How can I remove a mini-disc from DVD drive?

I did something ill-advised and put a mini-disc in my DVD drive because the people at Best Buy said the software on that mini-disc (for a gaming controller) was compatible with a Mac. It is probably not, and now that mini-disc seems to be stuck in my computer. I pressed Eject like a million times but it is not working. Anyone know how I get this out? Thanks for helping this bone-headed Mac user out.

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Feb 20, 2008 8:20 AM

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7 replies

Feb 21, 2008 3:44 AM in response to jdburst

+*Here is a way to get the disk out without ruining the disk drive, or the disk.*+
+*Restart the Mac, when the grey screen comes, hold down the mouse button, this may take a while, but the disk should come out.*+

While this works fine for standard discs that won't eject, the problem here is with a mini-disc. The internal hardware of the drive simply does not support the smaller disc... so it basically "falls" into the drive. The eject mechanism can't eject it.

Feb 29, 2008 8:17 PM in response to jdburst

I have a solution.
disclaimer: This will only work IF you did not shove the mini dvd all the way inside of your imac which I doubt unless you shoved it in trying to get it out.

1. take something thin but linear, like a long match stick, incense stick toothpick, etc....
2. wrap double sided tape around it. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure it is double-sided as you want it to stick to the stick and the disc only. No need getting two things stuck in there. As a matter of fact just to be safe spindle the tape along the ENTIRE length of the stick... ok? whew ok lets move on to the scary part.
3. slowly and CAREFULLY press the taped stick through. Best to try sticking it at the TOP of where you guestimate the disc to be. Pull back out until the disc starts to peak and hopefully it will. DO NOT wiggle the toothpick around. Do not shove it violently or "fish around" like your reaching in a barrel. Use finesse.

Hopefully this will work for you as it worked for me. (My younger bro stuck a dmn mini disc in my imac not to long ago. With my woman's touch I got it out safe and secure without damaging my brand new $2900 machine. YAYYYY!!!

Buena Suerte!
~Fighter

May 6, 2008 4:35 PM in response to jdburst

This is what worked for me, my Macbook Pro, and a similarly ill-advised mini-disc insert:

Since pressing the eject button did nothing, mostly because the drive didn't recognize the disc as being inserted/present, I held my laptop up so that the disc drive opening faced the couch/floor & lightly shook (more of a shimmy) it side-to-side. The mini-disc just slid out, since nothing was really holding it in there other than gravity (while on a desk).

If that doesn't work, I would highly advise NOT doing anything invasive... just take it to the apple store & have them do take it out. Do you have warranty/service plan?

Best of luck

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How can I remove a mini-disc from DVD drive?

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