Question One of my optical drives may be developing a taste for human blood

[mikeymikec]

My PC has two SATA optical drives, the one in question is a Pioneer DVDRW (DVR-221L) drive. For some reason - regardless of OS - (Linux/Windows), the drive likes to retract the tray unexpectedly. I've encountered this kind of silliness before but never with such regularity as this drive. It doesn't have any trouble with reading or writing, just a little too eager apparently. Any ideas, aside from replacing it?

 

[In2Photos]

Does it open on it's own? Seems weird it would only do it one way and not the other since it is the same button.

Maybe try some contact cleaner around the button. I have a rotary volume knob on my keyboard and for a while the volume would just get loud on its own. A little contact cleaner and the problem went away.

 

[mikeymikec]

Nope. Closed at all times, opens when asked!

Now do I have some contact cleaner left...

 

[fzabkar]

Intermittent microswitch or slipping drive belt would be my guess.