How to eject a CD if Windows won't eject it?

windows-7 macbook compact-disc eject disk-drive

10,860

Solution 1

Solution for Linux or Mac OS X users:

Go to a terminal and execute:

drutil tray open
drutil tray eject

This seems to just work in a lot of cases.

Easy Attempt for Windows users:

I also have a keyboard button that is supposed to eject disks,
but right now it is not accomplishing anything.

Put the laptop to sleep.
Wait for the disc to stop rotating.
Wake the laptop up.
The EJECT key should now work.

This suggestion came from: http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060814211608242

It could be possible that the button only works in OS X though.

Harder Attempt for Windows users:

Put the laptop to sleep.
Use something that can't make scratches and try to lift the CD up through the hole.
Now try to pull the CD out of it.

Maybe it's just better to reboot, and if that doesn't help you will need support or you could try to repair it.

Solution 2

Hibernate windows. This will safely save state, but completely power off the macbook. When you power it back on hold the trackpad button and the disc should eject before Windows is restored.

10,860

bastibe

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

bastibe over 1 year

Right now I have a DVD in my laptop drive and the computer is hard at work trying to pry some readable bits from it. Judging by the sound of it, it is utterly failing.

But while I realize the futility of this current endeavor, my computer does not an will happily continue to inspect the disk for the rest of the week.

Now I would like to lift this burden from his metaphorical shoulders by just ejecting the DVD. However, the laptop sports a flashy slot-in DVD drive which sadly lacks an eject button. I know I could eject the DVD using the explorer but selecting the DVD in explorer will crash explorer. I also have a keyboard button that is supposed to eject disks, but right now it is not accomplishing anything.

So, is there any way of relieving the poor laptop of this thankless task or is my only option a restart?

Edit: Just waiting solved the issue. After about 20 minutes of dedicated concentration, the laptop finally gave up on the disk and disgustedly spat it out.
- Tamara Wijsman almost 14 years
  
  Doesn't help answer this question, there is no eject hole thus this is not a duplicate question.
- ChrisF almost 14 years
  
  @Tom - are you sure? The same point was raised on that question, but the image I found showed an eject hole.
- Chris Nava almost 14 years
  
  +1 for caring for your poor laptop's thankless endevors.
- Tamara Wijsman almost 14 years
  
  @ChrisF - He stated so in one of his comments.
- Ivo Flipse almost 14 years
  
  [fanboy] Here I thought Macs just worked... [/fanboy]
- ChrisF almost 14 years
  
  @Tom - ah I missed that, cheers.
bastibe almost 14 years

I am using a MacBook Pro. There is no emergency eject (that I know of).
uxout about 13 years

Very late to the party, but I just read this and had to point out that @Nathaniel's suggestion isn't going to work so well when there's already a disk in the drive. Maybe a thumb drive though ;)
Supercereal about 13 years

@hippietrail no I'm pretty sure he means right click he just left out that in windows 7 the option is called "open windows explorer". This answer is also irrelevant since the OP stated right clicking on it in explorer causes it to crash...