How do I eject a CD from a DVD drive when the OS is missing?

My primary HDD died while I had a CD in the DVD drive. I have purchased and installed two new HDDs to replace and have a copy of Win7. BUT the cd is still in the drive and I am unable to get the disk out. I have tried to build a bootable USB drive using RMPrepUSB but the bios does not seem to recognize it as a bootable drive. A utility launched off the bios can see the drive but not any of its contents.

How do I eject the DVD so I can put my new Win7 install DVD in the drive?

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BruceAsked: 2013-01-01

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Lee W, MVPConnect With a Mentor Technology and Business Process AdvisorCommented: 2013-01-01

Try the bootable USB in another computer to ensure that it actually works. If not, I would use the Microsoft tool to make a bootable USB key - http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool - I suspect you haven't enabled USB booting or you're using the wrong USB slot (there shouldn't be a "wrong" one, but I've found they can be flaky - try other USB slots to see if they work but FIRST test in another computer). Any computer made in the last 5 years (and ALMOST any made in the last 8) should boot off USB devices if the USB device was created properly.

As for the CD/DVD that seems to be stuck, doesn't the drive have an eject button? I assume not or that it's not working, in which case, you may need to replace the drive (even temporarily). Look for a pin hole on the front of the drive - if you find it, unfold a paper clip and push it into the slot - that should eject the drive. If it doesn't, it COULD mean the drive is stuck and in which case you'll almost certainly have to replace it (they're cheap - $20).

LVL 88

rindiConnect With a Mentor Commented: 2013-01-01

Most DVD drives have an "Eject" button. If the disk doesn't eject when you press that, they usually also have a small hole into which you can insert a straightened paper clip (you need to press it in while the PC is off). That should force the mechanism of the drive to open the tray.

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Carol ChisholmConnect With a Mentor Commented: 2013-01-01

There is usually a paper-clip sized hole if there is not a button. It was designed to emergency open CD and DVD drives. Unfold a paperclip...

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dbruntonConnect With a Mentor Commented: 2013-01-01

Or remove the drive from its present computer and attach it to another computer and use that one to control the drive.

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Joe Winograd, Fellow&MVEConnect With a Mentor DeveloperCommented: 2013-01-01

Most optical drives have a small "eject hole" that you can put an opened paper clip in (even when the computer is turned off) to eject the disc. Here's a photo of a typical drive, although the position of the hole varies from drive to drive:

Regards, Joe

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BruceAuthor Commented: 2013-01-01

I knew about the pinhole on older systems. There is not one I can see on this machine.

I did try to pull the snap-on front of the casing off and while doing so found a molded, inconspicuous button next to the drive opening... that was it. I restarted the machine and pushed the button during the start-up and it ejected the drive bay.

I am off and running installing Win7.

Thanks for all that responded.