Slot Loading CD drive ejects cd when inputed

If an optical lens cleaning CD doesn't help, it probably means the drive is failing.

Just read your note, my slot loading disk drive is also refusing to read cd's and is ejecting them very quickly, though it will read and load dvd's.
Did you get your problem resolved???

Gregory, take it to an Authorized Apple Service Provider to have it checked if you are not qualified or do not have the technical know-how to check it yourself.

I have the same problem with a neighbor's "new" old iMac slotloader. It reads DVDs but declares CDs unformated.

Isn't there anything I can try besides take it in? I'm pretty handy with a screwdriver, and she'll just throw it away if any expense besides my good nature is involved.

I have the same problem with blank cdr or cdrw...keeps ejecting, but if i put in a cdr or cdrw (same make as blank ones that are rejected) that are previously burned with info, they appear on the desktop! Moreover if i use an external cd drive they all appear on the desktop including the blank cdr and cdrw that were ejected from the slot drive,

what should i try to do with software to fix this problem before assuming the drive is dead here? the imac that im repairing for a friend crashed and the drive refused to take cds. ive gotten t to boot and run fine but it still doesnt take cds. pram reset is my first choice, but what else could i try and how will i do it with an aftermarket keyboard? i think ii tried this before and the macally keyboard with this computer doesnt pick up. hmm how to do this...

I'm working on repairing my brother's iMac with slot loading drive and it is having a similar problem. I put in a CD and it spits it right back out.

How do I crack this baby open to get a closer look at the drive?

I found a web site that has photo instructions of how to open up your ibook and remove the disc drive then clean it. Search it on google but I think you would be mad to try it. Looks mentallist, and vey hard.

My iMac G3 also has this problems.

I've found that applying just a little bit of upward pressure (from below) when inserting the CD often (but not always) makes it "take".

I'm really surprised that the drive is behaving this way, as it has not been used much at all.

iMac DV/400 384mg ram slot-loader with similar problem. Will boot from OS X DVD and show Disk Warrior and Drive Genius on desktop, but will not boot from them, rejecting whether I hold down option or C key. Booted from Drive Genius originally to reduce OS 9 partition because I didn't need 9 anymore and to increase HD space for 10. Although system profiler shows 10gigs HD the 2gig former OS 9 space is no longer recognized or usable. Now I can't boot from utility CDs to try to fix the problem.
Any ideas?

17 iMac/1.25ghz, iMac DV/400mhz Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Hi Gregory

Don't automatically assume you CD drive is faulty (though it may be)
I just changed the CD drive on a Performa for a similar problem. Only trouble was - it was still the same after the change.

Turnes out that it was an extension problem. The Foreign File access extension was turned off. Turning it back on fixed the issue.

Check your extension manager to see if any CD related extensions have been disabled.

My iMac just started with the same nonsense. Plays DVDs just fine; with CDs, clicks about 10 times, whirs, and spits out disk. I just got cable broadband and so was able to download updates and this started when I restarted after the downloads, which suggests a software problem, so I'm reluctant to get a new drive. Can I just attach an accessory external drive? I don't use CD drive much.

Ok Just to add to this. I have an Imac DV ejecting all cd's dvds,
The strange part on this is after it is shut down for a 1/2 hour then started up again it will accept 1 disc. If that disc is ejected it will not accept another until it is shut down again for a another 1/2 hour. Restarts and quick shut downs will not work. Bizzare.
On the quick spit out it is not even looking at the disc. It will not spin it. The disc does not sit down to spin ( the 2 pieces of metal that come up to keep you from inserting another disc while 1 is in the slot don't even come up. it is spit out before that. (2-4 seconds tops).
I am still exporing software as it stated after 10.4 was installed but since have booted from external drives and it still ejects the discs.
Any ideas?

cog911:

Another member mentioned a similar problem to yours. He worked around it by putting the Mac to sleep, then awakening it, which allowed him to read one disk between short "sleeping sessions". He stated that eventually, the problem just disappeared. You might try this as a potential workaround to shutting down.

Good luck! Wish I had a complete fix for you...

Gary