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#1 2008-04-23 3:29 pm
- dochow2
- Member
- Registered: 2008-04-23
- Posts: 4
stuck combo tray
This comes from my wife's faithful PowerBook/OS 9.2.2. My iMAC Flat Panel/G4/OS 10.4.11 just crashed at startup AND has a CD stuck in the closed tray. When I try booting, it hangs trying to start OS X. I find NO hole to use the old paper-clip trick to force-open the tray (figuring if I can get out the CD, I can put in a DiskWarrior CD and boot from the CD, make repairs and return to normal. How can I open the stuck tray?
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#2 2008-04-23 3:35 pm
- degeneric
- Member
- From: Mt-Tremblant, Qc
- Registered: 2003-07-30
- Posts: 113
Re: stuck combo tray
Hold the mouse button when you boot.
The CD will eject
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#3 2008-04-23 3:40 pm
- sturner
- Royal High Poobah
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- Registered: 2000-01-31
- Posts: 13779
Re: stuck combo tray
Or get out your philllips screwdriver and take it apart, which is not the smartest move.
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#4 2008-04-23 5:55 pm
- dochow2
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- Registered: 2008-04-23
- Posts: 4
Re: stuck combo tray
Thanks for quick replies! Since I can't boot because it crashed, makes no sense to hold down the mouse or the 'Eject' key. But the advice to remove the bottom makes sense; I've never touched it. I'll ground my self and look around... 
Last edited by dochow2 (2008-04-23 5:58 pm)
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#5 2008-04-23 6:00 pm
Re: stuck combo tray
The CD ought to eject before a full boot. Even if the computer can't boot successfully, turning it on while holding the mouse still should eject the CD inside. If that does fail, just use a flathead to pop open the drop-down tray cover, and then pull the tray out with your fingers. You will feel resistance from working against the motor, but it will not be damaged, and will close itself on the next bootup. You might as well stick in your DiskWarrior CD while you've got the tray pried open.
Last edited by Daniel (2008-04-23 6:01 pm)
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#6 2008-04-24 12:17 am
- Freezer mac
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Re: stuck combo tray
if the mouse button trick doesn't work, there's always open firmware... linky
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#7 2008-04-24 4:25 am
Re: stuck combo tray
Just in case: (never know) you have to open the front panel by hand in order to paperclip the drive itself..
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#8 2008-04-24 1:29 pm
- dochow2
- Member
- Registered: 2008-04-23
- Posts: 4
Re: stuck combo tray
Thank you all: got the tray to open holding down the mouse button. I did put in the DiskWarrior CD, replaced directory... BUT the iMac G4/OS 10.4.11 refuses to start up: about 1/5 into startup, it just hangs and goes no further.
I re-tried the DW CD; still hangs at startup. I do have an e drive icon showing on DiskWarrior screen, but don't know how to boot from it with DiskWarrior, or if that will even help me get back to normal. And of course, I neglected to make a CD of TechTool Pro or the e drive...
I'm still a nerd... HELP, Please!
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#9 2008-04-24 1:34 pm
- dochow2
- Member
- Registered: 2008-04-23
- Posts: 4
Re: stuck combo tray
Thank you all: got the tray to open holding down the mouse button. I did put in the DiskWarrior CD, found trouble & replaced directory... BUT the iMac G4/OS 10.4.11 still refuses to start up: about 1/5 into startup, it just hangs and goes no further.
I re-tried the DW CD; showed 'green' and no changes necessary. I replaced with new directory anyhow; still hangs at startup. I do have an e drive icon showing on DiskWarrior screen, but don't know how to boot from it with DiskWarrior, or if that will even help me get back to normal. And of course, I neglected to make a CD of TechTool Pro or the e drive... Now what?
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#10 2008-04-24 2:02 pm
- safarirss6394
- Hates setting up Windows Vista
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Re: stuck combo tray
If you have the original Mac OS DVDs you should try and boot off of those.
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