Stuck a memory stick in my Alienware's CD/DVD Drive...

I stuck my memory stick inside my m17x' internal cd/dvd rom drive. It is now stuck. The memory drive is right above it so I was supposedly putting it in there without looking, but yeah, made that mistake...

I can't get it out and don't want to risk opening the laptop since it's new. The mem stick was 4gb. I tried to get it out with tweezers but no luck.

If I insert a cd in the drive, the laptop spits it back out now.

I'm just going to get an external cd/dvd r drive now ;/

PS: When you game hardcore, does your m17x get hot on the top left as well? Mine does and the right side stays cool.

EDIT: Couldn't Alienware come up with a better design strategy for the drive slots?



Really? Like hardly any space between...I wonder if someone else will make this mistake in the future.

 

I have not had any heat issues like that on mine? Guess you might want to look before poking stuff in certain holes lol.

 

It's not really an issue, more of an annoyance.

I think it is because the cpu is on the top right

 

Even though it's a slot load DVD drive, you can remove it. Don't know how, as I have an M17. After you have it removed, there will be some tiny screws that will let you take the cover off. Do that, grab your MS, and you should be good to go.

 

Thing is I've never opened up a laptop before, only PC's. What if I mess it up even more somehow? I can't risk it..

 

Razed, you could always call Dell Support but they will most likely charge you. Maybe not - its worth a try. Just be really nice when calling

The other option is to crack it open and remove the optical drive and see what you can do. I don't recommend taking apart the optical drive itself, but removing the drive may provide you with some 'shake' options

Reference the service manual if you decide to take it apart. Go very slow and take a mental note on how everything is laid out each step of the way. Be sure to have a large, empty workspace if you are going to attempt it.

Manual is here:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/M17x/en/M17x_Service_Manual_EN.zip

 

Thanks bro
When I open my laptop, am I going to have to take apart everything or can I just take apart the drive itself?

 

No, it won't be a complete tear-down/build-up. Just enough to access the drive.

 

This is embarrassing to be honest.

 

To get to the drive itself is basically a tear down of the whole machine aside from taking out the motherboard . Its not for the faint of heart thats for sure . Im sure with time and a lot patience you can do it though. The first couple times i ripped my M17x apart were not that much fun but after a few more its a no brainer.

 

it scares me just thinking about it and remembering Moos video of the operation makes it worse.
I still want to buy one though next year!

 

access the optical drive requires removing the palm rest, control buttons up top, keyboard, magnesium casing (you will see this once you have removed other stuff) and I/O board. this includes detaching the wireless and bluetooth antenna cables, SLI cable if you have it, display and camera cable, ExpressCard connector cable, audio cable, front right speaker cable and the lighting cable for front right speaker. It is not an easy task, if your not comfortable you may wanna get helm from a friend or pay someone to do it for you.

 

If you hold your M17x in the air (just some inches) with the slot downwards and then push the eject button, doesn't it just fall out? Or put a DvD in there when holding it in the air? Is there a lid to close the Cd-rom and couldn't you hold this open when having it side ways in the air? ...

I could imagine this is emabarrissing? Well this could happen to somebody else, only you where the first.

 

I know...you poor guy. This is something that I would do!

 

this might help ?

http://www.vimeo.com/5698512

 

just tried this and it didn't work

any other ideas?

 

just put my starcraft cd in it and now it won't come out

fml

 

What would make you put a cd in there.....

 

Cant you prod it out with a really thin rod or something?

 

nope

try sticking something small in yours and taking it out afterward

 

Okay I got starcraft out by repeatedly pressing eject button

this, no more, just buying an external.

/Thread

 

Something tells me he's talking about something like this

 

Why don't you call DELL ant ask them if anybody has had this before? And what they suggest you should do? After all it's their design, if some thing like this kind of user error makes your DVD drive useless that would kinda stink...

Maybe they have any suggestions? (And maybe a tech will be cheaper then your External drive?) If you never try, you'll never know.

 

Ha! That's true for other situations as well!