How to open CD drive when software keeps it shut.

[mm]

I've read that at some times software keeps the CD/DVD drive from
opening its tray. That would account for why it won't open sometimes.

Does anyone know any software which will cancel whatever is keeping
the door shut? (Even when there is no disk inside and/or no software
is accessing the drive afaict.)


My new second-hand Dell sometimes won't open, EVEN with a paper clip
stuck in the hole to open it mechanically. That makes the light flash
on and off, and the drawer might jiggle a little bit, but it won't
open. My friend who gave me the computer told me that one drive was
broken and the door wouldn't open, so since his harddrive failed, this
either has something to do with the hardware, or with XP Pro itself.

But in fact if I try to open it at just the right time, it opens,
closes, and reads CDs and DVDs.

 

[pjp]

I've read that at some times software keeps the CD/DVD drive from
opening its tray. That would account for why it won't open sometimes.

Does anyone know any software which will cancel whatever is keeping
the door shut? (Even when there is no disk inside and/or no software
is accessing the drive afaict.)


My new second-hand Dell sometimes won't open, EVEN with a paper clip
stuck in the hole to open it mechanically. That makes the light flash
on and off, and the drawer might jiggle a little bit, but it won't
open. My friend who gave me the computer told me that one drive was
broken and the door wouldn't open, so since his harddrive failed, this
either has something to do with the hardware, or with XP Pro itself.

But in fact if I try to open it at just the right time, it opens,
closes, and reads CDs and DVDs.

Have you insured it isn't something as simple as bit of dried coffee or
similar on the closing edge, either tray or chassis?

 

[MyNews]

Have you insured it isn't something as simple as bit of dried coffee or
similar on the closing edge, either tray or chassis?

mm

why you put dry coffee in computer CD ?

 

[pjp]

mm

why you put dry coffee in computer CD ?

Fingers get dirty, little bit of spilt coffee or coke etc. Doesn't take
much, just a couple of drops and when the sugar dries I've seen them stick
till you wipe the edge off. Just take your fingernail and catch the edge
give it a little help, jiggle it up and down etc. when you try to open it.
If it opens then that's likely your problem. One of my external burners is
bad for it because it tends to get "stuck out there" in the open rather than
imbedded into the face of a desktop.

 

[Etal]

I've read that at some times software keeps the CD/DVD drive
from opening its tray. That would account for why it won't
open sometimes.

Does anyone know any software which will cancel whatever is
keeping the door shut? (Even when there is no disk inside
and/or no software is accessing the drive afaict.)

ImgBurn, <http://www.imgburn.com/>, has a Menu Option pair (Tools
: Drive : ) to 'Lock Tray' and 'Unlock Tray' in addition to the
'Load' and 'Eject' (Drive-tray) commands.
It might work to test what you are asking.
(Look at the Optical Disc Copying software of your choice, if it
has the same commands.)

(I know some Boot-Disk that locks the tray, but what software can
one have running that might lock an empty ODD?)

But ...

My new second-hand Dell sometimes won't open, EVEN with a
paper clip stuck in the hole to open it mechanically. That
makes the light flash on and off, and the drawer might jiggle
a little bit, but it won't open. My friend who gave me the
computer told me that one drive was broken and the door
wouldn't open, so since his harddrive failed, this either has
something to do with the hardware, or with XP Pro itself.

But in fact if I try to open it at just the right time, it
opens, closes, and reads CDs and DVDs.

.... to me the description reads like a hardware issue, Swap the
Optical Disc Drive for another and test this drive in another
machine. I have a DVD-player that i have to eject/load the tray
with the remote a (an increasing) number of times before it
finally works. But after opening the first time that day, then it
opens without problem until i turn off the machine.


--

 

[glee]

ImgBurn, <http://www.imgburn.com/>, has a Menu Option pair (Tools :
Drive : ) to 'Lock Tray' and 'Unlock Tray' in addition to the 'Load'
and 'Eject' (Drive-tray) commands.
It might work to test what you are asking.
(Look at the Optical Disc Copying software of your choice, if it has
the same commands.)

(I know some Boot-Disk that locks the tray, but what software can one
have running that might lock an empty ODD?)

But ...


... to me the description reads like a hardware issue, Swap the
Optical Disc Drive for another and test this drive in another machine.
I have a DVD-player that i have to eject/load the tray with the remote
a (an increasing) number of times before it finally works. But after
opening the first time that day, then it opens without problem until i
turn off the machine.

I agree that this particular problem description sounds like a hardware
issue. I've had a few optical drives that started presenting this
problem of not opening, shortly before they begin to fail altogether.

 

[Paul]

I agree that this particular problem description sounds like a hardware
issue. I've had a few optical drives that started presenting this
problem of not opening, shortly before they begin to fail altogether.

It's possible the drive controller monitors tray motor current. If
something impedes the forward progress of the tray, the controller
may reverse the motor direction, to prevent "pinching" the user.
It could be a faulty detection of jamming that causes immediate
reversal.

Maybe "power off + paper clip" will get the tray open ?

Paul

 

[Not-MyNews]

Look if you doing to thy Tanking like me!
You need A method of Info-proofing!
#one i would not ask:: why you put dry coffee in computer CD?
Because a little bit of spill start out Wet first for for it dry up!

