Have had my iMac 24" for just under a year, everything working brilliant, then these past few days every time I try and burn a CD or DVD the drive starts growling and sounds as if its crushing the disc. I'm worried as I think I'm just inside my year warranty, has anyone else came across this problem, have searched the web for answers, but getting conflicting answers. Another thing I have all the latest design software on the Mac courtesy of torrents, if I bring it to the apple repair place will they report it. Please can some one give me some advice before the warranty runs out.

Thanks Darkside

Call Apple. If you wait 'till after, you'll be screwed.

Will i take all the software of it first.

Everything I've ever heard indicates that you don't have to, but it probably wouldn't hurt.

A grinding noise means it's hardware, and opening an iMac will void your warranty, so you don't really have much choice.

agreed, if it's under warranty, go to apple, if not, i'd say go for the superdrive, or there's a couple 3rd party drives out there that are very nice :) running firewire 400/800 i know

mine does it occasionally, I just eject the disc and kinda push it in harder... it works.

just don't brake anything.

Just an update and to give our Mac users some advice, went to the Mac people and explained about the drive growling, within an hour they rang me back and asked did I smoke around it, well yes I do and I had to fork out £185 to have it cleaned and a new front panel replaced, I was 11 days outside of the warranty, guess theres no smoking in the same room even now. Guess smoking is bad for the Mac aswell as us. By the way when I got the Mac back the drive was fine, they said there was nothing wrong with it and it has worked perfect since, conspiracy theory people think about that one. Any how thanks for all the advice and help, I can now enjoy may Mac again.