Can't open DVD tray

[InflatableBuddha]

Hi,

My g/f's DVD player is having some issues of late. It's a Samsung (DVD-P242/XAC), basic one-disc player, about two years old. It's been used a moderate amount.

When she turns on the system, the display reads "load", as if it were reading the disc, but only the splash screen shows up on the tv. The disc doesn't seem to load. Here's the worst part - she can't eject the tray. When she presses the eject button, the display reads "open" but the tray doesn't open. I've looked at the unit and I don't see a hole for manually ejecting (as with PC DVD drives).

She says the unit hasn't been bumped or dropped, and these symptoms only started a few days ago. Has anyone encountered a similar problem? Should she just take the unit to a repair shop? I'm concerned that the repairs might cost more than the unit is worth (she paid CAD $80) but it would be nice to get the DVD out that's currently stuck in the unit.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Modelworks]

Unplug it and take off the cover.
You should be able to get the dvd out.
I wouldn't worry about fixing it, players are way too cheap now.
I got one for 40.00 usd with divx support .

 

[InflatableBuddha]

That's what I was thinking she should do - thanks for the reply.

BTW, what brands/models do you recommend for basic players these days (not sure how much has changed in a couple years).

 

[jtvang125]

If you have the space I have a sony 400 disc dvd changer I'm selling. You can store all your dvds in one central location. Let me know if you're interested.

If you just need a single disc player then you have plenty of choices. Any of the name brands (Sony, toshiba...) will be sufficient. If your g/f has a hdtv you may want to look into one that does upscaling to provide a slightly better PQ on a hdtv display.

 

[Raider1284]

absolutely dont try and get it fixed.

You can buy really nice cheap dvd players nowadays. For example: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...m/ccd/productDetail.do for $35 and this one will play divx and xvid movies.

and if she has an HD tv you can get this: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...m/ccd/productDetail.do for only $60!

Getting it repaired would probally cost at least $60 an hour, def not worth it.

 

[Kaspian]

I had a similar situation about a year ago. After I took the dvd player apart, I found 3 dvd disks inside the loading tray. Considering that they were all kids movies, I'm guessing my 2 year old son and 3year old daughter had something to do with it

 

[Tiamat]

the drive tray is mechanical, so it is very possible that dust had built up and traveled down the "drive train" to the "wrong parts" of the mechanism causing it to fail/jam. Buy a new DVD player (probably can get better one for cheaper than repair costs!)

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Well, I figured out what the problem was. I unscrewed the cover and took it off to get the disc out, and it turns out that the DVD wasn't seated in the drive properly. All I had to do was slide the disc down into the holder on the tray and it ejected no problem!

Thanks for the replies everyone!

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha
Well, I figured out what the problem was. I unscrewed the cover and took it off to get the disc out, and it turns out that the DVD wasn't seated in the drive properly. All I had to do was slide the disc down into the holder on the tray and it ejected no problem!

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Sweet, good to know!