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SD card stuck in iMac CD drive

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noix -  
 Fredelandes -
Hello,

I just had a huge scare with my iMac that I bought a month ago. I accidentally inserted an SD card into the CD drive slot while there was a CD inside. When I ejected it, the CD ended up coming out. However, it was much more complicated with the SD card. It really seemed stuck.

Following the advice of FNAC Grenoble, I managed to remove the SD card by tilting the screen and the CD slot down with a small screwdriver. The idea is to slide the screwdriver behind the card and push it out while holding the screen down. So it's a two-person job. Phew, everything came out safely, otherwise it would have cost 300 euros for the repair.

So far, this computer has been perfect except for these two slots nearby. That's a small design flaw in my opinion.

Hoping to help some....

35 answers

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Answer 1 / 35
jicey89 Posted messages 14 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   33
 
Hi everyone,

It just happened to me too -_-° the worst part is that it's at least the 3rd or 4th time this has happened, but before it never got stuck this much, I always had time to retrieve it because it was visible..... But this time I was really scared to death.... I wanted to get it out and bam, I completely pushed it in.....

I tried with a knife (Mac on, I’m not taking any risks ^^, I know it’s dangerous) it didn’t work..... Tried with paper, didn’t work either....

I even took a small vacuum to suck the card out, no success.... Given the hour, I didn’t want to wake anyone up, so I didn’t try with the bigger vacuum...

And I even put a CD in the drive with the card inside xD because I wasn’t sure if the vacuum had gotten it or not but the CD wouldn’t go in all the way and the Mac ejects it right away but without the card since the CD pushed the card even further xD

But I managed by unplugging the Mac.... I picked it up and tilted it completely from side to side, I heard the card moving inside.... I tilted it (DVD slot facing down) and placed it on my bed so I wouldn’t damage it, then I tilted it towards the bed, took a wooden skewer and DELICATELY (so I wouldn’t break it, I’d end up with an SD card plus a piece of wood xD) I inserted it at an angle into the slot and slowly brought it towards the exit and BAM I saw the face of the card..... I pulled it out with my fingers and that’s it..... I detailed everything because this way it could give ideas to others if this happens to them because I was really scared.... So paper, credit card, skewer, knife, or powerful vacuum! Apparently the best way is to tilt it and get it out with a skewer.... No need for two people to do this operation, I managed just fine on my own....
37
Zadix
 
A huge thank you to you! After hours of stress, I finally recovered the SD card :D Whenever you want, I'll treat you to sushi! ;)
0
Patlepara
 
Great, thank you,
I just made the same mistake and thanks to your advice, I managed to remove the SD card.
On my side, I used a plastic ruler from my son.
I didn't dare to introduce an object too much for fear of worsening my situation and completely destroying the iMac. It seems that the CD drive is well isolated from the iMac's connections.
In any case, a big sigh of relief and a huge thank you.
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Linon
 
Same mistake from my kids, and thank you very much because we were able to recover the SD card with the help of a square.
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jicey89 5
 
Same mistake
We tilted the Mac on the edge of a desk and by gently shaking it and with the help of a ruler, we managed to get the SD card out. Phew!!
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nini
 
Thank you very much!!! Thanks to your comments, I was able to retrieve my SD card that I accidentally inserted into the CD drive!

Thanks again.
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Answer 2 / 35
Rocket
 
Hello

Use a credit card or similar in the CD slot and you can slide the SD card out. This just happened to me and what a scare, and then what joy.
5
dodoi
 
Hello and thank you for all the advice. My SD card stuck in the CD drive, I managed to retrieve it by gently shaking the screen from left to right to make it drop (it takes two people) and then simply using tweezers. Thanks again.
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Answer 3 / 35
Tom17
 
Same for me...
It worked with a credit card...
Phew!
5
Lily Louis
 
Thank you very much, it worked with a very fine screwdriver. Phew, it was my SD card in my neighbor's computer. We both got to work, and victory, the CD and the card came out.
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lucky in my unluck
 
Well, if this happens to you, don't panic, I've found the best trick. Take a semi-rigid sheet, fold it in half, insert it into the lowest slot possible, then push it in as far as it will go. After that, pull it up while tilting the end you’re holding and gently pull. It worked the first time! And don’t forget to unplug the computer and shut it down to let it cool down to avoid a fire!!!!!!
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Sidd
 
I arrived and the card got completely stuck in the computer.
What should I do at that moment? :s
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Z62
 
The trick with the folded Bristol board works perfectly, thanks for the tip.
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superconne
 
It's funny how I feel less alone... But personally, I'm afraid of damaging the interior... And I have a BIG Mac...
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Answer 4 / 35
Badaboom
 
I mixed two tips and my SD card reappeared. It had completely disappeared behind the brushes and the vacuum wasn't working at all. So I took a piece of cardstock that I folded in half. Then you slide it into the slot and scrape with the folded side. I did that for 2 minutes and then I took the vacuum and sucked it up, and I heard the sound of the card falling into the tube. Mission accomplished and I saved money by not going to customer service!!
4
Balou 87
 
