Blank DVD stuck in SuperDrive....

[palmerc2]

On an Alu iMac 24"

Okay so last night I was trying to burn a file with Disk Utility, as soon as I put the DVD in I heard it was making a little noise (most likely because there was dirt on it - I wasn't thinking properly). When it started to burn, I could hear it make noise....I didn't want to risk not having a smooth burn so I cancelled it, then tried to eject it......to no prevail.

I've tried everything in the book.......from repeatedly pressing the eject button on the keyboard, to restarting while holding down the mouse button, to tilting it on its side and let gravity do its job, to lightly smacking the back part of it........nothing is working

When I do try and eject it, I've noticed it makes 2 different sounds....1st one is, imagine the sounds it makes when you put a CD in....and also taking it out, those 2 sounds very close to each other. 2nd one is sort of like the CD rubbing against something, like a bandsaw but on a low level. It wants to work but something is getting it caught.....

I am trying to think through my options, I never did get AppleCare so my warranty is up so I know I am looking at paying for that. Unless, I've heard some happy people on here saying that the Apple Geniuses are being nice, for the Holidays (or something) and in some cases fixing computers for free, even if out of warranty. Can I take it apart and do anything with the SuperDrive like that?

Thanks!

 

[jezza69]

i also had this problem with my 20" imac exactly the same noise too i googled it and read though forums but then decided to get it repaired after nothing seemed to work witch i read. sorry im no real help but that my opinion just get it repaired ,but somebody might have a fix for you ....

 

[DewGuy1999]

You could try a strip of cardboard or plastic to push forward or backward on the disc while pressing eject. This will help keep the disc against the "grippers" when it's ejecting. Another option is the cardboard or plastic with double stick tape stuck to it to "catch" the disc and pull it out. Good luck.

 

[palmerc2]

You could try a strip of cardboard or plastic to push forward or backward on the disc while pressing eject. This will help keep the disc against the "grippers" when it's ejecting. Another option is the cardboard or plastic with double stick tape stuck to it to "catch" the disc and pull it out. Good luck.

Thanks for the info, I will try it out.....

A friend of mine came over and tried using a metal nail file (the ones that are real thin that are rough on both edges) because they can 1. get in there 2. the grip can catch the dvd.......but it didn't work (yet)

I will have to see what happens, I will try the cardboard trick and see what happens

 

[fa8362]

Google it. Lots of stuff on that problem. A friend had the problem. Nothing worked until the disc ejected on its own about 2 weeks later. Now, he wisely no longer uses the drive. He bought an external.

 

[palmerc2]

Google it. Lots of stuff on that problem. A friend had the problem. Nothing worked until the disc ejected on its own about 2 weeks later. Now, he wisely no longer uses the drive. He bought an external.

Believe me, I've tried everything.......

what has been said already hasn't worked.....I may need to take it apart and dislodge it that way, while I'm in there I'll clean it up well

 

[mistraldk]

Believe me, I've tried everything.......

what has been said already hasn't worked.....I may need to take it apart and dislodge it that way, while I'm in there I'll clean it up well

And replace it with an SSD right away...

 

[palmerc2]

And replace it with an SSD right away...

Por qué?

 

[Sir Cecil]

I had the same happen with a Macbook Pro several times, but it always righted itself in the end, even if it wasn't tll the next day. I recall wondering if it had made a difference that the computer had been hot and some greasy substance on the disc had softened and caused slippage in the mechanism, and that the situation improved when cool.