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Featured Guide

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

3

Time Required

                          1 - 10 minutes

Sections

1

  • Optical Drive Disc Removal Technique, or Foreign Object Removal
  • 3 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Optical Drive Disc Removal Technique, or Foreign Object Removal
  • With the optical drive removed from the computer, remove the screws securing the top panel of the optical drive.

With the optical drive removed from the computer, remove the screws securing the top panel of the optical drive.

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Step 2

  • With the screws removed, shift the top panel slightly toward the rear of the optical drive so the retaining tabs clear the body of the drive.
  • Lift the top panel off the optical drive.

With the screws removed, shift the top panel slightly toward the rear of the optical drive so the retaining tabs clear the body of the drive.

Lift the top panel off the optical drive.

Step 3

  • Remove any objects stuck in the optical drive.
  • If a disk is stuck in the drive, simply lift it off the spindle motor.

Remove any objects stuck in the optical drive.

If a disk is stuck in the drive, simply lift it off the spindle motor.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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Author

                                      with 9 other contributors 


                    Andrew Bookholt

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zhp - Jul 26, 2011

Reply

Worked perfectly !!!

macvoodoodr - Jul 5, 2013

Reply

There should be a caveat. The screws are extremely tiny and can strip easily, besides get lost. Be sure to work away from the edge of a table. On my MBP early 2008 17" there are three brackets, it’s a good idea to snap a photo of the layout or mark with a pen to help re-orient.

Also though my case looked like the one above, the label was reversed and the drive was a Panasonic made in China. On trying to open the case per the instructions it should be noted there’s a circuit board looking piece of plastic with the ribbon cable, remove first by prying away.

Also when I got the left side unhinged, the right side would not slide so it took twisting the top clockwise, the right side stayed attached though I got the case cracked about 45 degrees and got my system install disk out. On reassembly be very careful to line up the top holes to the metal underneath, and check first around the case edge that it is completely seated. Don’t over tighten the screws or they will strip.

Never the less on the rear bracket that fastens to the logic board hole the screws wouldn’t take and the bracket stayed loose. Am considering a dab of epoxy in the holes wiped flush to re-attach the bracket after drying.

Peter Mayo - May 4, 2017

Reply

Peter Hancock - Aug 23, 2017

Reply

Excellent instructions. I dismantled my 2006 macbook, and my optical drive, to retrieve an installation disk that mysteriously wasn’t booting. Funnily enough, the drive was empty. Ha, ha. Then I noticed the disk on the mantelpiece… . However, the whole experience was educational and kinda fun.

Did I reassemble it? No: almost everything, especially the software was on its last legs, so I succumbed to my wife’s persistent demands to put it out of its misery. Lovely machine though. They don’t make ’em like that anymore. Sob.