How do I remove a puzzle piece from a laptop CD drive?

CO’s Wife: How do I remove a puzzle piece from a laptop CD drive?
Thanks to my 2 year-old, my Dell Studio laptop now has a puzzle piece stuck inside of the CD drive. Without destroying the computer or paying WAY to much $ $ $ to have a pro do it, how can I safely remove this object? I need access to the drive for files for my business. (I need to copy them onto disk)
I forgot to mention that it’s not tray loaded, it’s just a slot in the side of the computer.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Sid
you can always take it apart yourself.
following Dell’s Service manuals

Answer by Super Answerer
I don’t know if you have tried this already…. and, I’m assuming that you have a drive that opens just like mine does(spring-loaded). If that’s the case, press on the eject button… the device light should blink, and the spring should make a sound. Take a thin ruler or knife or a blade and ease it into the drive from the side. Carefully. Then, pull out the CD drive. It should not damage the laptop, except a few scratches, if the knife/blade is not handled very carefully.

In case the drive’s motor operated(i.e., the whole of it comes out by the inside motor, you can ease in the knife and pull it out. That would not damage the motor.(I know cause that happened to me on my desktop computer)

Or, the best way would be this: you may have a small hole near the eject button. Take a long and a bit thick pin and stick it inside the hole, and push it, till you hear it opened. You may get your drive opened that way.

Then, the last way’s to open and remove the drive, then, open the drive and removing it manually. But, that would void your warranty if the laptop’s still covered with warranty.

Sid

Answer by gracemartinsen
Do you mean the drive won’t open? If so, here’s a video on how to manually open your drive: