Pb G4 Combo drive gummed up, help

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The Mac Dude - 13 May 2006 07:34 GMT

Suddenly the slot-loading combo drive on my 12" Albook (2.4 years old,
1GHz) is putting some sticky stuff onto the under- (playing-) side of
the CDs, which seems impossible to clean off (won't dissolve in rubbing
alcohol). Disk insertion has become difficult & sometimes fails, the
drive can't grab the CD & (luckily) spits it out again. Basically, I
can't use the drive.

Has anybody a recipe to fix this (some kind of wiping technique, through
the slot?). Getting the drive out is a rather daunting job.

Any hint or experience appreciated.

Mac Dude

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Cathy Stevenson - 14 May 2006 22:27 GMT

> Suddenly the slot-loading combo drive on my 12" Albook (2.4 years old,
> 1GHz) is putting some sticky stuff onto the under- (playing-) side of
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Mac Dude

You might try a standard CD-ROM drive cleaning kit.

Cathy

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"there's a dance or two in the old dame yet." - mehitabel

C.Stevenson, M.D.
cats1921@invalidsonic.net

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The Mac Dude - 15 May 2006 03:14 GMT

> > Suddenly the slot-loading combo drive on my 12" Albook (2.4 years old,
> > 1GHz) is putting some sticky stuff onto the under- (playing-) side of
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Cathy

Ok, hadn't thought about that one, thanks. I guess I do need to be able
to insert a (cleaning-) disk, don't I?
Anyway, poking around in the slot I at some point had a short black
piece of what looks like fabric or so sticking out. It was somewhat
tacky on one side so maybe it came lose. Since then I haven't dared
putting a disk in for fear of it's getting stuck & the drive running all
the time (BAD).

Thanks,

MD

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Cathy Stevenson - 15 May 2006 04:07 GMT

> > > Suddenly the slot-loading combo drive on my 12" Albook (2.4 years old,
> > > 1GHz) is putting some sticky stuff onto the under- (playing-) side of
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Ok, hadn't thought about that one, thanks. I guess I do need to be able
> to insert a (cleaning-) disk, don't I?

You sure do. But I understood you said :disk insertion has become
difficult and sometimes fails".

> Anyway, poking around in the slot I at some point had a short black
> piece of what looks like fabric or so sticking out. It was somewhat
> tacky on one side so maybe it came lose. Since then I haven't dared
> putting a disk in for fear of it's getting stuck & the drive running all
> the time (BAD).

This might be the time to try a cleaning disk?

Cathy

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"there's a dance or two in the old dame yet." - mehitabel

C.Stevenson, M.D.
cats1921@invalidsonic.net

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Grandpa - 15 May 2006 04:50 GMT

[...]

> Ok, hadn't thought about that one, thanks. I guess I do need to be able
> to insert a (cleaning-) disk, don't I?
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> MD

IME, that sticky fabric tape is a flex run or cable hold down. On one G4
I worked on, there was a cable (I think it was the airport) that ran
near the CD access slot and had come loose (from somebody poking around
in the slot) from the sticky tape.

Of course, taking the top cover off is not for the faint of heart, but
you may be able to just reseat the cable and sticky tape in an out of
the way area and then try your cleaning disk.

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Grandpa

What is that dripping from my fingers?
Why it looks like time.

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Cathy Stevenson - 15 May 2006 16:57 GMT

> [...]
> > Ok, hadn't thought about that one, thanks. I guess I do need to be able
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> you may be able to just reseat the cable and sticky tape in an out of
> the way area and then try your cleaning disk.

If the OP does want to open the PB up - pbfixit.com has excellent
instructions, walkthroughs, etc.

Cathy

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"there's a dance or two in the old dame yet." - mehitabel

C.Stevenson, M.D.
cats1921@invalidsonic.net

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The Mac Dude - 17 May 2006 07:45 GMT

Ok, this sounds like a possibility. I certainly can try getting at that.
I do know how to open & work on the Apple laptops (and to reassemble
them!), it is just that replacing the drive even requires the mobo to be
removed... I never had to go that far.

Thanks also Cathy for your suggestions. I do have the service manual
which is actually quite detailed. I would not dare opening these without
the manual.

Thanks again to all,

Mac Dude

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Mac Forum / General / Portable Macs / May 2006

Pb G4 Combo drive gummed up, help