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Since I got my first MacBook this march, I thought it was normal. Guess not...

You have to run Software Update twice for this to work. After the 2 firmware updates, the screeching noise is finally gone. I also assumed it was normal until I got my wife a new Macbook last week. It's quietness made my aluminum Macbook feel like a piece of Russian farm equipment. Now equilibrium is restored to the household.

Dec 09, 09 - 12:09 am Comment from: Microtard

The SuperDrive "seek noise" was eliminated on both my MacBook 5,1 and my wife's MacBook 5,2. They both still make the noise on cold starts and restarts. Is this normal? Anyone else having the same issue?

Microtard, same here, the noise is still there when I startup or restart.... I have MacBook 5,1

To DP and Microtard: I have a MacBook 5,2 and can confirm your observations of SuperDrive noise after installing both firmware updates. Although the SuperDrive noise is still present on startup or restart ... and this observation is strictly subjective ... the noise level seems to have been reduced to a noticeable extent. When I installed both firmware updates and still noticed the SuperDrive noise, I was somewhat "disappointed". Glad to see that my misery has some company. Perhaps the fine folks at MacDailyNews can query Apple and confirm that our experiences with these updates are the "norm" ... or not.

Dec 09, 09 - 04:42 am Comment from: Yours Smugly

I have the 1st gen MacBook from middle 2006, and it (just like all the other MacBooks I have encountered) has made the same ODD seek noise at startup and restart. It's definitely normal, and deals with the hardware check your Mac goes through when it's started. Seems like Apple just decided it isn't nice anymore, and wanted to eliminate it.

confirming that our experiences with these updates are the "norm"

still makes noise after both updates, macbook 5,1

disequilibrium

@ FYI, would you prefer that your optical drive not look for a disk at startup? Think about it!

@ Microtard & DP, See above.

@ Yours Smugly, How would your computer ever be able to startup from a DVD without spinning the optical drive? Think about it! It is not a hardware check as it cannot check anything without a drive in the bay. Think about it!

correction:
@ Yours Smugly, How would your computer ever be able to startup from a DVD without spinning the optical drive? Think about it! It is not a hardware check as it cannot check anything without a DISK in the Optical drive bay. Think about it!

Dec 09, 09 - 05:12 pm Comment from: Microtard

@Think before you ask - I am an electrical engineer. The SuperDrive noise is a head seek, not a spin up. The drive has a switch which tells the computer whether or not a disc is in the drive without spinning it up. It would serve you to check your facts before you try to match wits with me.

Thanks.
Microtard.