A DVD is stuck in the player and the door will not open, it makes a grinding noise when you try to open it.

You may have a stuck DVD in the player. Most DVD players have a small pin type hole in the front where you can inser a paper clip to manually open the tray. Otherwise, you have to remove the cover of the drive to actually see what is happening. support hp com Maybe this link will be of some assistance.

Is it happening with all the dvds you play on it, if so then you should clean the drive with a branded dvd drive cleaner.

It sounds like you have 2 disks stuck in there. TV repair shop, or try shaking the dvd player lightly while dvd is trying to open. You may need to help open the door, but too much effort could cause harm.

I was able to fix this myself, however, I did get instructions from Sony that may or may not work. My solution was:
Unplug the unit and carefully (so the disks don't shift) move to a location where it can be easily worked on.
Remove the 9 screws holding the cover on. 2 on top, 2 on each side, and 3 at the back, along the top edge.
Carefully, may need some wiggly remove the cover. There are some rubber pads at the front of the unit that hinder the cover from sliding. Slightly wiggling and pulling to the rear will dislodge it.
Confirm all disks are properly aligned on the carousel.
Pull out any disks that are askew. They will be replaced later in the same way disks are added, through the door.
Look in the rear where the laser unit is.
Carefully slide out disks near the laser. You'll have to move some in order to tip others out.
By taking out 6-10 disks, you'll probably find there's one partially lodged in the laser unit. With adjacent disks removed you can slide the "stuck" disk out.
Plug in the unit and test to see if the grinding stopped.
Unplug the cord.
Replace the cover with the 9 screws. Some wiggly and pushing forward is needed to reseat the cover at the front.
Carefully move the unit back to where it was.
Replace cables and plug in.
Return the disks removed according to the instructions.
This took me about 15 minutes from start to finish.

The following was provided by Sony. I don't know if this works as I had fixed it before Sony responded.
IMPORTANT: If model-specific information is required to complete any of the steps in this solution, refer to the operating instructions supplied with the product. Manuals are available online in the Manuals/Specs/Warranty section of the Sony® eSupport Web site.

1. Ensure the child lock feature is disabled.
2. Attempt to open the disc tray.
3. If the issue is not resolved, turn off the DVD player.
4. Unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet for 30 seconds.
5. Plug the power cord back into the electrical outlet.
6. Attempt to open the disc tray.
7. If the disc tray still does not open, simultaneously press the POWER + STOP + EJECT buttons.
8. If the disc tray still does not open, simultaneously press the DISC1 + STOP + EJECT buttons. NOTE: This step may not apply to all models. DISC1 is not available on all DVD players.
   

If the issue is still unresolved, service may be required. The Sony® eService Web site at http://eservice.sony.com/ can assist you in obtaining service from a Sony Service Center or locating a Sony Authorized Servicer.

grinding sounds is from the dvd drive itself. Sounds like its not sitting properly in the drive or the holder that it sits in is going bad. Either way replace the drive and that will take care of the grinding sounds. Also the more grinding sounds that happen, the more of a chance you take on your dvds getting scratches on them and going bad eventually.

there is a tiny hole next to the dvd door. Straighten out a small paperclip and push the end of the wire into the hole to manually open the door.

This may need a trip to the shop.

I would try to bring the device to a worktable and using gentle probes, ease the door open when activated.

I assume that there is a noise when you activate the door open feature.

It's likely the drive belt that controls the sledge the disc goes on has perished or fallen off. It should just need replacing.

I opened the DVD door and something looked crooked... I pushed it down to straighten it... it clicked back into place and it works great! haha. I bought it off craigslist for only $15.. great deal. :)

that is normal for laser to do that.

Basic DVD, CDrom Troubleshooting
wrong disk ,disk error,
First Clean the lens:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2036275_clean-lens-dvd.html

wont open, wont close, makes clicking/grinding noises etc.
http://www.llamma.com/xbox/Repairs/thompson_dvd_tray.htm