iMac G5: Difficulty ejecting media (CDs/DVDs); solutions

Several iMac G5s have exhibit an inability to eject some discs, and problems reading others.

Dark discs MacFixIt reader Charles Bailey writes "I can confirm Aaron Ratke's report about problems ejecting CDs from the new iMac G5 ? however, I might have noticed something worth noting. I had the problem with my TechTool Pro 4.0.3 CD ? which is a pre-made CD, not burned like the CDs that Aaron had trouble with. However, the top surface (label) of the CD is almost all solid black ? and the CDs that Aaron had problems with were black CDs as well. I'm wondering if perhaps the CD drive is having a problem reading discs that are very dark (i.e., it?s having trouble finding the edge of the disc when trying to eject it). Aaron's method of getting the CD out ? booting the computer while it?s face down and then ejecting the disc ? worked like a charm for me."

Labels Another reader suggests that too-thick labels might be a culprit:

"Anybody know if the malfunctioning media had a label added to it? Adding paper labels to burned CD's can cause problems with some slot-loading drives. Some labels are thicker than others, and they seem to absorb moisture and become even thicker. I've had paper labeled CD's stick in both a laptop and an automobile CD player. It wasn't a problem with the eject mechanism - it was the media. Eliminating the label or switching label types solved the problem."

Business card for ejection MacFixIt reader Mort suggests using a business card to coax some stubborn media from a slot-load drive that refuses to let them go:

"When I first received my Ti-book two years ago I had the same problem. Apple told me to insert a business card in the slot tilting it toward the upper part of the slot. The disk then slid onto the business card and out OK. I then had to return the computer for repair."

Aaron Ratke is experiencing the problem as well, but found the issue relegated to certain media brands in his case and notes a strange method for getting the stuck disc out:

"Have the same problem. Though they seem to be isolated to one specific brand of CD; Memorex 'CD-R 700 MB 80 Minute Recordable Black' -- they intermittently have a problem ejecting. You can hear it try to eject, a light tap sound as it appears to hit the edge of the loading slot, and then the sound of it reloading."

"Found that if you turn the machine off, lay it on its face, restart it, and then press the eject button the CD ejects no problem. Shut it down again, stand it back up, and don't put that brand of CD in again."

Problems reading OneDisc CD/DVDs Reader David Lewis reports a problem with "OneDisc" CDs when used with iMac G5s:

"I have a new 20" G5 iMac and while I was in the process of ripping my entire CD library. I discovered that the SuperDrive has a very difficult time with 'OneDisc' discs. A 'OneDisc' is a disc with both a DVD and Audio CD on one disc -- CD on one side, DVD on the flip side. If I insert the disc with the DVD side facing the laser, the disc just gets spat out. [...] Also... it would refuse the eject."

A number of methods for ejecting a stubborn CD or DVD from a working drive are contained in a mini-tutorial.

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