cannot insert CD/DVD into MacBook

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Level 1

5 points

cannot insert CD/DVD into MacBook

I am using an aluminum MacBook with superdrive and removable battery. I cannot insert any CDs or DVDs. I am sure there is no disk inside the drive, but already followed the directions to force ejecy and nothing came out. I also follwed the directions to reset the SMC and still no change. I had this same problem about 2 months ago and follwed the same steps with no change. Then I went into the Apple store and when the genius attempted to insert a disk, it went right in properly. This also worked for me many more times the follwing few weeks. Now, I have not used the superdrive for several weeks and am having the same problem . . . only this time, I am abroad and there is no Apple store or convenient Apple technician avaiable. Any suggestions . . .

MacBook 13-inch Aluminum (late 2008), Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Jul 31, 2012 7:49 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

sToned aGain

Level 1

9 points

Jan 20, 2017 9:39 AM in response to nadandeo

Try this command on terminal -: drutil tray eject.

~n~

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Answer 2

Aug 23, 2012 10:44 AM in response to nadandeo

I have the same problem with my MacBook aluminum OS Mountain Lion, VMware Fusion V. 4.1.3.

Once I shut down VMware Virtual machine it looks like a gate open letting the disk half inside but then blocked by an obstacle close to the power button side.

Any help?

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Answer 3

Sep 2, 2012 1:47 AM in response to nadandeo

I had the same problem yesterday. I inserted a DVD, than I made ad upadate so I needed to restart my MacBook aluminium OS Snow Leopard (10.6.8), after ejecting DVD. When MacBook turned on I couldn't insert the same DVD and any other: it's like there is something inside.

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Answer 4

Sep 2, 2012 11:08 AM in response to Alice_S88

I solved the problem "accidentaly": I went to the top left apple simbol clicking "about this Mac" then "more info", then "System report", "diagnostic" and finally "disk burning".

At that point something moved inside the DVD drive and the disk was let in.

Hope the same happens to you.

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Answer 5

Sep 3, 2012 1:47 AM in response to anselmo Stiffan

Nothing happened to me =(

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Answer 6

nadandeo Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 3, 2012 4:45 AM in response to anselmo Stiffan

thanks for the information, but I do not use VWware, so nothing for me to shut down

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Answer 7

nadandeo Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 3, 2012 4:46 AM in response to anselmo Stiffan

also tried the apple menu system report approach and nothing happened with my laptop

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Answer 8

Sep 8, 2012 3:08 AM in response to nadandeo

After a new block of the drive I cleared the NVRAM by rebooting the Mac while pressing the Option-Command-P-R keys. It worked nice.

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Answer 9

nadandeo Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 8, 2012 6:59 AM in response to anselmo Stiffan

Thanks for your suggestion . . . I just tried clearing the NVRAM . . . I held down the Option-Command-P-R keys . . . it took a little extra time to restart, and the drive made a little sound during the restart, but unfortunately it did not fix the problem.

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Answer 10

Sep 19, 2012 10:43 PM in response to nadandeo

I had once again the problem and successfully resolved it by starting the computer keeping pressed the Option key. When it asks for the start-up operating system, choose the usual HD and the DVD drive opens-up.

Good luck.

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Answer 11

Sep 20, 2012 6:12 AM in response to anselmo Stiffan

The solution I gave in the last post doesn't work anylonger. Today I noticed that the recommended sturt-up key combination doesn't work when my USB Time Machine disk is connected. For instance pressing the Option key during start-up does not go into the choice of boot media instead, it stay in a gray screen forever. Removing the Time Machine disk and holding the Eject+ F12 keys during the start-up, released the DVD entrance slot.

Try that, hopefully it works.

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Answer 12

Sep 20, 2012 9:35 AM in response to anselmo Stiffan

The problem is recurrent and at a second test using the Eject+F12 it didn't work. I installed OsX 10.8.2 but no change. Finally the drive opened by starting-up with the D key pressed (hardware test).

Hopefully it will keep working. As a safe step I keep a CD half inserted in the drive.

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Answer 13

nadandeo Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 21, 2012 6:29 AM in response to anselmo Stiffan

Thanks again for your suggestions . . . I have tried each of them with the following results:

Restart holding Option Key

1st time, a lot of physical activity within the drive during restart, but no "choose start-up" icons appeared. This actually seemed to make the problem worse. Previously, I could insert the disk about 30% before encountering resistance . . . now can only insert about 5%.

Because the start-up icons did not appear, I tried this one again.

2nd time, a little sound from the drive during restart, icons appeared, I chose HD, restart completed with no effect to improve the problem.

Restart holding Eject and F12

a little sound from the drive during restart, no improvement

Restart holding D key (still running OSX 10.7.4)

same as Eject and F12

So far nothing has solved my problem

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Answer 14

Sep 21, 2012 11:33 AM in response to nadandeo

I understand your frustation....I am through it right now.

In addition to that problem my Mac does not start if the the 1TB beck-up disc is connected via USB. In attempting several method I inadvertitly erase totally my HD and I'm in the process to recover all my files and applications via Time Machine. Mac OS 10.8.2 has been reinstalled and at present the DVD drive is open.

Will see if at the end of resoring files it keeps open.

Wish me good luck, thanks!

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