Re: [MAGNet] Opening a Mac CD tray without the "Media Key"

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From: Aron Roberts (aron@socrates.berkeley.edu)
Date: Thu Oct 31 2002 - 12:34:27 PST

At 12:05 -0800 2002-10-31, Kin Jung wrote:
>Using: Current Macintosh models (without a physical CD eject button)
>running OS 10.2.1 (or OS 9 for that matter)
>
>How does one open the CD tray [... WITHOUT a disc in it ... ] on a
>PowerMac or iMac if one is using a keyboard other than Apple's?
>...
>I've noodled around TIL/KB but didn't find anything pertaining to my
>inquiry. Got any ideas?

   In Mac OS X 10.1 and higher, the F12 function key is assigned by
default to the task of opening and closing the CD/DVD tray on
third-party keyboards which are missing a dedicated Eject key.
(Note: you may have to press and hold that key for a second or two.)

   In Mac OS 9, you can use Apple's "Eject Extras" application, or the
associated "Eject" Control Stip module to perform the same function.
You can apparently find these on the Mac OS 9 CD, in the "CD Extras"
folder. Another source may be a download link at:

   http://www.postop.com/html/TechSupport-EZKeyboardQA.htm

   The 'read me' file for this application and control strip appears
below. It also describes how you can assign a function key, such as
F12, to launch the "Eject Extras" application.

   For completeness, third-party hardware vendor Macally offers an
"OpenTray" utility (untried by moi) for the same task:

     http://www.macally.com/techsupport/faq/faq_iwebkey.html

   Finally, the relevant Apple support document is:

     "Power Mac G4: How to Open the CD/DVD Tray"
     http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25345

Aron Roberts
Workstation Software Support Group 

--

About Eject Extras

If you use a third-party keyboard that doesn't have a Media Eject 
key, you can use one of the following methods to open and close your 
computer's optical drive.

These methods work with all Power Macintosh computers that normally 
come with an Apple Pro keyboard. You can also drag the applications 
from the CD Extras folder on the Mac OS 9 Install CD to your hard 
disk.

Assign a function key to open and close the optical drive tray

Assign the Eject application to a function key (numbered F-keys, for 
example F5 or F12). Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu, then 
choose Keyboard from the submenu. Click Function Keys, and click the 
function key you wish to use. Select the Eject application from the 
Eject Extras folder (located in the Apple Extras folder in the 
Applications (Mac OS 9) folder).

Use the Eject application

Double-click the Eject application whenever you want to open or close 
the optical drive. You can drag the Eject application to another 
folder or to the desktop.

Use the Eject portion of the Control Strip

Drag the Eject module from the Eject Extras folder onto the Control 
Strip. You can also drag it onto the Control Strip Modules folder or 
onto the Mac OS 9 System Folder icon while the System Folder is 
closed.

Copyright 2001 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the 
Apple logo, Mac, and Power Macintosh are trademarks of Apple 
Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Updated June 20, 2001

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