Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 CD Drive

Slide the highlighted tab to the left.

With your finger on the tab, remove the battery by lifting it upwards away from the laptop.

Hold the laptop in the same orientation as the picture. Then, locate the switch immediately above and to the left of the drive.

Slide the switch to the right. A black plastic tab will pop out.

Pull the plastic tab to expose the CD drive.

If there is a problem with your tab, whether it doesn't pop out or it doesn't expose the CD drive, please check the corresponding entry in the troubleshooting page.

Carefully pull the CD drive out from the laptop.