Force eject CD/DVD stuck in Apple computer

If you’ve got a CD or DVD that simply refuses to eject from your Apple computer, whether it’s an iMac, MacPro or Macbook there’s a simple solution.

To eject a stuck disc:
Press and hold your mouse or trackpad button during bootup

  1. Power down the device completely
  2. Press and hold your mouse button/trackpad button and keep it held down
  3. Press the power button to turn it back on while keeping mouse button down
  4. Keep holding the mouse/trackpad button and eventually the CD or DVD should eject itself and then the computer will continue to boot as normal.

NOTE: I’m not sure if this technique still works with wireless (Bluetooth) pointing devices such as the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad but I will endeavour to test this later and update this post.

Sleep Wake Failure experienced a problem

My retina Macbook Pro had an issue recently with the screen going blank and kernel panics so I left it with an Apple store for 2 weeks and they fitted a new logic board and screen. The screen was not related to the main issue, I just pointed out some bright pixel clusters and they agreed to swap it.

I’ve now had my machine back two weeks and only just copied all my data back over from backups, I didn’t want to just restore an entire TimeMachine backup in case there were any errors in the backup from the multiple crashes. I finally get all my software, preferences and files as I need them, which takes longer than you think, and now it’s faulty, again.

I first noticed the right side USB port wasn’t working at all with any device, then it did the same as last time and with kernel panics every 3 mins before finally giving me a new error, Sleep Wake Failure experienced a problem, steps 52.

Date/Time: 2014-06-25 01:21:53 +0100
OS Version: 10.9.3 (Build 13D65)
Architecture: x86_64
Report Version: 18

Event: Sleep Wake Failure
Steps: 52

Hardware model: MacBookPro10,1
Active cpus: 8
Powerstats for: kernel_task
Start time: 1970-01-01 01:00:00 +0000
End time: 1970-01-01 01:00:00 +0000
Microstackshots: 35 samples
Primary state: 35 samples Non-Frontmost App, Non-Background Priority, User mode
User Activity: 0 samples Idle, 0 samples Active, 35 samples Unknown
Power Source: 0 samples on Battery, 0 samples on AC, 35 samples Unknown

… (removed, see attached full log)

*0xffffff8000200000 – 0xffffff80007a815a mach_kernel (2422.100.13) <ADD73AE6-88B0-32FB-A8BB-4F7C8BE4092E> /mach_kernel

================================================================
UUID: 27AF3961-5943-4305-8C14-211464CC92C9
cps: 3
Code: 00000000 13006c00
Stackshot reason: Watchdog
Model: MacBookPro10,1, BootROM MBP101.00EE.B03, 4 processors, Intel Core i7, 2.7 GHz, 16 GB, SMC 2.3f35
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Built-In
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, PCIe, 1024 MB
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D5434314753364D465238432D50422020
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x80AD, 0x484D5434314753364D465238432D50422020
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0xEF), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.106.98.100.22)
Bluetooth: Version 4.2.4f1 13674, 3 services, 23 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Wi-Fi, AirPort, en0
Serial ATA Device: APPLE SSD SM768E, 751.28 GB
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
USB Device: BRCM20702 Hub
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Thunderbolt Bus: MacBook Pro, Apple Inc., 23.4

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Retina Macbook Pro screen going blank/black intermittently/panic

Over the last few days my retina Macbook Pro has been playing up.

It started with a kernel panic (aka Grey Screen of Death GSOD).

After which I booted into single user mode and ran fsck -fy to check and repair any permissions, of which there were none. It seemed ok for a day or two, but recently I opened it to wake it from sleep and the screen remained black. They keypad was illuminated but screen completely black, the computer was on though, you could hear volume changes with the volume keys, you could see it on the network and remote screen share into it but the display was kaput and even restarting didn’t kick the screen into life.

There was a quick fix – an SMC reset worked (temporarily):

  • Whilst the computer is off press the left SHIFT+CTRL+OPTION and the Power button together at the same time and then release them. You should notice your charge light on the magsafe adapter briefly change colour.

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New iPad Predictions. The iPad HD or the iPad 3?

With the new iPad set to be announced tomorrow we thought we’d bring you a preview post of all that we expect to be seen and we’ll revert back here to see how right or wrong we were.

It seems this years model has been the worst kept secret in Apples history. The only swerve ball coming from this iPad announcement invite photo which hinted at no home screen button (yes, that iPad is in portrait mode as the drips on the wallpaper only appear in that pattern in portrait and would appear above the 5th icon in a 5 icon dock) so while this picture shows it, the parts have confirmed this not to be the case. In fact it would appear the front of the iPad will be exactly the same as the iPad 2, available in white and black, with the same home button and of course the same 9.7″ screen (we’re also 90% sure it’ll be offered in 16gb, 32gb and 64gb sizes again)

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