Hugh, an expert I ain't, but it may be a bit early for the last rites. Were you using a formatted CD for use in either Adaptec's Direct CD or Nero's InCD? I was looking through the Help section of Direct CD last night and there is a whole section on Ejecting a formatted CD, believe it or not.
Apart from that I offer no reason why the drawer won't open, but if you straighten out a paper clip and insert it into the pinhole next to the eject button and push, the drawer will open far enough for you to pull it open manually and retrieve your CD. Then try Rule 1; When in doubt reboot, and try it with another CD.
(You have no idea what a fraud I feel offering advice on this site rather than asking for it)
