturizer   - 05/10/02 04:49 PM Why Radio is Legal johnny_hooker   - 05/10/02 06:14 PM another reason to NOT BUY Celine Dion! jadeleary   - 05/10/02 04:41 PM Re: another reason to NOT BUY Celine Dion! bgt   - 05/10/02 05:06 PM Properly identifiying copy protected cd's.. GrBear   - 05/10/02 04:30 PM Re: Properly identifiying copy protected cd's.. MWS   - 05/10/02 04:51 PM Re: Properly identifiying copy protected cd's.. johnny_hooker   - 05/10/02 05:52 PM Re: Properly identifiying copy protected cd's.. KingMel   - 05/10/02 05:41 PM Who's buying this crap? baobaog3   - 05/10/02 04:28 PM Re: Who's buying this crap? kevine   - 05/10/02 08:12 PM Who'd copy this crap? leapoffaith   - 05/10/02 04:44 PM Let's start boycott campaign hiclass   - 05/10/02 04:55 PM Re: Let's start boycott campaign gojira02906   - 05/10/02 08:09 PM Re: Who's buying this crap? pairof9   - 05/10/02 04:43 PM They have no right to cripple dig.hubs VanFruniken   - 05/10/02 04:26 PM Re: They have no right to cripple dig.hubs leicaman   - 05/10/02 05:22 PM Music Industry is killing itself BryceSteiner   - 05/10/02 04:22 PM Their last recommendation is best Tideswimmer   - 05/10/02 04:22 PM Re: Their last recommendation is best GrBear   - 05/10/02 04:35 PM Re: Their last recommendation is best Alt_Fyre   - 05/10/02 11:31 PM Re: Their last recommendation is best BigSpookyEye   - 05/10/02 04:42 PM Re: Their last recommendation is best notagain   - 05/10/02 04:32 PM Write-on! *NM* REG   - 05/10/02 04:25 PM Bypass and boycott TxTom   - 05/10/02 04:16 PM Re: Bypass and boycott dspofforth   - 05/10/02 04:36 PM Re: Bypass and boycott hiclass   - 05/10/02 04:49 PM You have no clue what artists are paid leicaman   - 05/10/02 05:18 PM ROI for artists? EpaAmigo   - 05/10/02 06:54 PM Re: ROI for artists? leicaman   - 05/10/02 08:16 PM Re: Bypass and boycott MrMacintosh   - 05/10/02 05:10 PM Re: Bypass and boycott BigSpookyEye   - 05/10/02 05:08 PM

Copy Craft Printers

Today on MacCentral - Page View

08:30 pm  Apple releases iPod Software updater 1.1

07:00 pm  Apple offers up to $300 cash back on desktop G4

06:35 pm  Macromedia wins countersuit against Adobe

04:05 pm  Apple advises on ejecting copy-protected audio CDs

03:35 pm  Macworld: Font Reserve 3.0 Single User

03:10 pm  Boeing gets FAA approval for broadband Internet service

01:50 pm  HP releases PhotoSmart 812 digital camera

01:35 pm  Aladdin CEO talks about proposed merger with Activeworlds

12:00 pm  Pixar 'looking to OS X for the future'

