Replace a CD/DVD writer player in a 7 year old iMac

My wife has an early 2006 iMac that has a failed internal CD/DVD writer player in it. The CD/DVD drive will not eject a CD. I have spent months trying to get the computer to eject the disk. Nothing works! I brought the iMac to the local Apple Store today to find out that we have a vintage iMac and they are not allowed by Apple to service the machine. It is too old! I have been left with a decision to make. I could open up the iMac and remove the CD/DVD drive and purchase a new compatible external "ac powered" CD/DVD unit and I would have a working system. A few questions that comes to mind if I persue this solution. This is the only thing wrong with the machine--is it worth saving? How important is a grounding wrist strap and if it is important where can I obtain one easily... Where is a reliable place to get a replacement drive. Any and all suggestions and hints will help with this project.

Ah ok I missed that there is a disk in there now. The fact that it spins up indicates that it might not be physically stuck so there mat be a way to get it out.
I know you wrote that you have spent a lot of time trying to get the disk out but just to be sure all bases were covered have you looked at the advice at sites like Quick Tip: How to Force Eject a Stuck Disc | Mactuts+ (there are others but all the instructions are basically the same)
Also as the machine is from 2006 is that a PPC or Intel machine? Older Macs actually had a small hole that you could but a paper clip into to get a physically stuck disk out.
BTW we are talking about a full size disk right? Not of of those mini-disks?
If all this fails then as I wrote above you are lucky in one respect the old iMacs were easy to open. You shouldn;t have any major problems getting into it. Just take your time, follow the directions and be aware of what you are doing. Taking pictures at each step and having separate bins or baggies to put in the screws and other parts as you remove them will help when you put it all back together.
regards

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Brenda.S wrote:
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Replace a CD/DVD writer player in a 7 year old iMac

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