HELP!... Removal of one of those *()&^(%*)&^ metal clips from

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

diskettes from a diskette drive.
It is really wedged in there this time.

Any hints, other than the obvious... get something small and yank it out?

[HEyHEY]

1. unplug the computer first

then jiggle a fork around in there

[Tripper11]

2. Tweezers perhaps???? n/t

[Melsky]

3. Get one of your rats to do it

I hear they are quite clever! Or maybe some needlenose pliers.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

4. Nice suggestions... tried them all... the rats just sniffed and

climbed back up my sleeve... it is waaaaay back in there and jammed. I don't want to take this freakin thing apart tonight.

[dweller]

5. Good luck

i used to have to do this daily in a campus computer lab, lot's of times students would ignore the problem and jam another disk in there anyway.

so, some suggestions.

get a large paper clip, heavy duty type. Straighten it out, and put a small bend in the end, like an 1/8" or so.

Use it to grab, push, hook, snag that little p.o.s. from as many sides as possible, one after another. Eventually, you'll find the sweet spot that gets it loose.
also helpful, a flashlight to spot it, and something to hold the door open as you work. A strong drink for steady hands, and a full vocab of appropriate cuss words.

dp

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. GOT IT.... it is bent to crap.... thanks to my 4 year old

But, at least she told me about it. It might have happened to anyone. Now the disk won't read.... hummmmm.

Thanks everyone.

I used a Dental pick.

[sexybomber]

7. ooh

you may have busted the read/write head while you were jimmying the metal thingy.

don't worry, disc drives are like 5 bucks, and they're fairly simple to replace if you have some clue what you're doing.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

9. Nope, worked just fine after I removed the foreign object

stuck to the head... the spring from the diskette. At least I think it is from the diskette... a little wire with a loop in the middle bent at about 10-15 degree angle on both ends.

[dweller]

8. haha!

now that's what i was describing for you to make, not realizing you'd have a pick on hand.

btw, that's one honest 4 yr old. Good for her.

dp

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

10. Yeah, she is a good girl. I am so proud of her

more so every day.