Technique: Optical Drive Disc Removal Technique, or Foreign Object Removal

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This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.

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Did your optical drive devour your favorite CD? Did your 3-year-old fill the slot with coins? Worry no more! This guide will show you how to remove a jammed disk or foreign object from your optical drive.

Tools
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Optical Drive Disc Removal Technique, or Foreign Object Removal  ¶ 

  • With the optical drive removed from the computer, remove the screws securing the top panel of the optical drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • With the screws removed, shift the top panel slightly toward the rear of the optical drive so the retaining tabs clear the body of the drive.

  • Lift the top panel off the optical drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Remove any objects stuck in the optical drive.

  • If a disk is stuck in the drive, simply lift it off the spindle motor.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

For more information, check out the Optical Drive device page.

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