CD Drawer doesn't open

[kimmer]

I have a real tech prob.  Okay, I don't - Sneakers does.  

Sneakers can't open the CD drawer on his machine (same as mine - see listing over there on the left). We tried my keyboard since we know it works, but that didn't make a difference. Before we spend bucks at the shop, is there a way to force this drawer open so he can burn a CD? Is there something else we can try?

Also, since there are 2 drawer slots, can we either move his cd unit, or buy a new one and place it in there and make the old one inactive?

Thanks!

[pendragon]

Kimmer,

Even if a CD is not stuck inside, this is probably worth a try:

There are about a half a dozen ways to eject a CD. Try this one - if it doesn't work, nothing else will.

Boot computer. Hold option+Command+o+f (for Open Firmware). It'll boot to a white screen with black text telling you to let go of the keys. Let go.

Now type "eject cd" and hit return. It'll either just give you a prompt back, or it may give you an error message.

At any rate, if that doesn't kick out the disk, the drive is likely to have physical problem and you will have to take it into the shop to have the disk manually removed (and possibly to have the optical drive replaced).

Type "shut-down" to exit open firmware and shut down the computer. Restart normally.

[kimmer]

Thanks pendragon. I'll have Sneakers give this a try.

[bobw]

There should be a tiny hole near the entrance. Open the flap and look. Push a paper clip in there to open it. May be hard to push.

[bil207]

You can get instructions on how to open the cd drive along w/ instructions on removing the optical drive in a QS G4 here.

[kimmer]

Thanks to both of you fine folks. I'll pass all this on to Sneakers.

[pendragon]

Kimmer, you're right (of course). Those are both very good suggestions. I had completely forgotten about the pin hole/paper clip trick. My machines no longer have that. Well, that and I just forgot.

Ah, the ravages of time and tide...

[kimmer]

That's okay, Pendragon. I didn't know I could use my fingernail to pop open the cover, so I didn't know about the pin hole either. LOL!

Sneakers got frustrated and turned his machine off. He'll try one or all of these suggestions later. Too bad he just had a birthday - I could buy him a new puter, or at least a new cd drive.

[sandyman]

You can also try
1) Restarting and holding down the mouse button
2) Use the eject button in iTunes

Sandy

[Xairbusdriver]

Just a minor point ( no pun intended, of course) about using a paper clip: Be sure to straighten out at least one curve near the end you want to insert in the tiny hole. Inserting a 'normal' paper clip will probably be hard and potentially damaging to the drive. I'd suggest leaving only a 90° bend with the rest of the paper clip straightened. the bend will give you a little handle to push with. You can also use this modified clip as a hockey stick when playing tabletop hockey...you're welcome.

[kimmer]

Thanks, sandyman.

ABD ... you are soooo bad.

[chriskleeman]

QUOTE(kimmer @ Feb 20 2007, 10:32 PM) [snapback]119654[/snapback]

Thanks, sandyman.

ABD ... you are soooo bad.

Isn't he? But in his case, bad is good!    

Good luck with Sneaker's machine, Kimmer!

XChrisK

[Gregg]

QUOTE(kimmer @ Feb 20 2007, 09:32 PM) [snapback]119654[/snapback]

Thanks, sandyman.

ABD ... you are soooo bad.

Reading between the lines, I think there's something about that pinhead, er pinhole in there...

[kimmer]

UPDATE: It's likely an OS X software issue. Sneakers booted into OS 9, and the keyboard/cd drawer worked just fine.