Can I put a DVD drive in an old laptop?

tigs78

I wanted to buy a portable DVD player but not only are they quite expensive the screens are quite small, so I came up with a brainwave...

I have a VERY old laptop which has been sat in the cupboard for years, a Toshiba T2150CDT. Can I buy a DVD drive and put that in so that I can watch DVD's on it. Spec as follows, would you believe it they still have all the info on a website!

If it can be done what would I need to buy and how easy would it be? I have a fairly limited knowledge of computers so please be gentle with your answers!

Thanks in advance

Product Specifications

Processor
SL Enhanced IntelDX4,
75 MHz int./25 MHz ext.,
3.3 volt technology,
16 KB cache on chip,
built-in numeric coprocessor

Memory
T2150CDS: standard 4 MB RAM,
expandable to 28 MB
T2150CDT: 8 MB RAM standard,
expandable to 32 MB

Hard disk
T2150CDS: 260/520 Mill. Bytes
capacity
T2150CDT: 520 Mill. Bytes capacity

External Diskette drive
3.5“ 1.44 MB / 720 KB
media-type checking,
(optional with T2150CDS/260)

CD-ROM Drive
Double speed, 12 cm (5,25“) and
8 cm (3,5“) disks, CD-ROM XA
Photo CD, Audio CD, Multisession
Data transfer: 300 KB/s
Ave. Access Time: 385 ms

Display
T2150CDS: 26 cm (10.4“) Dual Scan
STN colour LCD
T2150CDT: 26 cm (10.4“) active
matrix TFT colour LCD, low-power

Graphics adaptor
SVGA-/VGA-compatible, dual display
mode, Vesa local bus, BitBlT
graphics accelerator

Internal video modes
T2150CDS: 640 x 480 x 256 colours
T2150CDT: 640 x 480 x 64 K colours

External video modes
T2150CDS: 640 x 480 x 256 colours
T2150CDS: 640 x 480 x 64 K colours
800 x 600 x 256 colours
1024 x 768 x 256 colours

Keyboard
84 keys, integrated
MousePoint, standard layout,
12 function keys,
8 dedicated cursor keys,
inlaid numeric keypad,
8 hot keys

Sound System
16-bit Sound Blaster Pro compatible
MIDI & WAVE support,
Built-in speaker and microphone

Interfaces
Serial port, external microphone,
external floppy disk drive, extended
capabilities parallel port (ECP), ext.
VGA monitor, PS/2 key-board,
line-in jack, headphones jack
Port replicator also provides
joystick port, line out, PS/2 mouse

Expansion
2 x PCMCIA 2.0 Type II (5 mm) or
1 x PCMCIA 2.0 Type III (10.5 mm),
memory expansion slot (SIMMs),
port replicator connector

Integrated power supply
Autosensing 100-240 V
AC adaptor for world-wide usage

Battery
Removable NiH2 batteries,
up to 3 hrs battery life
recharge: 2.5 hrs off / 48 hrs on

Size
299 x 226 x 53 mm
(11.7“ x 8.9“ x 2.0“)

Weight
3.2 kg (6.97 lb.)

Bundled software
MS Windows for Workgroups 3.11,
DOS 6.22, PCMCIA 2.0 Socket and
Card Services, Toshiba Audio
Applications 2.12, screen drivers,
CD-ROM drivers, MousePoint software,
all pre-installed on the hard
disk

Special features/services
Toshiba AutoResume with
AutoSave, MaxTime™ with
Advanced Power Management,
HotLock password, system password,
3-Year International Warranty,
Plug ´n´ Play BIOS

Options
Carrying case, port replicator,
extra battery packs, battery charger,
4, 8, 16 and 24 MB memory modules,
PCMCIA CryptCard,
Toshiba ExpressWriter 201

rogerramjet

You could put a DVD drive into it, however; there would be no dedicated graphics or decoder.

You would need DVD software which would be memory and processor intensive, the spec of the laptop, even with upgrades would still not be enough to play DVD's. To be honest, you'd have difficulty playing DVD's on a 300mhz processor laptop. DVD's only became popular after about the intel 450mhz processor and only then did manufactures begin to build systems with dedicated hardware.

So the answer is, with the spec laptop you have it will not be possible to play DVD's even if you put a DVD drive into it.

If I was you I'd keep and eye on the site link below, they sell DVD players quite cheap regualrly (£29.99)

http://www.valutech.co.uk/default.asp/pages/p.8969/ecombuilder.html

tigs78

Thanks, that's knocked that one on the head then! Looks like i'll have to splash out on a portable DVD after all.

Thanks again, really appreciate your speedy and knowledgable reply.