why will my xbox 360 disc drive open when sideway's but will not open when upright

Thank you for the information however it does not anwser my question very well. What I wanted to know was the cause for the xbox 360 disc drive getting stuck when opened upright but not sideways and a explanation for why a disc prevents the disc drive form getting stuck.

it would have to be physically examined in order to determine that, but since you have an upright, and you don't have gravity helping you and instead working against you, that is why horizontal likely works and vertical does not

The drive is likely wearing out

Good to know, do you have a explanation for why the disc keeps it open?

Is it because the disc gets scratched?

well all Xbox 360 disc drives are getting pretty elderly, but also, it's more stress to load a disc in the vertical position, I never recommend anyone do it except on a series X