Replacing DVD Rom

firbyfred

I have an old computer which is running fine but the DVD rom seems to be playing up, I also have a CD writer which I use occasionally.
I was thinking of getting this

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/145450?utm_source=google&utm_medium=products

as a replacement.

Which one to I replace the DVD rom or the CD writer? and do I just disconnect the other one?
Will it be a straight swap?

Thanks for any advice

santer_2

Replace the drive which has the problem, it will be a straight swap, just make sure the jumpers are set to the same position

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=replace+a+dvd+writer&aq=f

pricebeater

Check if your pc has SATA connectors before you order.

esuhl

As above, there are two (common) standards for the connections to the drive: SATA and IDE (aka PATA). Just replace your DVD drive with one of the same type.

In the picture below, the top image is of an IDE connection, the bottom is SATA (I know they're hard drives, but it's the same for CD/DVD drives):

moneysavingkitten

Always worth swapping the CD Writer and DVD ROM connectors over with each other as well, check that is is actually the drive that isn't working, and not a bad SATA/IDE cable, or a bad motherboard port, before you commit to buying a new one. You could also try it with the jumpers set to different positions to check they are not conflicting. HTH

esuhl

moneysavingkitten wrote: »

You could also try it with the jumpers set to different positions to check they are not conflicting. HTH

N.B. IDE/PATA drives can be set as either a "master" or "slave" drive. Most IDE cables have three connectors - one at either end and one about 2/3rds of the way along the cable. The connector that's furthest away from the other two plugs into the motherboard, the "master" drive goes at the end of the cable, and the "slave" drive is connected to the middle connector. In the picture below, the top drive is the master and the bottom is the slave:



IDE drives also have jumpers where you can set the drive to be in "master", "slave" or "cable select" mode. The latter just means that the drive will be a master if it's at the end of the cable or a slave if it's in the middle. Here's a picture of a jumper set in the "master" position:



SATA cables, however, have an identical connector at each end. You can only connect one drive per cable, so SATA devices are not set up as "master" or "slave" drives and they also don't have master/slave jumpers.

Hope this helps...

JasX

yes they cost <£20 and are all very reasonable quality these days (ie fast and reliable).

If you are buying a SATA drive check your old drive is also SATA or that you have a free SATA socket and cables (data and power) to connect it to.

It doesn't really mattter which you replace, you rarely need 2 these days unless you're say playing an audio CD in one and working off data on another, all copying tends to be Disk -> Hard drive -> back to Disk these days.