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iBook G4 HELP!!!!! Disc won't eject!!!???

trojandude28

trojandude28

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 27, 2006
10
0
So Cal
I have an iBook G4 933 and recently inserted a DVD that I was going to put on my ipod. It opened DVD but I quit cuz I was going to Handbrake it later. I got sidetracked and never did anything with the movie. I eventually shut down my computer and noticed the next day there was a disc in my computer but not on the desktop. I continousley clicked eject with nothing happening. I restarted my computer a few times trying holding "c" or ejct with no success so does anyone know how I can get the disc out. All help would be greatly apreciated. I dont feel like making a trip to the Apple store as my Applecare is up:(
 
I've done both of those a few times and neither work. I have also tried rebooting holding command+option+0+F12 to open firmware but won't work. I have also tried the emeregency eject key but Im not sure if im doing it right so any help wold be appreciated.
 
:mad: :( :mad: :( :confused: :confused: :confused: Nothing works! I;m going to have to either manually take the disv out of the disc drive unscrewwing what not or I can drive out to the Apple Store tomorrow. Well this has been great good thing Im getting a new computer soon but I still need to sell this one
 
What exactly is happening? Are you getting into Open Firmware at all? Just saying "it doesn't work" isn't too helpful.
 
Or try mounting and ejecting from Disk Utility - does the disk show up there?
 
A similar thing happened to my first G4 imac 15"...

I bought Celine Dion's album just to see if the copy protection they were using worked (i work in a recording studio) and it sure did work, the disc didn't mount and didn't eject no matter what I tried.

Eventually it had to be sent to a repair center...

Damn Celine Dion!! I guess my mac had taste; even if I didn't :D
 
croshtique said:
Whatever happened to the good old days of the manual eject hole that you had to insert a straightened-out paperclip into?
Click to expand...

The slot loads have one. Check your manual (or look to the right end of the slot). That should work to get it out, no bother.
 
If you can, remove the keyboard and ram cover and check the CD drive ribbon cable is still attached correctly.

We had a repair come in at work with excactly the same issue, I managed to correct the issue by correcting the CD-Drive connection to the logic board, the customer had a very VERY big smile on his face once I had fixed. I felt so happy after this repair, unfortunatly, it earned our AASP no money tho. But it made me happy to see a smile I caused.

Hope this is a help to your situation!!!!!

Alex Price
AADT, AAHS & AAPT.
 
same problem

I ran into this same problem last nite for the first time.It won't let me insert a disc. It acts like theres one in there already, yet won't eject. I also tried the firmware instructions & I can't find any pin hole. Any luck yet?
 
zanne said:
I ran into this same problem last nite for the first time.It won't let me insert a disc. It acts like theres one in there already, yet won't eject. I also tried the firmware instructions & I can't find any pin hole. Any luck yet?
Click to expand...

it has been over a year... i think they have moved on.
 
outcome

Sorry. I'm new to this, & in my excitement I didn't notice the date.So, by now, it's possible someone found the answer to the problem. Anyone?
 
the Apple Store

ya know, you could always go to the Apple Store. You just have to make an appointment to see the genius. You get 15 minutes free with the genius whether or not your AppleCare or Warranty is expired. I wouldn't try opening your drive....not for all the money in the world.
 
dvd refused the sunlight

i did it like this (after trying all the eject buttons/possibilities. I think it was definitely a hardware problem): first I tryed some 'massage' under the keybord (didnt work), than I was holding my G4 iBook upside down over my head and after with the slot towards the ground. in the same time I didnt stop pressing the eject button over and over again and: voila! there it was after 5 minutes doing this (acctually in a moment of not thinking about it anymore. so, this might help , too, maybe...). guess next to this little wodoo dance gravity had some influence.

the name of the dvd? 'sliding doors'...
:D
 
This worked for me. Thanks.

alexprice said:
If you can, remove the keyboard and ram cover and check the CD drive ribbon cable is still attached correctly.

We had a repair come in at work with excactly the same issue, I managed to correct the issue by correcting the CD-Drive connection to the logic board, the customer had a very VERY big smile on his face once I had fixed. I felt so happy after this repair, unfortunatly, it earned our AASP no money tho. But it made me happy to see a smile I caused.

Hope this is a help to your situation!!!!!

Alex Price
AADT, AAHS & AAPT.
Click to expand...

I know this thread is very old but I had the same problem with my old and cranky iBook 12". Searching the internet for the solution I found this old forum subject. I tried everything and then tried the suggestion in the post above and it worked. When I removed the keyboard I found that the ribbon tape from the optical drive looked to be positioned normally and the brown clip which holds it into the circuit board seemed to be seated properly. However, I removed the clip, checked the cable, put it back into the slot and pushed the clip back in carefully using a small screw driver "et voila" - when I rebooted the optical drive kept running and the disk showed up on my desktop. I was then able to drag it to the trash to eject it.

I should also add that it was pretty clear that there was a hardware problem as the drive had ceased showing up as a device on the ATA Bus on the System Profiler. I would only use this solution if this is the case. If the device is still showing up on the System Profiler then I reckon you will find that one of the other restart solutions in this thread will work.

Also I would listen for the device to "whir" temporarily on startup. If it doesn't make a sound then it is probably dead. I know this because I have had just such a problem in the past with my iBook G4. I solved it by replacing the drive myself using the excellent ifixit repair tutorial which I found at http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Installing-iBook-G4-12-Inch-800-MHz-1-2-GHz-Optical-Drive/167/1

I hope this helps anyone else with the same problem to save themselves a few quid.

P.S. If you are going to open up the case then I would back up your hard disk first as it is a major operation and it could result in a dead computer.
 
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