My Problem
I don't know what was wrong with the optical drive exactly, but it was essentially bricked. Wouldn't read or write anything at all.
My Fix
Pulled up the guide on my friend's phone and followed it step by step. It took about 20 minutes and was incredibly easy.
My Advice
The only thing I'd say is that if you have fingernails at all, you don't need the spudger for this particular repair.
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