wont eject cd but reads fine

Try shutting down the computer, let it cool down, reboot and then try again.

If you need to replace, there's a procedure on this site:

iMac Intel 20" EMC 2105 and 2118 Optical Drive Replacement

However, I've found this works too as the problem is particularly only to some disks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfh8wlhN...

jon

I have the same problem on my mac mini. Looking at it open, whilst running, I could see that the spindle is not releasing the disc. It's either sticking on to it more than it used to, OR (as I suspect) the lowering of the spindle (which is the motion whereby the disc is released) has lost some power in it's travel or thrust or whatever.

It's not the linkage 'arms' that have little wheels on to guide the cd out. I know this because I manually popped the cd off the spindle before ejecting it via the keyboard.

Is this common and can it be fixed I wonder?

similar problem with a small pc. the DVD is mounted virtically and will not open when eject is pushed. however, it works fine if the computer is on it's side so that the dvd is horizontal.

my 2007 imac 24" desktop has started to have the same problem ejecting discs - i can hear the whirring, then the disc remounts and is recognized. went thru this with two discs, thinking that perhaps the disc was the problem. tried the entire list of disc ejecting procedures listed in apple support several times and eventually ejected both discs. finally decided to not use the drive.

after reading the very well written and photographed descriptions of the methodology for replacing an optical drive, i've decided to buy an external drive and use it for the not-so-frequent occasions when i need to use a disc. (i'm not very tech savvy, altho i'm handy and might be able to manage the process, but it looks difficult and time consuming, and risky for someone who doesn't have experience with computer innards.) i've found, after some searching, a top loading drive (lite-on, sold on amazon) which i plan to buy, since the problem with the drives seems to be the mechanical eject mechanism, and a top loader will eliminate that problem.

this is a great site, and so many of the contributors have such impressive knowledge. thank you.

I now have the same problem too.

Looking at it closely when it tries to eject I can see that there is a sort of mechanical latch in the front, center of the slot that closes the slot when the disc is spinning (maybe it's a kind of protection).

When I try to eject, the latch starts to move down but fails to completely get out of the way when the disc is pushed outside. So it happens that the disc bounces on this small latch and returns inside the drive again.

Then the latch is locked again once more and the disk is again mounted.

I successfully ejected the disc by helping the latch lowering during the eject process with a small plastic pick. I had to take particular care to synchronize my movement with the eject attempt from the drive.

So my conclusion is that either the mechanism that moves this small latch is worn to a point that it is unable to completely get out of the way at the right time, or it is bent somewhere and this prevents its correct movement.

Anybondy knows what I can do to fix it?

Apart from this the drive is working fine, is reading and writing everything correctly and that's why I'd rather keep it and fix this mechanical fault if possible.

Thanks.

It can be easily fix. It happens due loss of lubricants on track and dust.

Simply remove optical drive and open disc tray as you removed cd when it stuck.

Simply turn back it and you can see small track on both the corner of track. Clean both the track properly and lubricant it lightly. Randomly open and close the tray by hand it will lubricants from inside the gears also. Now install it back and try to use it. Definitely it will work.

Hi, I am looking for a lubricant and applicator that I can use to oil the gears at the side, underneath the loading tray. What kind of oil am I supposed to use? For me, nothing is bent or mechanically in the way, and the rubber band on the spool is clean. The tracks are loose and clear. It's just that the Mac is so old that the gears have become very sticky and tight. And actually, both trays are in the same condition.