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Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open...
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Subject: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: Ebbie Date: 15 Mar 07 - 02:03 PM I use my computer CD burner at least once a month. Last month I noticed that the CD tray was slow in opening. This month it won't open at all. It tries; it clicks and whines but nothing budges. To my knowledge it is empty; there is no CD stuck in there. There does not appear to be a hole in the front where a wire can be poked in to open it manually, so I guess that means that I have to remove the face plate. How? I am also wondering whether it will open normally afterward? This is a Dell desktop model, circa 2005. I have gone to the various places to give it the command to open but I get the same results. In other words, none. Somewhere around here I must have a manual... In the meantime, does someone have an idea? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: Rogers Date: 15 Mar 07 - 02:29 PM I've had the same sort of problem with an older CD player. I gave it the command to open, and then stuck a pocket knife in the crack around the face of the drawer and gently forced it to open. That was the only way to get it to open. Once I retrieved my CD from the thing, I pulled it out of the system and chucked it in the trash! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: GUEST Date: 15 Mar 07 - 02:29 PM My Dell desktop, circa 2004, does the same thing. On both trays - reader and burner. I have discovered (though this may just be coincidental) that my study is very dusty, and there is quite a bit of dust that works its way into all the orifices of my computer tower. There is a thing called "compressed gas duster" - in a small spray can - and I try to use that regularly to "blast" out the dust. That may (or may not) be a preventative measure, though. To open the tray, after pressing the "open-tray" button, and while the tray is NOT opening, I gently give a quick push on the tray door. This sometimes takes a number of tries. Sometimes, I push the door and try to raise it ever so slightly. And sometimes, it takes a reboot. But eventually, whatever is (probably mechanical, in some way) preventing the tray door from opening, ceases and desists and the tray opens. As said, I could be speculating, based on a series of coincidences. And my methods have never FIXED the tray-stick. Anyone else with deep knowledge of this problem would be more than welcome in answering. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: GUEST Date: 15 Mar 07 - 02:30 PM Ooh, ouch! Just read the pocket-knife solution. I would definitely not put a pocket-knife into my computer!! Gentle, gentle!! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: Rogers Date: 15 Mar 07 - 02:41 PM Having worked with hundreds of CD players over the years, it seems that the less expensive that they get, the more prone to failure they are. The "pocket knife solution" should only be considered immediately prior to replacing the CD unit. I guess I should have made that more clear...sorry. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Mar 07 - 02:44 PM They are very easy to replace, and even good ones are in the $100 range now. You could probably get a decent one for about $50. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: JohnB Date: 15 Mar 07 - 02:49 PM I fixed an audio CD player with a burnt out rubber band by using a small "O" ring. It entailed a bunch of dissassembly and cleaning tracks and things and a real pain in the ass to get the new ring in place. It does however work fine now. JohnB |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: katlaughing Date: 15 Mar 07 - 03:21 PM Ebbie, I had the same problem and forced both drives open when they were clicking and whirring trying to open. I used a cuticle thingie. Finally, I got mad enough I told Rog he had to do something. He removed the face plate and found one of them was hanging up. With the face plate gone it opened fine. He has since replaced both. I haven't had any trouble since. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: Ebbie Date: 15 Mar 07 - 03:53 PM um- how do I open the face plate? I'm afraid of tearing it off and I don't see any hinges. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: bobad Date: 15 Mar 07 - 03:58 PM Get into the computer and it's pretty easy to remove the CD drive, 2-4 screws and a plug. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Mar 07 - 03:59 PM You may need to unplug the machine, then press the start button once to discharge any power in it, then open the side plate and see how the drives are hooked up. The way the cover is attached may be easy to see from inside (be sure not to touch any of the little metal connectors, you can mess up cards and players and such.) What kind of computer and model is it? You'll probably find manufacturer's schematics at the company home site. I know I can find them for HP and Dell, the two computers we have. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: Susan of DT Date: 15 Mar 07 - 04:06 PM When we replaced one of my drives, we put it in too far back, so pushing the button does not open it. I open the outer door with my nail and then push the button behind it. Then the tray pops out fine. Your structure may be different. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: JohnInKansas Date: 15 Mar 07 - 04:23 PM There is a lot of variation in cases, and that determines how you get into the bay to remove/replace a drive. Most often, the side comes off, and you go in that way to disconnect/connect the cables, but often after the side is off a front panel can be just pulled forward to open up the front end. Some have snap-latches, some have flip-levers, etc; so you need to pull gently to see whether there's a fastening that needs to be released. The instructions are all in your "operator's manual" which of course you've saved, but have forgotten that it's laying there on the back of the computer table.... .... (B.G.) BEFORE just ripping things apart, it's often worthwhile reinstalling the driver, just in case it's gotten corrupted and is contributing to the drawer not opening. (I have one that's been doing that a lot lately when I run DOS CD-content indexing.) In WinXP1, and similar for most recent Windows OSs, Start|Settings|Control Panel, double-click System, click the Hardware tab, and select the Device Manager button. Find the CD/DVD drives entry, click the plus, click on the drive, and then click "Uninstall" or "Uninstall Driver." When you reboot, PlugNPlay will find the device-without-a-driver and will reinstall it. 1 There are more direct ways of getting to Device Manager, but this one's fairly universal and some of the others vary with which OS version you've got. If the tray still doesn't open, you'll have wasted a reboot; but you'll be somewhat assured that the problem is a mechanical one and replacing the drive is justified. John |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 15 Mar 07 - 05:31 PM I fixed that problem with mine - I just leave it open with the coffee cup sitting on it .... |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: Ebbie Date: 15 Mar 07 - 05:39 PM :), FT Thanks for the effort, JiK. I uninstalled the drive and rebooted the computer. The computer didn't mention that it re-installed it but said 'New Hardware Found'. I then checked Properties and it says 'The Device is working properly.' But it still won't open. I went to Dell Support - it is kind of crummy. Most of the links respond with 404 Error. I did find Ask Dudley on an old Win98 Dell computer I once had but the link doesn't go through. This is an XP (Home edition)Dell Dimension, by the way. I have never had a problem with this one before. What are the chances that it is a problem with the latch of the tray rather than a Driver problem? The only change I have made in this machine is that a couple of weeks ago I added an external hard drive so that I now have oodles of room. