Ecodisc cover DVD stuck in Mac slot drive
January 24, 2008 1:27 pm
The problem of unwanted freebie coverdiscs has been growing for a while now. So, someone invented EcoDiscs, which are half the thickness of a normal DVD. Except they’ll bugger your Mac up and leave you with a bill for £65+VAT.
The Independent and The Daily Mail amongst others gave away some ecodisc cover DVDs this weekend, and on Monday, a distressed relative called to say the mac was making strange noises. After a couple of hours, I began searching on the internet, and found the answer:
http://www.reghardware.co.uk
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news
http://qompute.wordpress.com
http://www.reghardware.co.uk
http://digg.com/apple/Environmental_DVD_Wrecks_Apple_Drives
http://www.kizo.com/2008/environmental-dvd-wrecks-apple-drives/
http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/01/17/1747254
I phoned The Independent who took no responsibility at all, but said they’d send out a standard form reply by email (which never came) disclaiming all responsibility. So, there’s a warning on the disc (click for full size)
Yes, it’s 4mm high, in fuzzy print. As if anyone is going to see that! It needs to be the LARGEST thing on the disc. And the words “No Apple slot in drive” is more Chinglish than English (hence the title of this post).
I then called the manufacturer, ODS, who sent me the document below - yes, the solution is to turn the Mac upside down while ejecting the disc. In fact, as this didn’t work at first, I followed further guidelines on the net suggesting I bang it while ejecting and upside down! This finally freed the disc, but does anyone have any idea how bad that can be for a hard drive?! It could cause a head-crash and data loss at the least.
Another surprising thing is that according to one of the articles above, Ecodisc have had “less than 12 calls about it”. Makes you wonder why they need a standard document like this, doesn’t it….
Everything below is quoted:
EcoDisc – argument guideline to get EcoDisc out of Apple computer
If customers face the unlikely incident that the EcoDisc is not ejected out of a computer slot-in drive (even after several trials) our recommendation is:
- To try with 1. turn laptop/PC upside down, 2. press manual “eject” button
- To restart the computer once again and try with the eject button
- If accessible: to take the disc-drive out of the computer, open the disc-drive with a screw driver and then take the disc out. A technically versed person can accomplish this within ten minutes
- To take the computer to the next Apple shop for fixing; cost approx. 25-50€.
- Not to insert a second EcoDisc afterwards, because we cannot guarantee that this measure works with all slot-in drive constructions existing world wide
- Not to use tools like tweezers or other, because these tools might really damage the drive, but the EcoDisc itself does not damage the drive or destroy it, just might block the ejection mechanism
4 Responses to “Ecodisc cover DVD stuck in Mac slot drive”
Wish I’d read this earlier, though in fact I tried all these tricks to release my EcoDisc freebie from the Independent. The warning on the disc and cover is totally inadequate - it needs something like the Health Warning on a packet of cigarettes, at least until the format becomes familiar. The Apple shop in Leeds didn’t spot the problem when I took my MacMini to them (and showed them the DVD cover) but their engineers in Nottingham quickly rectified the problem (£49 thanks very much!) - I emailed Independent but their response would be more appropriate for a 5 year-old …..
I made this mistake with an EcoDisc a few days ago. Lots of trawling around forums but I couldn’t find any decent solutions… so I came up with my own. Just retrieved the offending article from my slot loading iMac using nothing more than masking tape, torch and credit card (but no bill to pay in this instance). It was painless and the drive is fully operational again.
As documented elsewhere - including Apple’s site - the iMac slot loading drive only works with discs between 1.2-1.5mm. The reduced thickness of an EcoDisc means the drive has problems ejecting them. In fact the root problem seems to be the EcoDisc remains ’stuck’ on the drive spindle. It simply needs a little coaxing to pop it off the spindle, before you hook it out with a credit card (or tip your iMac on its side). Sounds easy, but in practice you have a very short time (1 second?) after a failed eject before the drive gate closes and it spins up to speed again. With a disc loaded, the ‘gate’ is visible as a strip of metal about 1 inch long in the middle of the slot.
The lack of time to play with got me thinking and I decided to pull the power cord out during the eject process, thus leaving the drive gate open. With the drive in this state, five seconds later I had the EcoDisc in my hand. Shortly after that, it took it’s rightful place in the waste bin.
You follow the steps below at your own risk - as noted the power must be switched off while the iMac is up and running, which could potentially cause data corruption or loss.
Open wide…
1. Tape back the felt strips which shield the drive slot. This is purely so you can see the disc and the drive spindle. Use low tack masking tape or similar and cut two pieces just a bit shorter than the drive slot then stick them in position (this is actually the hardest step)
2. Position the iMac so you can see into the drive slot. A torch is useful to throw some light on the situation.
3. Get ready to turn the power off at the socket or pull the cord out the back
4. Press the keyboard Eject button
5. After a short delay the drive gate will retract - cut the power as soon as it is out of the way!
6. Slip a credit card into the slot and under the disc then twist gently to pop the disc off the spindle.
At this point the disc will no longer be held captive in the drive. Either tilt the iMac until it rolls out, or stick some tape to the credit card to give it a bit of grip, and hook the disc out that way.
Happy fettling!
GRAHAM DUNLOP you are a star. Your method worked for me after hours of trying everything else suggested on other blogs!!! The first time failed, but the second time the disc popped right out, after I kept the gate down using a business card (I thought the credit card would damage my drive). Thank you so much!
Graham that is brilliant. This worked on my son’s mac mini first time. Dead easy as well … once you tape the felt back you can clearly see the drive gate move away; then just yank on that power cable! After wiggling with a credit card the disk just fell out once I held it upsidedown. Many thanks.
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