Deep in the MIZ - bust CD player

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I put a disc in the drawer of my CD player this morning and was subliminally conscious that it wasn't in correctly, but I'd already hit the play button, which closes the drawer. So I hit the eject button, but it didn't. And doesn't.

I've tried levering the drawer open, but can't. I've tried to open the box, but it's screwed on with screws with a six pointed star head, not a Phillips or Pozidrive head. So I can't get it open.

Now, I don't know whether I really did put the CD in wrong and it's jammed, or if the transport mechanism is buggered. If it's jammed, thinking about it calmly, I would expect to hear the little motor that must drive it labouring to open it against the jam. But it's silent. So I have the feeling it's the transport mechanism. Anyone got any wisdom on that notion?

And I still want to get the CD out.

MG

[Chuck Nessa]

Try rebooting and see if the drawer reacts. It's worth a shot.

[JSngry]

Those six-point screw are called Torx screws, and screwdrivers for them should be readily available at not much cost.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=torx+screwdriver&um=1&biw=1680&bih=869&ie=UTF-8&cid=5945638395268119801&ei=C5WfTMTKG4a8lQea0qmODg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=4&ved=0CDsQ8gIwAw#

[BeBop]

Longshot: it doesn't have one of those pinhole things near the drawer? I've had a few players that had 'em. Stick in a pin and it pops the drawer.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Try rebooting and see if the drawer reacts. It's worth a shot.

No go. Shrug. Thanks.

MG

Longshot: it doesn't have one of those pinhole things near the drawer? I've had a few players that had 'em. Stick in a pin and it pops the drawer.

Good thought, but it hasn't. Thanks.

MG

Those six-point screw are called Torx screws, and screwdrivers for them should be readily available at not much cost.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=torx+screwdriver&um=1&biw=1680&bih=869&ie=UTF-8&cid=5945638395268119801&ei=C5WfTMTKG4a8lQea0qmODg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=4&ved=0CDsQ8gIwAw#

Never heard of those. I'll head for the local hardware shop in the morning and see if I can get one. Thanks, Jim.

MG

[JSngry]

Yeah, in my experience, the Torx screws first started showing up on cars, and at first only mechanics had the screwdrivers. But that soon changed. The screws are still not exactly "common", but they're common enough that I got a set of screwdrivers at least 10 years ago and have used them at least twice since!

[jazzbo]

They often are called "star" screws as well. My Harley is full of them, I bought a set of folding wrenches of different sizes. They're actually quite a nice system for fitment.

[Van Basten II]

Reminds me the time where a similar thing happened with a Mosaic cd the cd fell off the drawer and had to open the cd player to pull it out, it was full of grease, miraculously was able to save it and play it again.

[A Lark Ascending]

Come on MG. You're British. You're a man. Use this:

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

They often are called "star" screws as well. My Harley is full of them, I bought a set of folding wrenches of different sizes. They're actually quite a nice system for fitment.

I've heard the expression "star" screwdrivers, but over here we mean one with four points - Phillips or Pozidrive. Never seen a screw (or bolt) like this before on anything. Hope I can get one. The player is ten years or so old and probably could be replaced cheaper than repaired.

MG

Come on MG. You're British. You're a man. Use this:

I don't want to break the CD It's an import from Senegal. Hard to find.

MG

[JSngry]

Torx screwdrivers & an allen wrench set...own them or be ready to pay bills to people who do.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Torx screwdrivers & an allen wrench set...own them or be ready to pay bills to people who do.

Yes, I have a few Allen keys in a drawer somewhere. Never used them, but I know I will one day.

MG

[Ted O'Reilly]

List of screw drives... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives

Andthe greatest of them is the Robertson...

[JSngry]

List of screw drives... http://en.wikipedia....of_screw_drives

Andthe greatest of them is the Robertson...

Greatest....website....ever....

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Well, I went into Ton, but the hardware shop didn't sell torx drivers. The guy said I wanted a car spares shop like Halfords in Ponty. So I went to the local garage, where my wife used to take her old motor for repairs. After a bit of chat, the boss loaned me his set! Wasn't that nice of him? Cost fifty quid a set, he said.

So I got the case off when I got home. The disc didn't seem to be trapped; I could spin it freely, but perhaps I'd dislodged it when I moved the player about unscrewing it. I had to push it forwards through the crack between the drawer top and the front of the player, but I got it out. Looks a bit scratched, so I'm playing it now to see if it's OK. So far so good.

Then I put the player back together again, connected it up, plugged it in and pressed "open". And it opened. And closed when I hit the button again. So I put a CD in. And it played!!!!

So now I'm not in the MIZ at all. Got to walk back into Ton to give him the driver set back after a bit of lunch.

Thanks all for the help and support.

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Oh, and the CD played fine

MG

[Ted O'Reilly]

List of screw drives... http://en.wikipedia....of_screw_drives

Andthe greatest of them is the Robertson...

Greatest....website....ever....

It is, isn't it?

...and I'm glad to hear the disc's okay.

[paul secor]

Good news in the end.

[Ted O'Reilly]

Good news in the end.

It is.

Paul, I've just noticed your huge number of profiles...almost 11 thousand! That's about 4 a day for the 7 years, 7 months since you came aboard. Do you ever take a vacation?