I posted this in CH but maybe this is a better place for it.

The problem of the CD or DVD deck that suddenly must be opened with a straightened paper clip is usually solved when it suddenly goes back to normal or you buy a new system or deck. I tried finding a fix for this on Google and most suggestions stopped right after the paper clip trick until I saw one guy posting a new idea without offering a solid reason for it working.

Leave a cd disk in the drive once you get it open, for me at least it has worked 100% of the time since I tried it. The poster talked about magnetism but I never bothered to fathom what it was all about once I found that it worked.