superdrive want to eject but can't...

Unfortunately, this isn't a solution, but I'm also experiencing a similar issue. A CD is stuck in the iMac, and it can read it properly, but it won't eject. It sounds like it is trying to eject the disk, but something seems to be stopping the disk and it gets sucked back into the computer.

Hi there!

I had this same problem (and my SuperDrive is also an Optiarc) a few months back becuase I'd left a paper cover on the CD when I put in. When it came out I felt kinda stupid =L

First off, does your iMac continually try to eject it? If it does, you might just want to leave it for an hour as it may just decide to pop out.

I can only suggest that you try to find a pair of tweezers and pull it out with those but *PLEASE do not try this if you haven't checked your warranty as it could void it*. And, obviously, make sure you *SWITCH OFF AND UNPLUG* you iMac first!

I couldn't get it out after that but I think it helped to free it because half an hour later it just popped out!

In my case, the iMac is not trying to continually eject the CD. It will only "try" to eject the CD when it has been told to eject the disc.

The iMac is still under warranty, so I might go the official route and have an authorized tech come in, if necessary.

It has been about a day, but the CD hasn't come out on its own. This particular iMac has seen a lot of CD usage lately, so something might have gotten worn out or broken.

Vencentius (or indeed anyone),

I have exactly the same problem and was wondering if you have found a solution?

In my case the disk is in the drive, mounted, readable and functioning perfectly. When I try to eject it I hear movement but then it's sucked back in and mounts again. I have spent three days looking on the internet for a solution:

Mouse click on startup - no change
Terminal functions - no change
Turning machine on its side and 'gently shaking' - no change

I have seen many references to inserting tweezers, laminated business cards, board from AA battery packaging, other disks, other disks with double sided sellotape on their face with a piece of string in the central hole, and even a pincer device fashioned from the old sliding metal thing off a floppy disk... and they all make me nervous. I should admit that I have tentatively slid a business card in the central part of the slot but it seems to meet an obstruction and even when the disk is spinning I do NOT hear any sounds of friction on the business card - this would suggest I'm not going in far enough (about a quarter inch)

If anyone has successfully used any of these methods in the past can you please explain the correct procedure in simple details.

i.e. at what part of the slot should the card/tweezer/floppy disk thing of choice be placed in the vertically mounted intel imac drive? how far in should it be placed? should I exert pressure to guide the card to the top (the printed side) or the bottom (the readable side) of the cd? if I meet or have to negotiate certain obstruction (pins, arms) how much pressure can I exert without killing the thing?

Please note:
I have used this factory (XL Records) disk in the machine before with no problems
When it got stuck I was in the middle of a music ripping exercise and had already successfully ejected about a dozen disks - the computer was neither moved nore scarcely touched (let alone knocked enough to shift something out of alignment) in between times
I have turned the computer off for a day and tried again after hearing about overheating and melted labels and the like
The iMac is three months out of warranty

It'd be great if someone would help me as although I know from experience (I've been buying and using macs for 15 years and have never had as many problems as I have with this one - Apple, take note) that the guys at the Apple store are very helpful I'm actually in Paris right now and I can only imagine the huffing, shrugging and sighing I'll get from them when I try to explain the problem, and genuinely can't face the experience!!

Many thanks for anyone who can help,

OJF

p.s. its got a PIONEER DVR-K06A in it

Update - it is now failing to re-mount and doesn't make those cruel failed ejection noises - when I restart the disk mounts, it still works but when I 'eject' it simply dismounts without any mechanical sounds. It sounds completely screwed to me.

p.s. Apple - if you surf these boards, when I purchased this computer I had to have someone talk me through a five hour process of formatting the hard-drive and installing the system from scratch because it was not shipped ready for use; there is a strange shadowing at the top of the screen which is getting worse and which I've recently learned is a 'common' problem encountered by a friend of mine who is on his fourth macbook in three months - and now this which is going to cost me a good few hundred euros/dollars/pounds to repair because it's now out-of-warranty. Like I said earlier, I've been using and buying Apple for 15 years but I think I'd probably tell recommend people to buy Sony and suffer Windows - quality is not what it used and it's VERY VERY disappointing - this stupid computer is the most valuable thing I own but with a fizzing drive and a trapped disk in it it feels next to useless.

Another update: the slow death of the drive continues - on restart the drive no longer recognizes the disk as being in the machine...

I've also tried pinching certain portions of the case. No effect.

I even (gently) held the iMac on its side to see if something might slide out. No luck there, either.

It turned out to be a mechanical error with the drive where a "lip" wouldn't go back into place. This is what was blocking the disc from ejecting properly. I had a technician come in, remove the old drive, disassemble the drive to get the CD, and a new drive was put into the iMac.

Your issue exactly describes a recent episode I experienced.

The disc did finally eject after six restarts while I simultaneously tapped on the housing immediately behind the drive slot opening.

Was the onsite service technician 'kind' to your 24" behemoth?