Getting stuck disc out of computer RW drive

[Tobra]

Was burning CD's for my buddy, and when the antivirus program started its weekly scan, it crashed it and the disc is stuck in there, any tricks for getting them out? It will come open a few mm, stick, then go back in, won't read it. Will it be worthwhile trying to fix it or should I just get a new one.

[SlowToady]

There should be little hole by the eject button on the CD drive. Stick a paper clip in the hole and push, it should (manually) eject.

Originally Posted by Tobra

Was burning CD's for my buddy, and when the antivirus program started its weekly scan, it crashed it and the disc is stuck in there, any tricks for getting them out? It will come open a few mm, stick, then go back in, won't read it. Will it be worthwhile trying to fix it or should I just get a new one.

[scottmandue]

If the paperclip trick doesn't work.
This is a PITA...
But you can take the case off the computer, remove the CDROM drive, remove the cover on the CDROM and then you usually can get the drawer open.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

If the paperclip trick doesn't work.
This is a PITA...
But you can take the case off the computer, remove the CDROM drive, remove the cover on the CDROM and then you usually can get the drawer open.

heh? I've been removing stuck cd's with paper clips since the early 90's I just checked the five cd-rom drives in my viewing area and all of them have a manual eject.

[SlowToady]

I had to do what Scott said once or twice; I had (I think I threw em out) older CD drives that didn't have the manual eject hole. One of them died with my Windows 2000 Advanced Server CD in it, so, I had to get that one out:-P Would have been so much easier with that manual eject...

[pmajka]

Paperclip method +1

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

If the paperclip trick doesn't work.
This is a PITA...
But you can take the case off the computer, remove the CDROM drive, remove the cover on the CDROM and then you usually can get the drawer open.

know about the manual eject, will be taking it apart then...

[scottmandue]

When you get it open If you are lucky you may have access to the gears that open the drawer... and the locking mechanism, that is usually some kind of tiny solenoid or yet more gears that operate a locking lever that engages the teeth of the gears. If you can gently pry the lock back off the gears and then spin the gears to open the drawer, very tedious but it can work.

Like I said PITA... only thing worse is trying to get at a CD jammed in a laptop.

IIRC you are a doctor? Microsurgery skills may come in handy!

And yes the paperclip hole is not on all CDROM's nor is it fool proof... ask me how I know.

[Tobra]

got it! Did not even need to pull out the loupes. That stupid little foam donut they put on the top of the stack of CD-R's so they don't rattle in the box found its way in there.