CD Drive refuses to eject...

After using the paper clip to manually eject the CD, did you restart the computer to reset the CD drive? If it still doesn't work, it probably needs to be repaired/replaced and probably not worth it.

Hello,

Sounds to me like your drive is out of alignment with the slot on your computer.

It probably needs a slight adjustment in it's positioning inside the computer to properly line-up with the slot that the disk comes out of.

I would try opening the computer, and re-seating the CD-ROM drive so that it lines-up better.

If that doesn't work, then try placing a plastic shim under it, and fix the shim in-place with some vinyl or electrical tape. Don't use anything metal that could short something if it later fell-out. Stick with shim material that is not electrically conductive.

This should fix your problem. The trick will just be getting the drive to sit properly and line-up with the slot you have on the front of the computer.

If you don't feel up to doing this, you could take it to a service center. But, since your machine is out of warranty (being an older G3 iMac), you'll have to pay for the service.

If you want to do it yourself, here are some guides that will show you how to dismantle your computer and get into the area where the CD-ROM drive is located:

http://www.nelsonbc.ca/mactechsupprt_html/imac_hard_drive_replace/imac_replace_harddrive.html

http://www.fastmac.com/downloaddata/imacslcpuinstall.pdf

While those articles are not specifically targeted at the CD-ROM drive, they will help you dismantle the computer and show you clearly how to get to that area. Just don't go further into the process than you need to (stop at adjusting the CD-ROM drive).


I hope this helps.

Hello,

I kinda sound stupid here, but how do you reseat the CD drive?

By this, I mean to physically remove the CD-ROM drive, and then re-install it. The idea being that this may be all that is needed to get it to line-up right. They rest in a bracket with a spring tensioner. It may simply need re-moved and re-installed to get it to line-up properly (figuring that it may just be resting improperly in it's mounting bracket).

Put a plastic shim under the CD drive when computer is open?

Yes. If the method of just re-seating the drive doesn't get it lined-up right, then use a plastic shim under or over the drive to adjust it's position in relation to the opening on your computer. This would be utilized to maintain it's position permanently.

There is give in the mounting system to permit the drive to shift up and down. The shim would block it to prevent it from adjusting on it's own later. Basically, shim it to sit exactly even with the slot on the front of the computer, and that should fix your problem.

Naturally, this may take a few attempts at putting everything back together again, checking the fit, and re-adjusting as needed.

But, this is likely what you are going to have to do.

I hope this helps.

Some forebearance is requested, as I just might be going blind (the result of twenty plus years of staring at Mac screens?) but on my CD "slot" drive iMac, I really just fail to see a "little hole." I liked that technological design element, when it was introduced on my 512 Mac. I can see one on an earlier iMac that I have, but that one has the "undocumented feature" of the CD drive that is quite often impossible to close. Not much chance that a disc will get stuck in there.

Is it in some place that is not immediately visible?

I am presuming that there is not one on this generation of iMac, and I am also presuming that this innovation was brought to us, to me by the same design genius who used to design the power adapters for the first several generations of Powerbooks, the adapters that had the thinnest, most fragile part of the power cord not be interchangeable or removeable.

various models (iMacs, G3s and PowerPC models) Mac OS 9.2.x

werk_ltd, any slot-loader should have a hole at the far right end of the slot where the dust catcher ends. That is the hole used for manual ejection of CDs.

It's 05:35 in the morning, and though I can't say I saw or see a hole, I did take a large paper clip and somehow manage to find something that tripped the eject mechanism. Which is cause for multiple hosanahs and expressions of gratitude, dude. Thanks.

Good to hear you found it. After manually ejecting a CD, remember to restart the computer to reset the CD drive. Good Luck in the future.

...and go to Extensions Manager, turn back on the Extension that governs the CD drive (which I had turned off so that the **** thing didn't spin and spin and spin endlessly and without purpose, all the while causing the Finder to crash) and then restarted the computer.

Tempted fate, in fact, I kicked it in the shins, and re-inserted the offending disc. Bumped it out again with no problems. Did this multiple times.

The balance of the universe is restored. I can go back to watching VCDs of obscure Godard movies on my computer.... what a world. And thanks. Again.

Now starts the painful upgrade process...

various models (something like ten in total, mostly G3s) Mac OS 9.2.x