Advice please re DVD drive

melbury

Figment wrote: »

Might just need cleaning, or it's possible the laser has lost power.

Replacement drives can be had for not very much from ebay, e.g.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-DELL-DIMENSION-5000-DVD-PLAYER-/251150755854?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Washing_Machines_Dryers_Parts_Accessories_ET&hash=item3a79c0680e

Does it matter that the part number is not the same?

Figment

melbury wrote: »

Does it matter that the part number is not the same?

No, any DVD drive will fit as long as it's a full height drive (all of those linked are), the connectors on the back match yours (IDE), and it is the same type of drive (DVD Reader / DVD Writer etc) if you want like for like replacement.

The ones in second link are cheaper.

closed

is itunes installed?

Was it factory restored?

What type of disc and format are you actually trying to read and with which program?

Older OS's like XP don't support all dvd/CD functionality automatically, you often need 3rd party software.

melbury

closed wrote: »

is itunes installed?

Was it factory restored?

What type of disc and format are you actually trying to read and with which program?

Older OS's like XP don't support all dvd/CD functionality automatically, you often need 3rd party software.

Itunes isn't installed.

OH took it back to factory settings.

I was intending to buy the drive that is for sale on Ebay that is from a Dell Dimension 5000. Would 3rd party software be available for that do you think?

Or, alternatively, would it just be simpler to buy an external one?

Thanks.

closed

post more about what format of disc you are using, and what works, and what doesn't, and which operating system - ie make sure the physical drive is faulty before spending money.

internal is the best solution if it's hardware - you just need to make sure it has the correct type of connection for your machine pata is the older standard, sata is the newer, the drive pictured on ebay is pata.

Swapping them is simple. the one on ebay is a dvd rom, and 8 years old, you could probably get a brand new dvd writer for around the same price, but pata drives are becoming harder to find nowadays

melbury

Thanks Closed,

I am going to bid on this one, thought it was worth trying for £5. Does this look like it would be OK?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAMSUNG-DVD-Master-16E-Model-SD-616-/221136803436?pt=UK_Computing_Drives_Storage_CD_DVD_Drives_ET&hash=item337cc7d66c&_uhb=1

I will fire up the old machine and try and see what drive it is, I would imagine the older type because the computer is about 7-8 years old.

Johnmcl7

I think that Samsung drive looks ok as it's IDE/PATA rather than SATA. You can easily tell when you look in your machine as IDE/PATA is a wide ribbon cable whereas the SATA cable is a narrow one. Dell provide service manuals for free on their website which show all the steps needed to open the case and remove the drive:

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim5000/en/sm/parts0.htm#wp1056445

As others have said, it's very easy to do so you shouldn't have any issue. Windows XP can't natively burn DVDs but it has all the necessary drivers for the drive itself so when Windows sees the new drive it will install the drivers itself.

John

NiftyDigits

Instructions on page 94

Although it's probably an IDE drive, the Motherboard has both interfaces. So you can get either kind. I would go for a DVD writer, as opposed to a simple player. But if you can get the ROM drive for a fiver...

closed

If it will read the odd one, it may not be a hardware problem.

melbury

closed wrote: »

If it will read the odd one, it may not be a hardware problem.

Think it must be the hardware because it takes ages to install even the odd ones that it will read. It has probably packed up through complete lack of use;)

I am going to bid on that Samsung and just hope it works.

Many thanks.