My DVD drive is blocked. I can not insert a CD / DVD. Does anyone know a solution?

DDWooldridge wrote:

Any other options for me to try?

If you are still under warrant or have Apple Care, call them and get a case number. Otherwise, take the computer to an Apple store or an AASP. Whichever is more convenient for you.

DDWooldridge wrote:

Yeah, I was afraid that taking it in for repair might be my only option at this point. It's my primary computer for work, so almost impossible to be without it for any length of time. sigh... Thanks! 🙂

You can request a replacement while your computer is being repaired if you are still under warranty or have Apple Care. You have to call Apple Care to request a replacement.

I'm running into the same problem on my 13" MacBook Pro. The drive is showing up in the Mac's system profile and there is NO existing CD in the drive and nothing blocking the slot entrance. Like Tamaki95's issue, there is something near the power button within the drive that seems to block a CD from being fully inserted. I think that's the little grabber arm that pulls in the CD when it detects one is being inserted, but it appears to be stuck or inactive. Thanks for your info: I followed the instructions in those URLs you provided and reset my SMC, but that didn't change anything, the drive still has the same problem. Any other options for me to try?

Yeah, I was afraid that taking it in for repair might be my only option at this point. It's my primary computer for work, so almost impossible to be without it for any length of time. sigh... Thanks! 🙂

Hi! As I was angry enough I went to the kitchen, took a wooden tooth pick and tryed to find out if there is something in the Slot I can reach with the Pick. There was something and I detect a solid Thing. Around 5 cm inside the Slot was a Kind of smal blocking resistans or Switch. I tryed to move them really carefully and it moved downwards. First it moved a little hard, but after two or three movings it worked very soft. After them I used a DVD and everything was o.k.. Since this the DVD Slot is working as usually.

You should absolutely NEVER stick something into the optical drive slot and pry something out of the way by force! That is extremely bad advice, and I caution anyone reading against taking it! You may have gotten lucky, but that doesn't make it a good idea.

Most likely, the problem (as described) is either a damaged drive that needs to be replaced or the mechanism has gotten stuck in the "disc is in the drive" position. In the former case, there's not much that you can do other than get the drive replaced. In the latter case, you can try holding down the mouse button at startup to force the "disc" to "eject." If that doesn't work, try opening the Terminal (found in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder) and enter the following command:

drutil tray eject

So you have the choice!

A not working DVD, because there is something inside and blocks the slot,

and you can sit in front wait and watch!

A not working DVD, because there is something inside and blocks the slot,

and you have to replace it because it's damaged.

A not working DVD, because there is something inside and blocks the slot,

and YOU damaged it because you stick something inside you NEVER should do

and NOW you have to replace it.

A not working DVD, because there is something inside and blocks the slot

and you have to Bus an external DVD.

OR you are lucky because it works!

I'm not sure that I entirely understand your response, but I get the feeling that you take issue with me saying that forcing your DVD drive is a bad idea. I stand by that statement, though. Forcing any delicate machinery is an extraordinarily bad idea, and you are extremely lucky that you didn't break it. You still may have some trouble in your future as a result. As I pointed out, there are a couple of software tricks that can work. (I have personally seen this problem and have used these tricks with, so far, universal success.)

If it's actually broken, and those tricks don't work, getting it fixed by a qualified technician is the only reasonable solution, especially if the machine is still under warranty. (Forcing the drive when the machine is still under warranty would void the warranty, meaning that a repair that would have been covered for free is now your responsibility to pay for.)

Thank you Thomas A Reed! I used the terminal command "drutil tray eject". The first time I could hear the mechanism moving but it remained blocked when i tried to insert a disc again. I tried again and inserted a disc while the mechansim was moving, it accepted the disc into the drive and all is working well. Thanks again.

I burned a cd on my computer a few days ago but when I tried to put a new cd in this morning, I experienced the same problem other users are discussing, there is something up by the on/off switch that's blocking the entry to my cd drive. My computer was purchased in 2009 so it, of course, just went off of warranty.

I tried the drutil tray eject suggestion (I have a slot in my computer, not a tray) and it did not work. Any other suggestions?

I use my computer for work so, if I can't fix it on my own, I may just live without a disc drive until I replace this computer at the end of 2013. Either that or I can buy an external CD drive. I'm guessing that buying an external CD is probably would probably cost less than the repair.

First, follow the steps here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2801

If nothing works, reset your SMC, as described here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

What do you mean by "blocked"? There guards out front? Duct tape?

>About this Mac>More Info>System Report>Hardware>Disk Burning...does your superdrive show here?