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: Jim Lad Date: 15 Mar 07 - 05:43 PM Ebbie: I'm really inclined to think that it's a mechanical problem and you should just go ahead and replace it. Sorry! |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: JohnInKansas Date: 15 Mar 07 - 07:21 PM The only real reason for reloading the driver is that: 1. sometimes a driver gets corrupted, and 2. sometimes that stops the drawer from opening 3. reloading the driver is "trivially simple" If the driver isn't at fault, then it most likely is a hardware problem - i.e. the drive should be replaced. It is possible for all the competing "players" on your computer to get tangled up fighting over which one gets to play the CD, and just jam things up so that nothing can work; but the reboot should have cleared any "control contention" issues at least until a new CD was inserted. If it's a problem with muck and mire in the mechanism, some CD/DVD drives are accessible enough to pull the drive and try to clean things up, but many of them are closed up too tightly for you to get into them where it will do much good. Once enough dirt gets in to prevent things from working properly, there's usually enough "surface damage" on the [warning - tech term] "slidey-parts" that even careful cleaning won't leave things slick and pretty (and working) for very long. If you're "tool competent" it may be worth looking to see if there are some lumps in the geartrain, but repair is seldom truly satisfactory. A hairball - maybe - - - - Gravel probably means the drive is dead. John |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: Bunnahabhain Date: 15 Mar 07 - 08:05 PM If it's refusing to open, and driver issues have been eliminated (see john in Kansas, Unofficial tech-priest of Mudcats post), then try the following fix... Remove CD drive from box. Hoover well, to remove any fluff etc. Drop slightly (in technical terms, reseating the chips). Replace, and make sure power and data cables have connected properly. if it works, screw it in, seal up box, and ignore until something else dies, if not then.... Well I have some coasters made out of the innards of dead hard drives;, and can play air hockey with them on the kitchen table if I wax it well first. I'm sure you can think of something inventive.... |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: open mike Date: 15 Mar 07 - 08:10 PM this reminds me of a program i saw once that came in an e-mail--it was called "Drink Holder" and it would cause the c.d. holder to slide out...a total spoof. i also saw a video of a technology geek who turned a c.d. player into a toaster by adding a heating element...not a recommended procedure, for sure, but an interesting experiment! (don't try this at home) I hope you find a solution if you look really close you might see a pin hole in the case sometimes this is where you can poke in a pin to activate the opener...it is often on the lower part of the tray...sometimes the door or face plate will open if you puch it below the hinge... at least on my HP i can open it by hand easily w/out prying or forcing it. good luck. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 15 Mar 07 - 08:13 PM Sometimes when my CD tray has refused to open I've just switched the computer off, and when I switch it on again, and while it is still booting up, I push the opening button on the tray, and it opens. Probably won't be the same problem with your machine, but it's worth trying. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: JohnInKansas Date: 15 Mar 07 - 08:42 PM One actually can purchase a "cup warmer" to keep the coffee hot while at the keyboard - powered from your USB port. It got a curiousity review in a couple of the tech magazines when it was "announced," and I've seen it for sale at a couple of retail stores. This is NOT A RECOMMENDED ACCESSORY for any of my friends' computers, but I might suggest it for a couple of cranky old farts who hang around here on occasion. John |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: GUEST,ArtThieme Date: 15 Mar 07 - 08:56 PM K.Y. Jelly might work!? I used it instead of window putty once -- and guess what? My windows fell out! Art |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: GUEST,Art again Date: 15 Mar 07 - 08:58 PM But they DID open. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: EBarnacle Date: 15 Mar 07 - 10:08 PM Isn't that what KY is supposed to encourage? |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: leeneia Date: 15 Mar 07 - 11:47 PM I fixed mine once with a number of gentle slugs of the fist in the neighborhood of the door. Apparently the vibration knocked something loose. |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: GUEST Date: 16 Mar 07 - 04:04 AM or you could just take it to the guy in the shop....... |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 16 Mar 07 - 04:10 AM Seriously now, I have had such slight hassles before. I checked to see if any binding on the face plate (see above), then jiggled the tray slightly (see above) - this solved my hassles. Also McGrath's of 15 Mar 07 - 08:13 above worked too. One real 'no-brainer' that catches everybody occasionally, is to forget to remove a CD/DVD before inserting another - this can get nasty if things jam when trying to open the tray. As also said before - if the works are gummed up internally, that's a little more hassle. Glad to see it hasn't yet caused you to lose your sense of humour Ebbie... :-) |
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Subject: RE: Tech: When a CD Tray Won't Open... From: JohnInKansas Date: 16 Mar 07 - 09:04 AM I don't know if it's still common since I haven't seen an optical drive that didn't have the "eject" hole in the front panel for quite some time; but some ancient drives that I once encountered had the hole in a side panel so that you had to pull the drive out at least part way to get to it, and then use the paper clip method. You could usually get it out far enough without actually unplugging any cables, although you'd need to remove mounting screws or, on a fairly recent model maybe just unclip some "holders." Since there usually is a positive latch that engages to hold the tray in, just prying it open may damage the latch. The sharp knife method should be a last resort, after you've looked for a way to disengage the latch to let the drawer come open. John |
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