Can't eject CD from slot.

Question

Can't eject CD from slot.

My wife's iMac DV (Codename Kihei) has a problem with the CD ROM slot. Yesterday it appears a CD became lodged inside and everything we've tried from key commands to selecting "eject" in the menu bar hasn't worked. I've tried using a sharp instrument to pry it out, because this model doesn't have the pinhole that comes on earlier iMacs or earlier model Powermacs.

Note: I'm not even sure a CD is lodged inside, But I need to be sure. But the printer software installer CD we were running can't be found in the general area of her work station. What may have happened is this: The CD icon disappeared from the screen and may have just not be indicating the lodged CD. But I half attempted to load a CD in the slot and it was "grabbing" it but I stopped short fearing it might make matters worse if 2 CDs were jammed up inside, if that is even possible.

Any advice would be helpful.

Rob

Posted on Oct 6, 2005 8:00 AM

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Answer 1

scapesuiter

Level 7

27,670 points

Oct 6, 2005 1:20 PM in response to Roberto Katrino

Rob, if it is a slot-loading iMac G3, it must have a manual ejector hole. Exactly what are the model specs?

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Answer 2

Strider

Level 6

14,600 points

Oct 6, 2005 1:27 PM in response to Roberto Katrino

on the lower right of the white foam surrounding the slot for the CD is a small hole. That's the manual eject switch. You can also try booting up with the mouse button held down.

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Answer 3

Oct 6, 2005 2:58 PM in response to scapesuiter

It must have a manual ejector hole. **

I've looked at it with a magnifying glass and it appears not to have one. Which leaves me ina hole 🙂 I'm just geeky enough to figure this one out after 11 years working with Powermacs but must admit I'm ata loss here. I've looked for the missing disc but it isn't around. I'm tempted to try and stick a new one in but I'm afraid I'll screw the drive up if one is lost in there aready..

The slot has a velcro like "cleaner" ringing around it and makes peering inside difficult..

Apple really designed this thing well, maybe too well.
The model specs are in my profile.. but if it helps.. This is an iMac DV (indigo) and came witha pro keyboard and pro mouse. It has a basic CD-ROM drive and no CD-RW or DVD. That's all I know..

Thanks

Rob

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Answer 4

Oct 6, 2005 3:01 PM in response to Strider

on the lower right of the white foam surrounding the slot for the CD is a small hole. **

I don't see any foam. No hole either.

You can also try booting up with the mouse button held down. **

I tried that. But I'll repeat it.

Thanks

Rob

Thanks guys.

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Answer 5

Oct 6, 2005 4:10 PM in response to Roberto Katrino

Are you sure about your specs?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58669 iMac: How To Differentiate Between Models (CRT)
or
Identify your iMac
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http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58566 iMac (Slot Loading): Troubleshooting CD/DVD Eject Failures

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=51008 iMac: If You Can't Eject a CD or DVD, or Open the Drive Tray

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106752 Macintosh: How to Eject a Disc When Other Options Do Not Work

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Answer 6

Strider

Level 6

14,600 points

Oct 6, 2005 4:56 PM in response to Roberto Katrino

there should be a thin surround of white foam around the slot. if for some reason its not there, the manual eject hole is. Every iMac has one. might take more effort to find though if you don't have the white foam surround, but take a close look at the lower right side of the area surrounding the hole. Note that this wouldn't be on the outer panel of the machine, rather its part of the drive itself and so would be inset back a little ways.

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Answer 7

Oct 6, 2005 6:49 PM in response to Roberto Katrino

EL;
get a paper clip and straighten it out. yes, to the right of the slot is a manual eject hole.( hidden behind the foam in the slot). put the clip in and you'll here the eject sound. also, get a playing card or thin sturdy card stock ready. as it ejects the cd, the cd may not fully eject. slide the card into slot just enough to help glide the cd out. If the cd is pulled back into computer, repeat above. Good luck.
Tony

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Answer 8

LLQ

Level 1

25 points

Oct 25, 2005 7:05 AM in response to Roberto Katrino

Hi Rob,

I had the same problem with my iMac G3 that the kids use, only there were 2 CDs in the slot, and while I was trying to find a paper clip to try the manual eject button, my 4-yr-old apparently put a 3rd CD in the slot!

I tried everything, including restarting with the mouse button held down (didn't work) and there was no CD icon on the desktop to drag to the trash. The paper clip in the manual eject button did cause the 3rd CD to eject partially, only about 1/8", so I took my needle-nose pliers (yes, but I was desperate and nothing else was working) and as gently as possible pulled out the CD. This left me with "only" 2 CDs in the slot. I found that the article mentioned above
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http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58566 iMac (Slot Loading): Troubleshooting CD/DVD Eject Failures
__________________
worked for me. After trying this several times, eventually the 2nd CD ejected 1/8" so I used my handy-dandy pliers again. With only one CD in the slot (but still no icon on the desktop), the paper clip in the manual eject button worked perfectly. I tested the slot-drive by inserting a different CD and the drive was reading as it should. I have not yet retried one of the CDs that were stuck in the drive. I'm hoping I didn't damage them since I only touched the outer silver edge (that's all that was barely sticking out of the drive) and not the printed area.

Hope this helps!

Laurie

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