My Civ Cd is 'stuck' inside! Help!

[Doge Soprano]

I got Hp pavilion Slimline so the cd tray is sideway. I thought I didn't put CD correctly because auto-run didn't play so I hit 'eject' not long after. However the cd is gone. What should I do now? Start loosening the screw and take out the drive? Can't believe I have to buy a new drive after old one simply won't read discs. I hope the optic isn't scratched

 

[GoodGame]

Wow that's screwy. Usually you just put a paperclip into the mechanical release whole in the front and the disc should still be there. It really vanished inside the drive? ewee.

I know there can be some damage to the disc from being loaded off-center, when the drive spins, but it just vanished/disintegrate/warped into subspace?

Drives are pretty cheap if it's a consolation. Buy OEM on Newegg.com.

 

[Doge Soprano]

LOL GG, it didn't vanish. What I meant was it didn't come out with the tray when I ejected it.

First off, I should clarify that it wasn't stuck but more like fell off the tray probably because I closed/opened too fast. I could tell just by tilting my pc and the cd tilted too. So anyway, I wasn't able to open up the drive into parts except the casing on the bottom. From there I could see the disc and gave it a good shake to set it in place. It's the only option and it works lol.

Some tips: if your tray is vertical, tilt it to your right (if its facing you) whenever you insert a disc, just to ensure your disc doesn't fall off

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Better yet, dont have the tray vertical. Too many problems with it, specifically like the one you described here. Only slot-loading drives should be sideways imho.