PC utilities forum: Tool to open and close CD door?

The tool is handy, however won't open door the first time after computer is rebooted and often won't even after used a time or two.

By accident I discovered that all I have to do is keep a CD or DVD in the tray at all times. Works every time!

jt

No problems opening tray that has a CD/DVD in it. I suppose the obvious solution is to always have a disc in tray?

However, really want something that will open an empty tray.

Bob,

I did google... googled my axx off. You have given me too many good (even though usually acerbic) answers over the years for me to get really PO'd.

anon

Chuck T
Tufenuf

Perhaps it is supposed to, but it doesn't open unless there is a CD in the tray. If I hit Open I get the below message:

http://www.fototime.com/4549D112371477A/orig.jpg

If I try Eject nothing happens except one time got an unresponsive error message from Windows and I sent in the report.

Power outages and circuit breakers shutting down things yesterday and evening so couldn't play with it more.

Thanks,

jbt

Tufenuf,

I did download it. It's shareware and required way too much personal info to simply try it out so would rather not use.

Guess I'll just leave a CD or DVD in the tray at all times. Must have close to 50 Memorex blanks (all the black ones in a large multi-color spindle) that are only good for coasters anyways.

I'm becoming a bitter old man way before my days. Guess better go buy some cold ones before all sold out due to heat wave.

Thanks anyways!

> jbt, I'm fairly certain you'll find a Freeware Program at one of the many links at the google link I posted in a previous reply.


Tufenuf,

I installed freebie "Drive Tray Manipulator" and really like it even though now apparent have a hardware problem. Works most of the time, but occasionally need to use the paperclip before trying again. (it ALWAYS works if disc already in tray)

It might be time for me to look for replacement as I burn maybe 1000 discs a year.

Thanks all for the help! More questions undoubtedly coming in the future and I promise not to be cranky.

jbt

Tufenuf,

Will buy one next time go to town.

Thanks!

I just added the top three of your links to my "Hot Deals" bookmarks.

That brings me to MY favorite:

http://www.hotdealsclub.com/

I suspect that you are first clicking the CD drive, with the left button, before what we want you to, and that is to hover the cursor over your desired drive, and then ONLY right-click it.
You do not left-click the drive at all.

By left-clicking it you are saying, to the computer, ''show me the files on the disk,'' and since there is no disk in the drive, the computer is then telling you (per your captured image): ''Please insert a disk into drive E:''

All we want you to do, is right-click to see the menu of items for that drive that you have the cursor hovered over. One selection is [Eject].

Try that.

Note: that same sort of message will display if you select the floppy drive (Drive A:) and if there is no floppy there. However you can right-click it, and see the [Properties] of "it" (which will show 0 Bytes), since there really is no floppy there.

Looking back through your messages:

''worn out the button''
so, the button does not open your door, right?

That tells me that the drive mechanism doesn't work. The button doesn't do anything more than what the signal [Eject] (as what we were asking you to do before) would do.

So I am not surprised that the Eject signal doesn't work either.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you used the paperclip method, that only opens the CD drawer slightly, and then you physically drag out the drawer more. Right?

What about using the [Eject] on your other drive (I see you have DVD-RW drive F: ), does that work correctly?

If the [Eject] command on drive F: works, and doesn't on drive E:, then it looks like your Drive E: is just bad.

On the plus side, since it is your ''less qualified'' drive (drive E: being just a DVD, whereas your drive F: being a DVD-RW) then replacing it with just another DVD ROM is still going to be cheap. But with prices of DVD-RW's being so cheap now, I see 16x under $35 now, at least it won't cost that much to upgrade.

Sorry I didn't notice your comment, about Eject not working, sooner.

jbt, Just go into My Computer, right click on the CD drive and choose "eject". That should open an empty tray or a loded tray. Do the same thing to close the tray or just nudge the tray a bit to close it.

Tufenuf

Bob,

If there was one thing I learned in the army in the 60s it was "never, ever mess with a man's food!"

Your flakes are safe with me...

jbt

Downloaded this program and while it does work it wants to be activated each time I start windows. Not a good sign of well writen software.

Did he not say he was doing this in the initail request for help???

That many people on here don't read very well.