A:\kiteless.exe /BLM
Ok optical drive fans, maybe you can help me. Over the years I’ve found some older optical drives, be it CD, DVD and now BRD, where they won’t want to open unless you help with with something like a paperclip in the little hole. But then with a disc inside it opens and closes perfectly everything time. I’ve already cleaned the pulleys and replaced the belt and that didn’t fix it. I’ve looked online and not been able to find a solution. Anyone know what causes this? #opticaldisc #retrocomputing
Mar 19 at 3:14pmWeb
Show threadA:\kiteless.exe /BLMMar 19
To be clear it does try to open when the eject button is pushed, but just can’t. Almost like there is something inside it preventing the door from opening. But zero issues opening and closing when a disc is in the tray. So weird. I’ve read some forum posts about other people having this issue as well, but no solutions.
Show threadNall Mar 19

@kiteless Since you already cleaned/replaced pulley/belt, you could try a layer of tape on the spindle cap center to increase the space between the magnet and plate that holds the cap on.

The magnetic force is usually the hump to get over when opening without a disc, the disc holds the cap up just enough to make the force weaker

Show threadA:\kiteless.exe /BLMMar 19
@nallwolf Hmmmn OK that's an angle I'd not thought of. I'll look into that. This also makes me think that this problem shouldn't exist without the cover on as then the spindle thing won't be there at all.
Show threadNall Mar 19
@kiteless Yeah, if it happens without the cover, then it's probably some odd issue with the tray locking tab or the tray itself getting caught somewhere. I wouldn't think it would be that though since having a disc in makes it work fine
Show threadColinMar 19

@kiteless if the drive was manually ejected and manually closed previously, I've seen it not want to open. (until manually opening, and then closing when it does have power to close itself).

I've also seen it where if something is in the way of the drive opening (like a plastic fascia that is supposed to move out of the way), it may jam and then stop.. and ends up in that same loop.

Typically drives always try to close themselves upon power-up, but sometimes not if they think they're closed.

Show threadA:\kiteless.exe /BLMMar 19

@colinstu

Typically I will press a paperclip into the little emergancy eject hole while pushing the button to get it to open, drop a disc in then press the eject button to close it.

Please see my reply to MKT in this thread.

Such a strange problem that I've seen for YEARS on some drives but never really sat down to try and figure out what the heck is causing it. This BRD works perfectly othereise. Reads movies and data disc's just fine.