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HP Desktop PCs - Opening a stuck CD or DVD drive tray (Windows 11, 10)

You can try the following methods to open or close a malfunctioning CD or DVD drive tray on HP desktop PCs with Windows 11 or Windows 10.

Use this information to resolve the following conditions:

The drive tray is stuck open.
The drive is stuck closed because of loss of power.
A disc is inserted improperly.
A disc is damaged or scratched.
The drive fails.

Note:

Depending on your version of Windows, some graphics and information in this document might vary.

Open a CD or DVD drive tray that is stuck closed

Follow these steps to open the drive door.

Note:

After opening the door, if you find that a disc has broken with fragments inside the drive, try to find and match all pieces of the disc. If you cannot locate all pieces, replace the drive, as damaged pieces can cause further damage to the computer and to other discs.

Select the Start button, select the power icon , and then select Restart.
If the keyboard has a disc eject key, press it. The eject key is usually located near the volume controls and is marked by a triangle pointing up with a line underneath. If the keyboard does not have an eject key, continue with the next step.
Search for and open File Explorer.
Under This PC, right-click the icon for the drive with the malfunctioning tray, and then click Eject. If the disc tray does not open, continue with the next step.
Press the drive door button to eject the drive.
- If the drive door button is a long clear plastic bar on the front of the computer, press firmly on the right side of the bar.
- If the drive door button is on the front panel of the computer to the right of the hinged door, press the button.
- If the drive door button is part of the computer case and is covering the drive door, open the door that is part of the computer case and press the eject button on the faceplate of the drive.
Restart the computer, and then press the eject button on the front of the drive when the first screen is displayed before Windows launches. If the drive door opens but a drive window does not open in Windows, another software application has control of the disc driver. Try shutting down or configuring any apps that create discs or monitor the disc drive.
If the door still does not open, insert the end of a straightened paper clip into the manual eject hole on the front of the drive as follows:
1. Select the Start button, select the power icon , and then select Shutdown.
2. Unplug all power cords from the back of the computer.
3. Look for the small manual release hole on the faceplate of the disc drive. The location of the manual release hole might vary.
  
  Note:
  On some models, you must remove the front panel to expose the manual release hole. Check the documentation that came with your computer for information about removing the front panel.
  
  Note:
  On some models, the release hole and the drive activity LED look similar and are about the same size. Be sure not to mistake the hole for the LED. Do not force the paper clip into the hole.
4. Straighten the paper clip and insert it into the manual release hole until you feel resistance.
5. Gently press the paper clip until the tray is released.
6. Remove the paper clip and gently pull out the drawer until the disc is accessible.
7. Remove the disc from the tray, press the eject button again to insert the tray back into the computer, and then turn on the computer.
If the tray still does not open, use the following steps to open the case, and then check that the power cable for the drive is connected.
CAUTION:
The edges of metal panels can be sharp.

Important:
This product contains components that are easily damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD). To reduce the chance of ESD damage, work over a noncarpeted floor, use a static dissipative worksurface, such as a conductive foam pad, and wear an ESD wrist strap that is connected to a grounded surface, such as the metal frame of the computer.
1. Select the Start button, select the power icon , and then select Shutdown.
2. Unplug all power cords from the back of the computer.
3. Press and release the power button on the front of the computer.
4. Remove the side panel.
5. Locate the power cable that connects to the back of the disc drive with the malfunctioning tray.
6. Unplug the power cable and wait five seconds.
7. Plug a different power cable into the back of the drive, making sure that it fits firmly into the connector. If a different power cable is not available, firmly reconnect the original power cable.
8. Replace the side panel and plug in the power cord.
9. Turn on the computer and press the eject button on the front of the drive.

If the drive does not have the manual eject feature and the tray does not open after using the preceding steps, or if a disc has shattered inside the drive, replace the drive.

Close a CD or DVD drive tray that is stuck open

Use this information to close a malfunctioning drive tray.

Restart the computer. Use the following list to determine your next steps based on drive tray behavior.

If the drive tray closes and operates normally, restarting the computer fixed the problem and no further action is needed.
If the drive tray open, see Check for foreign objects or hardware issues causing the drive tray to stay open.
If the drive tray closes fully and then opens automatically when Windows starts, see Check for software issues causing the drive to stay open.

Check for foreign objects or hardware issues causing the drive tray to stay open

If the drive tray is stuck open, there might be a foreign object or hardware issue causing the drive tray malfunction.

If your computer case has a drive door as part of the front cover, the drive tray might catch on the door. Gently hold the computer cover door open (down), and then press on the drive tray to close the tray. If the drive tray closes, the tray is not sliding properly along the surface of the door. Clean the inside of the door and remove any foreign objects that have become lodged in the door.
Make sure that the eject button on the front of the drive is not stuck. If the button is stuck, press it using the eraser side of a pencil. Clean the button if necessary.
Shine a flashlight inside the drive through the tray opening. Look for objects that have fallen inside the drive, such as pieces of disc labels, pieces of a broken disc, or anything that has been inserted by accident. If you can easily retrieve the object, remove it, and then try again. If not, service or replace the drive.

Check for software issues causing the drive tray to stay open

Use the following steps to troubleshoot the drive tray if it closes before Windows loads, but then opens and stays open. This behavior might mean that software is keeping the tray open.

Search for and open File Explorer.
Under This PC, right-click the icon for the drive with the malfunctioning tray, and then click Eject.
Wait approximately three seconds, and then try closing the drive tray by pressing on the front of the tray. If the drive tray resists and stays open, continue using these steps.
Use Microsoft System Restore to go back to a time when the drive tray was operating normally. For more information, see Using Microsoft System Restore.

If the drive tray closes normally after using System Restore, no further action is necessary. Otherwise, continue using these steps to reset the drive tray state.
Press the Windows + I keys.
Select the Start button, select the power icon , and then select Shutdown.
Unplug all power cords from the back of the computer.
Remove the side panel.
Disconnect the cables from the back of the disc drive that is malfunctioning, and then place the loose ends of the cables away from the fans. If the drive is a SATA drive, be sure to squeeze the connectors during removal to avoid breaking the clasps.
Reconnect the power cord, turn on the computer, and wait until Windows fully loads.
Select the Start button, select the power icon , and then select Restart. Wait until Windows fully loads.
Select the Start button, select the power icon , press and hold the shift key, and then select Shutdown. Wait for the computer to shut down completely.
Unplug all power cords from the back of the computer.
Reconnect the drive cables.
Replace the side panel.
Connect the power cord, and then turn on the computer.

The eject feature now works correctly.

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