How can I get a CD out of the optical drive of a dead Macbook?

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Level 1

59 points

How can I get a CD out of the optical drive of a dead Macbook?

Does anyone know how to get a CD out of the optical drive of a dead computer? Last night my early 2006 MacBook (OS 10.6.8) began clicking when I tried to boot it up. The blinking white light didn't come on but it managed to get to gray screen, then it stopped. After pressing the power button and trying to boot it up again several times, with the same thing happening, I realized that it was probably gone, but unwisely decided to see if I could reboot it and repair the disk with Disk Utility. So I inserted the Snow Leopard start-up disk, which made the usual whirring noise but did nothing, and is now stuck. Pressing the manual eject button does nothing.

I'm working on getting new computer, but I need the SL startup disk for another computer, so suggestions would be much appreciated--thanks!

MacBook

Posted on Jun 9, 2016 2:45 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 9, 2016 3:01 PM in response to Turtlewiz

As I recall, there was a small hole next to the the drive. You could unbend a paperclip and insert it into the hole, pushing until it made the drive pop open, rather like popping a SIM out of a phone.

Or, make an appointment at the Genius Bar. I'm sure they'd be willing to get the disk out for you.

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Answer 2

theratter

Level 4

3,961 points

Jun 9, 2016 3:06 PM in response to Turtlewiz

Five ways to eject a stuck CD or DVD from the optical drive

Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the left mouse button until the disc ejects.
Press the Eject button on your keyboard.
Click on the Eject button in the menubar.
Press COMMAND-E.
If none of the above work try this: Open the Terminal application in your Utilities folder. At the prompt enter or paste the following: /usr/bin/drutil eject then press RETURN.
If this fails then try this: Boot the computer into Single-user Mode. At the prompt enter the same command as used above. To restart the computer enter "reboot" at the prompt without quotes.

By manual eject button do you mean inserting a large, bent paperclip into the eject hole immediately adjacent to the optical drive's opening? If not then give that a try. You need a large paperclip bent so you can insert it in the hole and push against the ejection mechanism.

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