But you old white Boy is not MyNews!

 

[mm]

LOL. I guess mine might be like that.

Okay.

I've had a few optical drives that started presenting this
It's possible the drive controller monitors tray motor current. If
something impedes the forward progress of the tray, the controller
may reverse the motor direction, to prevent "pinching" the user.
It could be a faulty detection of jamming that causes immediate
reversal.

Maybe "power off + paper clip" will get the tray open ?

Maybe, but that sounds like a lot of trouble. You've all convinced me
it's hardware, even though sometimes it works fine. I've burned CDs
with it even.

I guess I'll replace it. If the new one has the same problem, I'll
worry about that then, and it will be interesting to see of the old
one works okay in some other computer some day.

Paul

Thank you all.

 

[mm]

Yes, I'm sure. Some days it works just fine. Today for an hour or two
it wouldn't work at all.

mm

why you put dry coffee in computer CD ?

Sometimes coffee spills from the cup in the cup holder. And then
dries.

 

[mm]

ImgBurn, <http://www.imgburn.com/>, has a Menu Option pair (Tools
: Drive : ) to 'Lock Tray' and 'Unlock Tray' in addition to the
'Load' and 'Eject' (Drive-tray) commands.

Hah! I use Imgburn most of the time (most of the time I'm burning
images, not most of the day) and I've tried open tray, which doesn't
work, but I didn't notice lock or unlock!

I'll try it!

.....There was Lock during Read, Write, Verify, Erase, but I didn't see
Unlock at all.

It might work to test what you are asking.
(Look at the Optical Disc Copying software of your choice, if it
has the same commands.)

(I know some Boot-Disk that locks the tray, but what software can
one have running that might lock an empty ODD?)

But ...


... to me the description reads like a hardware issue, Swap the
Optical Disc Drive for another and test this drive in another
machine. I have a DVD-player that i have to eject/load the tray
with the remote a (an increasing) number of times before it
finally works. But after opening the first time that day, then it
opens without problem until i turn off the machine.

Life is strange.

 

[MyNews]

It ok MyNews #2
is not all there!
Look at the Head you see the #2 have Organization: Aioe.org NNTP Server

My is Organization: mynews.ath.cx/post.php when it Not-MyNews
or
Organization: MyNews.ath.cx when it MyNews <[email protected]>

 

[Etal]

Hah! I use Imgburn most of the time (most of the time I'm
burning images, not most of the day) and I've tried open tray,
which doesn't work, but I didn't notice lock or unlock!

I'll try it!

....There was Lock during Read, Write, Verify, Erase, but I
didn't see Unlock at all.

I should have mentioned the version i was quoting from.
I have version 2.3.2.0 installed here to look at, i suppose it
can been different in later (& older) versions.

(Similarly, as for you) The 'Drive'-submenu is grayed out if i am
in the 'Build' mode but it is available in all the other modes.
Here are the first few items in the 'Drive'-submenu for this version:

(Menu) Tools : Drive :
=================
Refresh
-----------
ReZero
-----------
Load
Eject
-----------
Lock Tray
UnLock Tray
-----------
Set Read Speed ->
-----------
....
....
.... etc.


--

 

[Etal]

....There was Lock during Read, Write, Verify, Erase, but I
didn't see Unlock at all.

Oh! Forgot that, if you haven't, you should test if maybe the
'Lock'-command in your version is a toggle and if you use it it
will turn to 'Unlock'..


--

 

[mm]

I should have mentioned the version i was quoting from.
I have version 2.3.2.0 installed here to look at, i suppose it
can been different in later (& older) versions.

(Similarly, as for you) The 'Drive'-submenu is grayed out if i am
in the 'Build' mode but it is available in all the other modes.
Here are the first few items in the 'Drive'-submenu for this version:

(Menu) Tools : Drive :
=================
Refresh

Thanks. I see in my upstairs version and tomorrow I'll try it in the
basement.

 

[mm]

*First:*: if you look closely, there is a pinhole below the drawer, and
just above the open/close button. use a straightened paperclip, put it
in *straight*, and you will feel resistance. Push the button, and the
door SHOULD open. Keep the straightened paperclip and remove your disc.

I know about that. It didnt' work here.

*SOFTWARE*: DVD DECRYPTER has a tools section. there is an "UNLOAD"
function. Works every time for me.

Thanks, it didnt' work for me.

The program appearance was a lot like ImgBurn, but the webpage didn't
seem the same, and iirc it came from a different country even.

 

[kerneldebugger]

I know about that. It didnt' work here.


Thanks, it didnt' work for me.

The program appearance was a lot like ImgBurn, but the webpage didn't
seem the same, and iirc it came from a different country even.

Reboot, push the CD button at the black screen. It may start to open, grab
it and hang on.

 

[mm]

Reboot, push the CD button at the black screen. It may start to open, grab
it and hang on.

Bad advice. Now I only have 9 fingers.



I ended up buying another drive, that burns DVDs even.

Thanks.

 

[doug]

Bad advice.  Now I only have 9 fingers.

LOL ! hope you are not a concert pianist for a living !