[The Wolf]

I have a DVR-R disk that is stuck in my AlBook's drive. Every 30 seconds it attempts to eject it, and makes that "ejecting the disk" noise. I have to send it back to Apple for removal/repair, but I can't part with it for another month. So, in the meantime is there some way I can stop it from working, like disabling the drive somehow? (if this require the Terminal it is prolly something I won't be able to do).

P.S. I posted this here b/c I'm looking for a OS/software fix as opposed to having to physically take it apart which someone at Apple cautioned against.

[Appleman]

Like any CD-ROM drive, you can manually eject the CD (or DVD) by using a paperclip and put / stick that into a small hole. Since the Al- and Ti Books have slotlaoding drives, it's a bit guessing where to stick in your paperclip, but I believe it's on the right side.

Additionally you can try to hold down your mouse button while starting / rebooting your Mac: this normally ejects media such as floppies, CD's, DVD's, Zip, etc.

From the Mac OS Help:
----------------------
Ejecting a disk, server volume, CD or DVD disc, or other devices



After working with a disk, server volume, iPod, CD or DVD disc, or FireWire drive, you may want to eject it to remove it from your desktop.



Before you eject an item, close any open documents on it and quit any applications that may be using files on the disk.


Select the item to eject and do one of the following:


Choose File > Eject.
Select the item in the Finder and click the Eject button next to its name.
Press the Media Eject key (if your keyboard has one).
Press the F12 key.
Drag the item to the Trash icon in the Dock (it changes to the Eject icon).

------------------------------------------------------


so eject a CD or DVD by holding down the mouse button when you start up your computer.

[Appleman]

Like any CD-ROM drive, you can manually eject the CD (or DVD) by using a paperclip and put / stick that into a small hole. Since the Al- and Ti Books have slotlaoding drives, it's a bit guessing where to stick in your paperclip, but I believe it's on the right side.

Additionally you can try to hold down your mouse button while starting / rebooting your Mac: this normally ejects media such as floppies, CD's, DVD's, Zip, etc.

From the Mac OS Help:
----------------------
Ejecting a disk, server volume, CD or DVD disc, or other devices

After working with a disk, server volume, iPod, CD or DVD disc, or FireWire drive, you may want to eject it to remove it from your desktop.

Before you eject an item, close any open documents on it and quit any applications that may be using files on the disk.

Select the item to eject and do one of the following:

Choose File > Eject.
Select the item in the Finder and click the Eject button next to its name.
Press the Media Eject key (if your keyboard has one).
Press the F12 key.
Drag the item to the Trash icon in the Dock (it changes to the Eject icon).

You can also eject a CD or DVD by holding down the mouse button when you start up your computer.

-------------------------------

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by Appleman:
Like any CD-ROM drive, you can manually eject the CD (or DVD) by using a paperclip and put / stick that into a small hole. Since the Al- and Ti Books have slotlaoding drives, it's a bit guessing where to stick in your paperclip, but I believe it's on the right side.

No, there is no such hidden button on the current drives.

That is to say, there is, but it is placed such on the drive's case that you have to dismantle the entire 'book to get at the button.

The only other method known (besides holding down the buttons you mention on rebooting) is to boot into Open Firmware (hold down Apple-Opt-O-F on reboot until you get to the "Welcome to Open Firmware" prompt).

Then type "eject cd" (no quotes, all lowercase, one space between words) and hit return
This should eject the CD
Then type "mac-boot" (note that international keyboards will revert to US layout, which means the "-" is in the top row of keys, next to the zero) to restart.

(This is in the Mac Help available from the Finder, btw. Useful, very useful.)

I doubt that will work, since the drive is making the necessary sounds - it's an actual, physical drive failure, and I'm afraid nothing short of replacement is going to solve his problem.

I had the same problem on my 12" Powerbook (Superdrive), btw.

[The Wolf]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
*snip*I doubt that will work, since the drive is making the necessary sounds - it's an actual, physical drive failure, and I'm afraid nothing short of replacement is going to solve his problem.

I think you are correct. Sucks.

So, does anyone know how to stop it from trying to spit the disk out so I can have some peace until I bring it in to be fixed?

[Goldfinger]

Reboot and try to hold down the F12 button, the eject button, immediatly after hearing the boot chime and hold it until the disc ejects. Works on my TiBook.

[romeosc]

Originally posted by Goldfinger:
Reboot and try to hold down the F12 button, the eject button, immediatly after hearing the boot chime and hold it until the disc ejects. Works on my TiBook.

Also use a plastic playing card to slip in slot to guide the stuck CD out!

[bmedina]

Originally posted by Goldfinger:
Reboot and try to hold down the F12 button, the eject button, immediatly after hearing the boot chime and hold it until the disc ejects. Works on my TiBook.

That may work, but the normal button for this is the space bar. This should work on all Macs, desktops and laptops.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by romeosc:
Also use a plastic playing card to slip in slot to guide the stuck CD out!

True; forgot about this.

This is the only other option you have, AFAIK.

Of course, I wouldn't use the drive, afterwards, until it's repaired.

[The Wolf]

Originally posted by romeosc:
Also use a plastic playing card to slip in slot to guide the stuck CD out!

IIRC, you have saved me before. I am trying with a businnes card. Soooo, do I want to place it low or high???

[TazmanDman]

I've seen some Albooks where the optical drive is aligned too high and thus the cd just hits right above the upper lip - manually making the lips wider sometimes gives it enough room to eject fully.

[The Wolf]

I'm screwed. I can't get this thing out. However, I think I now have this business card stuck in there "just right" so that at the moment it's not trying to eject the disk anymore!

I'd still like to be able to disable it tho...

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by The Wolf:
I'm screwed. I can't get this thing out. However, I think I now have this business card stuck in there "just right" so that at the moment it's not trying to eject the disk anymore!

I'd still like to be able to disable it tho...

Well, you *could* just snip off the part of the card that sticks out...good luck explaining that one to Apple warranty dep't, though.

[The Wolf]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
Well, you *could* just snip off the part of the card that sticks out...good luck explaining that one to Apple warranty dep't, though.

No way man. I'm gonna just duct tape it in place! Let them deal with it.

The amazing part is that it's working! btw, is it true what I heard about taking the AlBook apart voids the warranty? I actually had all the screws out - and then pussed out.

[romeosc]

Originally posted by The Wolf:
No way man. I'm gonna just duct tape it in place! Let them deal with it.

The amazing part is that it's working! btw, is it true what I heard about taking the AlBook apart voids the warranty? I actually had all the screws out - and then pussed out.

That's why I said to use a "plastic playing card". They are thin and slippery.

Try ejecting while Playing card is inserted, it will guide it out!

[Appleman]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
Well, you *could* just snip off the part of the card that sticks out...good luck explaining that one to Apple warranty dep't, though.

I don't know if you have ever been at a "Apple Approved blablabla firm" where they repair Macs, but the guys over there unscrew screws more or less the same way you and I would do it. There is not such a thing as a secret thing so they can see it has been opened, and it isn't that difficult at all to replace the optical disc. It's a matter of being brave, but then if you have warranty, simply use it. Here in The Netherlands (Europe) it took me always 4 days to send-repair-get back the unit.