CD stuck in a Powerbook G4 12"

April 13, 2007 1:15 PM

My 12" Powerbook G4 has decided it likes the current CD inside it so much that it has refused to spit it out.

It tries to eject it, but it makes more mechanical noises than usual, and then it re-seats the CD and re-mounts it. It is as if something is blocking the exit path, but with the felt that covers the entrance, I can't see inside.

The manual does not show an emergency release button that you can poke with a paper clip, and with the felt covering the opening, I can't see inside. What else can I try before I end up following the 17 pages of the iFixIt manual for removing the optical drive?

posted by bryanzera to computers & internet (7 comments total)

This has happened to me. I DID manage to get it out, but it will happen again-. Basically, there's something wrong with it... I've stopped using the optical drive on my 12" powerbook G4 for this reason. (it's more of a web access terminal now, anyway, once I got my MacBook).

Here's what I did to get it out:

1. Insert a piece of thin cardboard into the slot, maybe about 2 inches inside. (I used a cereal box).
2. Press eject.
3. The CD will try to eject.
4. The idea is that it can eject OVER the cardboard, and then you will tilt the cardboard up to prevent the mechanism from pulling it back in. Once you can see the disc, pull it and the cardboard out at the same time.

Sorry if this is hard to understand-- it was a little while ago, and a lot of trial and error...

Good luck!
posted by gregvr at 1:33 PM on April 13, 2007

this is what you do. you take a knife, you insert it into the drive gently. then you gently twist for a few seconds, with some force, against the plastic/metal exterior. then try to eject again.

this happens to my macbook sometimes. there's no damage, no sign that the cd wont come out. but it will try to push it out, loudly, and then take it back in again.
posted by phaedon at 1:48 PM on April 13, 2007

ugh. i had that problem with my powerbook. eventually the disc drive froze up and i had to have it repaired. then it happened again.

i think it just gets so hot that it locks up.
posted by thinkingwoman at 1:51 PM on April 13, 2007

Before you do something that might physically fuck over your computer, try this.
posted by mcwetboy at 1:53 PM on April 13, 2007

Follow-Up: I tried gregvr's suggestion and after sliding a thin piece of cardboard in and trying my best to push it on top of the CD so that it could slide out when ejected, I managed to hit what felt/sounded like a thin metal clasp. When I hit it, the CD jumped out of the drive.

Thanks, gregvr.
posted by bryanzera at 2:11 PM on April 13, 2007

My 12" G4 has a dead optical drive. After I got the disc out (thankfully it was a burn -- my answer involved grabbing the edge of the disk with my leatherman tool's pliers, not elegant but effective) I just bought an external firewire DVD writer and got on with my life.
posted by Alterscape at 3:17 PM on April 13, 2007

I had trouble getting a disc out of a Mac Mini that had been used in a tennis club. The thing was caked in clay dust when I got it, and I think this might have something to do with it.

What worked for me was rebooting while holding down the mouse button. However, as said earlier, I don't use the drive anymore for fear of getting something important stuck more permanently.

So, do be sure to try mcwetboy's suggestions before physically jamming things in the computer.
posted by odinsdream at 6:54 PM on April 13, 2007