Thank you a thousand times for this advice. It worked for me too on the first try with a folded piece of cardstock that came out with the card inside. I didn't need the vacuum cleaner and I don't have to go to the FNAC customer service which was supposed to send my computer to Paris!
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Justine
 
Thank you from the bottom of my heart as well. I had the scare of my life; it’s the first time this has happened to me, and folding the paper in half worked, phew!
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Answer 5 / 35
dodoi
 
Hello everyone, first of all I’m relieved that I’m not the only one experiencing this mishap. So, I'm going to implement the folded paper/cardboard technique and I'll keep my fingers crossed. Best regards.
3
dodoi
 
The technique of folding a Bristol board into four worked well, and I grabbed my card with a pair of tweezers. Thank you all.
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Justine
 
It worked for me too.
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John
 
Impeccable, thank you!!!!
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Answer 6 / 35
océanne-du
 
The technique of thick paper/cardboard folded is really the right one. Thank you thank you thank you honestly thank you to everyone.
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Answer 7 / 35
alix
 
Great, the Bristol board technique! I finally got it! Thank you :)
2
Justine
 
Me too
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têteenlair
 
YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!! I applied the Orangina method "shake me, shake me" and by magic, the law of universal gravitation worked wonderfully. I saw a tiny black tip emerging from the foam, I shook a little more and with a pair of tweezers, there it was!!! Sending kisses to all of you!
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vic
 
geniaaaaaaaaal! Thank you again, I no longer believed it!
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Answer 8 / 35
Stefxl
 
Well, I just have to get to it... it's not so easy to take out the SD card from a brand new 27-inch... So, Bristol board it is... I'm crossing my fingers, praying, hoping...

Big thanks for the tip because I was already looking into how to disassemble the screen... something impossible for a novice without voiding the warranty...
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Badaboom
 
Me too, when it happened to me, 27 inches brand new! And I was afraid of ruining everything but hey, a piece of bristol board then the vacuum cleaner and my SD card was back :)
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estupido
 
oh wow thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you
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Answer 9 / 35
Silent282
 
You're so, so good!!!

Magazine page folded in half and ta-da... 10 seconds later the SD card is in the right slot!
2
dom
 
Hello,

Great trick, I managed to get my SD card out that I accidentally put in the CD drive.
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Answer 10 / 35
ognu Posted messages 1711 Status Member 139
 
Hi, for the tutorials, please put your message in resolution.
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Answer 11 / 35
tonix
 
Magnificent! Thanks to a simple piece of paper, we saved on the call to Apple technical support, the cost of the repair, and the time lost while the computer was out of order!
On the other hand, it's so silly to put the two SD and CD slots next to each other...
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Answer 12 / 35
sabou
 
Hello everyone... I found a solution as well, 2 cards were stuck in my reader (I made the mistake twice with 8 GB cards... so that was too much!! In 2 minutes I got them out with a slightly stiff magazine page, didn’t even need to use a vacuum cleaner!!! Yay, since I don’t have one!! ... and always the CD slot facing down -- direction the floor to be more precise, D .... there you go, hope this can help...
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Answer 13 / 35
sasa
 
the Bristol board trick (or cardboard sheet) is magical, you saved me. folded side in the Mac
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Answer 14 / 35
Profile blocked
 
I have an iMac OS X too, but what model do you have?
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Answer 15 / 35
ALI10
 
Awesome with the folded bristol card, I was able to take out the SD card slipped into the Wii by my 3-year-old son!!!
A big thank you to lucky in my unluck
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Answer 16 / 35
Rateau2000
 
Awesome the "upside down" trick!!!!

Fixed in 2 seconds.

Thanks!
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Answer 17 / 35
Juliette
 
THAAAAAAANK YOU !!!
My dad nearly had an aneurysm when he horrifiedly realized that his card was stuck in the reader!
The paper works! TRUE STORY!
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Justine
 
Lol I did it quickly before my mom got home.
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Answer 18 / 35
kris
 
Hello, thanks everyone, Bristol super super on the first try without unplugging the Mac or turning it over.
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Answer 19 / 35
Frankdu
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, !!!

Hehe, I was in quite a state, 30 minutes of struggle trying to get the SD card out, tweezers, unplugging, plugging back in, trying with a CD, tilting the laptop, shaking it with a vacuum cleaner, etc... nothing worked.

I start searching the web, come across your site, take a very thin piece of cardboard, fold it in half, insert it into the slot as if I were fishing, folded side in, starting from the top and in a quarter of a second the card bounces onto my desk. THANK YOU!!
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Answer 20 / 35
Elisa
 
Thanks for the tip, I took a folded envelope and bingo, the card came out... big scare, but now, I'm breathing...
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