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Question

PC DVD Drawer Opens Uncontrollably

Jan 27, 2013 10:42PM PST

I have a 5-year old Dell Dimension E521 with an internal DVD+-RW TS-H653A SCSI CdRom Device and I run Vista. The empty disc drawer opens for no reason and when I shut it it just keeps opening. It almost always begins happening at PC startup (before I'm even in Windows) and continues sporadically no matter what programs I'm running (mostly IE and Word). I've run AVG, Malwarebytes, Superantispyware (all free versions) and defragmenter, with no change. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Two steps
Jan 27, 2013 10:58PM PST

Unplug the data cable from the back of the optical unit.

If it still opens......replace the optical unit.....20 buck item.

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Answer
may not be fixable
Jan 27, 2013 11:34PM PST

Since this happens before you even get to windows, that suggests a h/w problem. The other poster is right, just replace the drive, you probably have no recourse to fix it. I would think this is a broken or jammed sw. at tray door. Since, this is intermittent, then likely a broken sw.. You can reseat the data cable if you like or replace. Be sure if you buy new, replace with similar type drive as in EIDE or SATA type. You could borrow an used drive and see if it repeats action.

tada -----Willy Happy

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I need a little more info.
Jan 29, 2013 12:42AM PST

What is a sw? And I see no cable relating to the DVD drive; it's internal. Are you all talking about taking the PC apart?

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sw in this context is SoftWare.
Jan 29, 2013 12:50AM PST

Yes, to unplug the data cable from the drive you have to remove the cover on 99% of desktop PCs.

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Open case
Jan 29, 2013 11:05AM PST

In this instance, sw = switch. My reference for s/w = software h/w = hardware

Dell E521 is a desktop PC, then you need to crack it open. Dell provides the info to do this, just surf for your model# at Dell support or enter your service tag# to get the required info. You need to know, because if you have to replace the drive, that's the action you'll later do. It's not hard IMHO, at all just be careful and take due diligence.

tada -----Willy Happy