Wow - I have a 21" imac and did this based on everyone's advice and it worked! Thanks for the scoop. I could have easily wasted three hours taking this to apple store or calling apple care.

My method from the other responses was to take a manila folder and cut it into an "L" shape about 4" high and 3" wide. I then turned the computer off. I then turned the iMac on it's side so the dvd was facing down. I left the iMac stand on the desk and then rested the side of the iMac on my legs, but there could be other ways to turn it sideways that leaves the slot accessible. I then fished the L shaped manila folder piece into the slot (with the leg of the "L" facing the bottom of the iMac). I did gently shake the imac on my leg a little bit, and also made sure that the iMac screen was perpendicular to the floor - not leaning one way or the other. I then pulled the L down slowly and not too hard. Sure enough, on the 3rd try or so, the sd card pushed it's way through the spongy material at the dvd opening. Couldn't believe it! Thanks everyone.

My husband did the same thing. I called Apple Care and they said don't mess with it, bring it to the Apple Store. The Apple tech took a 6" long piece of 2" wide cellophane packing tape and folded one end of it over to make a non sticky handle. Then they inserted it into the drive and the SD card stuck to it and came right out!!

Hi All,

I had a similar problem, I used a piece of thick paper to slide into the CD ROM drive and did some short abrupt downward thrust. The SD card was not ready to come out. Finally I used a thin plastic at the mouth of CD Rom and lo, it just came out...

One thing is dont lose patience and start abrupting hardly, chances that your CD reading chip might get damaged and you have to pay more. if you are not sure, then better consult, tech doctors.

Hope this helps...

Regards

CA Gururaj Kulkarni

Bangalore, India.

The 'piece of stiff card with a hook shape cut in it' worked for me too - just ensure the imac is pointing down (easier said than done ) while you have a dig around. Managed to free mine in about three minutes.

Thanks everyone for the tips.

I Used a set of tweezers that have a slight downward angle and my card was well in as there was a dvd that could not eject.

I inserted the tweezers near the bottom and fished inside about 2 inches using a hooking motion and it pulled it to the door, where i grabbed it with my fingers.

Hi everyone,

I did a similar thing to 'paula' and 'techandesh'. I got a laminated piece of paper and cut it into a hook-like shape, then switched the mac off and held sideways while a friend hooked it out.

All good...

You will have to take the computer apart and remove the optical drive

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Optical Drive Replacement

there are 4 scrrews holing it open, remove them and slide the cover off

get your memory card and reassemble the drive and mac

SD cards in two of my iMacs!!! I used two of the methods explained here and one of my own. First, I turned off the computers and firmly shook the iMac, with the cd drive facing the ground. For one computer I folded a piece of paper in half and taped one end, slid it into the cd drive and down and then briskly tugged on the paper and the sd card came flying out. On the second computer the paper would not work, so I took a thin, plastic ruler, angled it in from the top to the back-bottom corner and flicked the SD card out (not sure I recommend this method, but it worked). Good Luck!

Try both flipping it on the side and using something to dislodge it. Worked for us when nothing else would.

I inverted the laptop to protect the optical reader. using a piece of photo paper the width of a CD, I stuck a piece of double sided tape on one end and inserted it into the drive. turned the unit over(right side up) and the sd card stuck to the tape.

Nearly cried as I felt the SD card disappear into the CD drive slot by mistake...found this forum and used a really stiff piece of card with a right-angled 'hook' at one end, tipped the computer on it's side (surprisingly heavy and awkward to hold, the inserted the 'hook' end into drive furthest away from the card, and gently dropped down towards the stuck SD card and gently pulled it out, FIRST TIME....thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!!!

Hasn't worked for me yet! I have tried the L-shaped cardboard hook and shaking the 27inch iMac on its side (NOT easy), but I haven't tried doing both things at the same time. I live in Italy and I hate the thought of taking in my computer as I'm afraid I won't see it again for months. Perhaps unfounded, but I haven't heard good things. Need to try again, this time with husband's help (he doesn't know yet ...)

I hope I haven't messed anything up so far. I've tried to be gentle, so hoping all is still OK, but where that little SanDisk is in there I wish I knew!

Thought I would never be able to remove the SD Card from my CD Slot on my MacBook Pro (2009)... Well, Thanks to you ALL of you guys, It was removed in 5 minutes. I used the manilla folder cut-out in "L" shape method. Thanks thanks thanks again. Saved me a 45min drive to Apple Store. I love the store but did not want to pay for my HUGE mistake... God Bless!

Wow!! I also used the L shaped manilla folder and it worked like a charm! My only advice is to make sure it's thick enough. Mine finally came out when I used both sides instead of one side. Thanks so much.

The ultimate SD remover!

Got hanging files in your filing cabinet?

Remove one and observe the metal strip with a hook on each end the file hangs from.

Separate metal strip and you have a device of the right thickness.

Turn computer so it rests on the corner that exposes the CD slot facing down.

Computer in on a steep angle but you can slide the hook in gently and pull out the SD.

Did mine in 15 seconds flat.

Enjoy :-)

Be gentle and don't give up are good start!

My SD card went in the CD slot while a CD was inside (I wasn't sure at first there was CD inside). But I made a mistake of pressing the eject button and got the the SD card going further in instead. It ended up getting stuck in between the CD. Tho I still didn't know for sure there was a CD inside. I could hear the eject mode working inside a few times but nothing came out.

My domestic helper suggested I put double sided tape on a piece of paper to fish out the SD card.

I finally use that as a final attempt after failing to get anything to come out by tilting the Mac. Very gently I kept pushing the paper with the sticky tape on both sides of the paper inside. when I finally stopped, Lo and behold! A CD came out!

Now I concentrated on the SD card. Again I slowly put in the sticky end of the paper inside and felt the SD card for sure. I kept doing "gentle pulling."

When finally I saw a "black thing" jutting out a little, I grabbed a twizzer to pull it out.

Yes! Tremendous relief after about half an hour, the SD card was back in my hand and I didn't have to waste time going to an Apple store!

We cut two identical "L-shapes" out of a manila folder and taped them together as suggested above. I balanced the monitor so the slot opened toward gravity, my husband fished, and out came the SD card within 30 seconds. Relief!!!

Thanks to previous writers for their input, and the realization that I am not the only person in the universe who has made this mistake.

The "L" shaped cardboard worked perfect and took less than 1 minute - thanks for the help!

I saved a trip to apple store..Thanks...a manila folder and cut it into an "L" shape about 4" high and 3" wide. I then turned the computer off. I then turned the iMac on it's side so the dvd was facing down. I left the iMac stand on the desk and then rested the side of the iMac on my legs, but there could be other ways to turn it sideways that leaves the slot accessible. I then fished the L shaped manila folder piece into the slot (with the leg of the "L" facing the bottom of the iMac). I did gently shake the imac on my leg a little bit, and also made sure that the iMac screen was perpendicular to the floor - not leaning one way or the other. I then pulled the L down slowly and not too hard. Thank you... :-)