Refurbished Optiplex - DVD drive not working

Xbigman

I've purchased a refurbished Optiplex 755 and spent a loooonnnnnngggggg day updating Windows 7 (which was pre-installed). I've now found the DVD drive won't work (I don't know if it was working before I updated but I would guess not).

If I click on 'computer' it lists the drive so its being detected. When I insert a disc the light comes on, the disc spins and nothing else happens, then when I click on 'computer' there are no contents listed for that drive. If I double click on the drive the drive tray ejects and a box pops up saying 'insert disc'.

Anyone have any idea's whats going on?



Darren

John_Gray

I've found that a DVD drive either works or it doesn't.
Get an identical replacement (that is, specific to Dell) - Optiplexes are very easy to work on, particularly the DVD drive (since it's at the top).

GunJack

ask the retailer - they will probably send you another to fit

londonTiger

i regard optiplex drives as consumable items, every time you put a disk in you introduce dust into an environment where its important to keep super clean. eventuallly the accumulation will render it unusable. also the motor and laser will burn out from wear and tear as well

System

If the drive was original then considering its age I'm not really surprised you have problems. Having just completed an upgrade project involving 3000 Optiplex 7xx, a fair few of those had duff DVDs

It can be replaced with any standard SATA drive

londonTiger

!!!!!! wrote: »

If the drive was original then considering its age I'm not really surprised you have problems. Having just completed an upgrade project involving 3000 Optiplex 7xx, a fair few of those had duff DVDs

It can be replaced with any standard SATA drive

pretty sure most laptop dvd drive chassis is specific to each laptop and you cant just fit any to any.

I always use ultra portal 13" laptops as an anciallry to my desktop machine, these do not have space for optical drive. I just use a USB optical drive for the occasional OS use.

USB3.0 thub drives are cheap and it's probably worth the effort to create USB bootable drives using something like the sandisk ultra which is amazingly fast.

But I dont need to tinker with OS much to bother with this.

TadleyBaggie

londonTiger wrote: »

pretty sure most laptop dvd drive chassis is specific to each laptop and you cant just fit any to any..

Yes...but the Optiplex 755 is a small desktop and the optical drive is a standard desktop type.

System

londonTiger wrote: »

pretty sure most laptop dvd drive chassis is specific to each laptop and you cant just fit any to any.

I always use ultra portal 13" laptops as an anciallry to my desktop machine, these do not have space for optical drive. I just use a USB optical drive for the occasional OS use.

USB3.0 thub drives are cheap and it's probably worth the effort to create USB bootable drives using something like the sandisk ultra which is amazingly fast.

But I dont need to tinker with OS much to bother with this.

The only time that you would need a laptop DVD on a 755 is if it is a USFF format.

Laptop DVDs in the main are not laptop specific. You just unclip the front piece and clip it on the new DVD and lo and behold it looks like the original.

Xbigman

Thanks everyone. I've emailed the seller to try to blag a free replacement but if I have to I can pick up a new one for £15 on Amazon. Until then I have an external DVD drive working through a USB port.

Now I've had the case open I can see that dust is probably the culprit. Its going to need a good vacuum before I fit the new Graphics card.



Darren

Xbigman

I contacted the Seller and they've asked me to try unplugging and re plugging the drive, even linking to Youtube instructions on how to do it. No joy so they are sending a replacement.

Now I've had the case open again its not so much dusty as there was some fluff in the case.

Looks like decent customer service from 'Handygeekuk' who I am happy to recommend.


Darren

kwikbreaks

Except that you'd expect a basic check that a refurb machine is working correctly. It sounds like the refurb only involved dusting the outside of the case and making sure it powered up. At least they sent a no quibble replacement drive.

There are some excellent refurbishers. I got a very cheap refurb i7 machine from an ebay seller and that was absolutely spotless inside.