11:20 am  Fujitsu claims disk drive density breakthrough

10:25 am  Freeverse releases Arcane Arena online RPG

09:10 am  Marathon Computer intros under-desk mount for G3, G4

07:00 am  CMS slices prices on backup solutions, HD upgrades

07:00 am  New GENContacts is Mac compatible

07:00 am  Apple UK eyes Production Show, rugby match

MACCENTRAL READER SPECIALS AND HOT DEALS

Ramjet: Sale! One Week Only! iMac Flat Panel 512mb DIMMs for $115! G4 512mb DIMMs for $119, 1Gig for $235! WE CAN BEAT YOUR BEST DEAL ON MEMORY! 1GB KIT FOR YOUR G4 OR IMAC $199. MAX OUT YOUR POWERBOOK TITANIUM G4 AT 1GIG $355. POWERMAC G3/G4/IMAC 128MB $28, 256MB $53, 512MB $99. POWERBOOK TITANIUM/PISMO/IBOOK 128MB $29 OR 256MB $59. Dr. Bott certifies ATI Radeon 7000 w/DVIator or 8500 w/DVIator as the choic Upgrade your olderPCI based Macs or AGP based G4s with Apples 15", 17", and 22" ADC displays. VersionTracker Pro Join the thousands of other members that have already found out about the best software updating utility on the planet! Also, you could win an iPOD just for purchasing. NewsHunter: Download thousands of images and files from Usenet newsgroups with the click of a button! Now Faster Than Ever! Unlimited Trial! Download Now! Driven by Design: From design to deliver, discover the creative power of Mac OS X! At this free seminar cosponsored by Apple and Adobe, you'll discover the complete solution that takes you from design to print and web. Canon: Print beautiful, borderless photos quickly and easily with the new Canon Photo printers. Click for more details and to buy now! Memory To Go: P.B. TITANIUM 512MB-$145 256MB-$53 128MB-$35 FLAT IMAC 512MB-$113 256MB-$53 G4 PC133 512MB-$94 256MB-$45 MegaMacs Specials: Final Cut Pro 3 $499, USB Flexlight $9, Mice $5, G3s $249, SMC 10/100 NIC $19, 1GB SCSI HD $19, SCSI CDROM $14, Office X $399, FreeHand 10 $149, Norton Int. Security $14, USB 7port Hub $19, Airport Base Station 1/2 $189/$279! OpenOSX products install the World's most popular and powerful 'UNIX' applications on your Mac in minutes. Use programs like 'MySQL', 'Grass GIS' and 'The Gimp' without typing a single 'UNIX' command. Mac Solutions- G4 iMacs IN STOCK !!! Get yours now !! | 512mb PC100-133 $105 | Airport BaseStation $199 | 9.1 Update $49 | 120gb internal HardDrives $239 | Buy an iBook from us - get a free Airport card & Basestation !! * REGISTER TO WIN A FREE iPOD!! Check out our great selection of iPod cases at the Internet's #1 source for iPod accessories. TransIntl.com: Maximize your Macs: TiPB G4 up to 1 GB of RAM w/new 512 MB DIMMs; 80 GB FireWire External...$375; 20 GB Drive for Powerbooks...$149. CoolMacStuff.com - Your online source for the coolest Macintosh Gadgets, Gizmos, Tools & Toys. CoolMacStuff.com - because your Mac can never have too many toys! Stone Studio ™ - 7 100% native OS X applications for graphic design, digital photography, website creation, time tracking - all for only $299 from Stone Design Data Memory Systems:iData Memory Systems:iBook 500 512MB $169. Titanium 512MB $169. iBook Titanium 256MB $57. G4 PC133 512MB $94. 256MB $48. 128MB $25. LaCie 80BG Ext. FireWire $237. X10.com:ON SALE NOW!!! Video Surveillance has never been so EASY or AFFORDABLE! Wireless technology brings LIVE COLOR video into your home for ONLY $79.99 GOT LABELS? Labeling software for all Macs! CDs, addresses, zip disks, you name it. From single labels to huge mail merge projects, we have the applications for you. FREE demos, try them for yourself today! Serving the Mac community since 1984.

MACCENTRAL READER SPECIALS:

Go Wireless and SAVE $100on Apple AirPort Base Station w/ iBook/PowerBook purchase! New from Apple!Cinema Tools for Final Cut Pro-Advanced Tools for film and 24P HD Video Adobe Photoshop 7 - Upgrade only $124.99 after rebate! when you buy any Power Mac or PowerBook and Adobe Design Collection. Get up to 512MB RAM FREEwith Power Mac G4! Enter to WIN a PorscheCayenne from MacMall!