Open Sesame -- for your CD-ROM tray!

Submitted by HelpMeRick.com on December 30, 2005 - 5:40pm.

If your computer is in a precarious or tight position, opening the CD tray can be cumbersome. Use this tip to have your computer open the CD tray for you.

First, you need to create a shortcut on your desktop. Here's how it is done:

1. Double-click on My Computer
2. Drag your CD-ROM icon to your desktop
3. Click on the Yes button from the resulting message box

Now, any time you need to open your CD-ROM tray, just RIGHT click on the shortcut you just created, and click on Eject from the menu.

For closing your CD tray (with some drives), just repeat the same process as opening. OR, if you just nudge (gently) the tray inward, the machine will pull the tray closed automatically.

If you have a ZIP drive, you can use this same method for ejecting disks.

Unfortunately, there is no automatic method for floppy disks (like a Macintosh has), we still have to push the eject button on the drive to get our floppies out.

One last tip about physical nuances of our computers...if you are trying to shut down your computer because of an error and pushing the power button doesn't seem to do the job, push and hold the power button for up to ten seconds and then the computer will shut off.

If this helped, consider buying me a beer or an Americano!