CD Drive stopped working (xpost)

Question

Hi
At the weekend I ran software update on my iMac and chose to install the 10.4.8 update. It failed and asked me to retrieve the installer from the trash and run it again. I did this and it seemed to complete and the computer restarted.
The restart resulted in a kernel panic (just after boot) which ultimately resulted in my reinstalling the OS from the install disks supplied.
Having restored the OS I then removed the DVD, rebooted and then downloaded the combined update and patched the iMac back to 10.4.8.
I then repaired all disk permissions and restarted the computer.
All seemed fine, until about 24 hours later when I came to insert CDROM. The drive wouldn't accept the disk. I can push it in about 3/4 of the way and then nothing. It isn't 'grabbed', nothing happens.
I've seen this reported elsewhere, but have not found a solution.
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=3258947#3258947
I've reset the PRAM and NVRAM, repaired permissions, completely powered off, all to no effect.
I'm almost 100% sure that no other disk was inserted after reinstalling the OS.
Is there anything else I should try before I take the iMac back to the store?
Many thanks in advance.
Russell

Answer 1

Hello,
Two thoughts:
1) If you are not 100% sure that there is no disk in there (and even if you are sure), try ejecting the disk anyway.
Startup the computer with a wired mouse, and press and hold the mouse button (left-button) while the computer starts-up. Press and keep holding the mouse button as soon as you turn on the computer. Keep holding it down until a disk ejects (if there is one in there). It could take as much as a minute or two for it to eject the disk.
If you don't have a wired mouse, try it with a wired keyboard. Do the exact same thing as above, except you'll press the eject key on your keyboard instead of the mouse button. If there is no eject key on your keyboard, use the "F12" key.
Don't expect an immediate result either way. It can take 2 or 3 minutes for it to actually eject a disk if one is present.
Now, if it boots without ejecting a disk, see if it will take one now. Perhaps this will have caused the drive to move it's mechanicals and accept a disk.
2) If that doesn't work, try this:
Try inserting a disk while the machine is booting. Apply gentle pressure to a disk right after turning it on. It usually will take a few seconds after the machine has been turned-on for the computer to accept a disk. So, just apply light pressure and see what happens. It should accept a disk after the startup chime. If the disk goes in at that point, see if it is recognized in OS X once the computer boots. Then, see if it will eject.
Also, note that while tinkering, you should use a disk that doesn't contain anything too important.
If the disk won't go in before the computer starts OS X either, then it's a hardware problem and not software.
If it goes in before OS X boots, but will not go in afterwards, then it's software related.
Either way, report back what you find.
I hope this helps.
Let us know if you have other questions.
P.S., if you'd like, go ahead and click the "Helpful" or "Solved" buttons on any of the posts / replies above if you feel they were helpful or adequately answered your question.