Help - DVD tray ...

[leco]

... it won't open! I've tried pushing the button; context menu'd on Eject; clicked Eject in the left pane of Explorer; all to no avail. The light briefly flashes but nothing else.

 

What do I do now?

[sharkster]

Shoved the pointy end of a paper clip in the little hole...?

 

beat me to it

[leco]

Done that - all it did was whirr a bit - nothing moved though

[K.C.Leblanc]

Done that - all it did was whirr a bit - nothing moved though

 

Then you need to push a bit harder, you might find it's unlocked the drive and you can now pull it open.

[mattx]

Harder Harder Harder !!

Push it HARDER MAN !!

[leco]

OK OK OK - I get the idea - got the tray open now by manually pulling. Thanks. Now what do I do with an open tray - I know put a cup of coffee in it and don't forget it's there when shutting down.

Hey ho end of another day - nearly

[Michael]

Replace the drive? I suspect the mechanism is damaged

[K.C.Leblanc]

Replace the drive? I suspect the mechanism is damaged

 

Have a look just inside the drive first, loads of drives have a little belt that goes between two pullys, check it hasn't come off.

[leco]

Thanks will take a closer look tomorrow, can't see much inside the drive. Might just order a new one as Michael suggests. I have been having issues with this machine previously.

[Gerry]

Reasons why CD/DVD drives won't open:

1. No power

2. Data cable not plugged-in correctly

3. No rubber belt around the pulleys that open tray

4. Some little has shoved some coins in there

 

If you use the paper clip, manually open tray and encounter resistance, then it's likely the belt has slipped. If there's no resistance, belt has completely come off the pulleys and has either been pinched or is sitting inside the drive.

 

I've pulled a few drives to bits lately - quite easy to open really, as long as you open the tray first. If it's unfixable then I suggest you try removing the lens: Turn a DVD Lens into a Cellphone Macro Lens - Cameraphone - Lifehacker