Empty drive, repeated eject noise

While this behaviour is "normal" when the slot-loading optical drive is being powered up (boot, reboot and wake from sleep usually) it should not be constantly doing it when your MBP is running. If it is I would first reset PRAM…

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238

… and failing that contact AppleCare.

EDIT : Something else you can try is to actually insert a CD/DVD (I'd do it with one of each), use then for a bit and then eject. The drive might intermittently think there's something in it which is why the noise.

Thanks Kiddojack. I forgot about that reset. I did it and I'll post again after some time to make sure it was successful.

I was kind of dumb and didn't get applecare, which I regret now. I called Apple today just to report the issue, with a secret hope that this was a known issue and they are about to have some sort of recall, but the technician had to blow me off. Has anyone else called Apple about this issue?




There is another thread ( http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6534679#6534679) about this and one of the responders did a complete erase and re-install of Leopard but to no avail. I was about to do the same.

Message was edited by: tricitytrackstar

I have been having the same problem with my one year old macbook. It just started happening in the past week or so. It happens when I put it to sleep without closing the lid, as well as when I put it to sleep with the lid closed.

I have a friend who has a MacBook Pro 17" and has the same problem as everyone else - however his only seems to do it when you close the lid and it goes to sleep - after a few mins it will start making noises. I don't believe the LCD comes on while the screen is closed - it just makes a noise like he has just opened the lid and the optical drive is getting it first power.

Anyone has the same problem but when the lid is closed?

Same problem here.
I get the repeated eject noise when lid is closed, in sleep mode, no disk in drive. Happens every 30sec's or so...
Only started after receiving Macbook back from the cracked keyboard repair.

That's odd. I just noticed this happening on my machine (MacBook Pro 2.2Ghz, 10.5.1) last night. Usually I leave it out in the living room at night, so this may have been happening longer, but at 4:00 AM last night I was woken up by the drive trying to eject a non-existent disc every 30 seconds.

I leave the machine in sleep mode in the living room a lot, so if this was a constant problem I probably would have heard it by now. I wonder if the disc detection sensor just failed?

the exact same thing is now happening to my macbook.. i just took it to the genius bar because my seagate hd crashed.. they put in a new one.. i wiped it clean and installed leopard... now even when it's closed i hear the eject cd sound every 30 seconds.. anyone got any ideas

My MacBook that was purchased in Oct '07 is doing this too. Except mine does the eject disk/open lid noise up to every 15 seconds when in sleep mode with the lid closed. It is super annoying! Good to know that I'm not the only one.

Hey everyone- I have an answer! I called Apple Care and the guy had me turn off my computer and unplug it. Then, he asked me to remove my battery. Once the battery is removed press the power button for 5 seconds (i know it sounds pointless, but it works). Then, put the battery back in the computer, plug it in and reboot. It should stop making the eject noise when it is closed or in sleep mode.

Hope that helps you all!

happening for me too... and the last "fix" didn't work either.

OK - so these are the problems that I have had with my macbook.

- random shutdown issue, new motherboard.
- failed HDD, fixed under warranty
- failed superdrive, fixed under warranty

and now this.. but my standard warranty has run out. Not happy apple.

This isn't an issue that will stop me working, however when i close the lid to take my laptop traveling the battery runs out from the system trying to eject a disk that isn't in there.
This has been happening under both tiger & leopard.


Please, please, please come up with a resolution!!!

Tried the reset without the battery and it is still making the noise, which by the way is the "wake up from sleep" according to the Apple recordings.

What is the underlying cause of this? Is the computer sending repeated signals to the drive to wake up?

Now it constantly does it while the computer is sleeping. As soon as the drive stops spinning, it wakes it up again and it starts to spin. I can't leave it in sleep without it completely draining the battery and am afraid that it will wear out the drive.

Exactly the same for me. Makes the eject noise when asleep with no disk in, or with a disk in repeatedly spins it up. Apart from the annoying noise, it means I have to keep switching the computer off rather than leaving it sleeping as the battery soon goes flat. Strangely my Expresscard Reader no longer works since installing Leopard.

I spoke with Apple today and they reckon it is a hardware problem and have recommended I get the drive changed.

Yep. Same problem. I've had mine for two years, and it makes this noise ONLY when shut, but it does it every 30 seconds endlessly.I've seen another discussion thread with multiple people complaining about this as well. I'll try the "fix".

yes, I've had to fix my keyboard twice, my DVD/CD drive once, and had my hard drive erased because the computer was so slow they thought it might be a software problem and wanted to ensure it wasn't hard drive. Ugh. Thank God for apple care. This is irritating.