Killed my DVD drive - any idea how much it will cost to fix?

greyskittles

I really think I'm cursed with all things techie. I opened the dvd drive last night as I bought a new printer and wanted to read the manual which is on CD... I then somehow managed to fall off my chair and smack my leg against the open dvd drive, so now the bloomin' thing won't shut (unless I actually force it shut) and it has gone stiff - even when I manually push it closed with the CD in it, it doesn't play.

I only bought the computer in June & have Dell's 1-year collect & return service which is still valid, but are they likely to fix it when I've messed it up? What if I don't tell them?

Failing that, can anyone estimate how much it might cost to get it fixed?

BillScarab

A new DVD drive is about £15-£20 and 15 mins to fit. I doubt very much if it is worth trying to get it repaired. I'd just buy a new one.

ebuyer have plenty for example.

It may be worth seeing if Dell cover accidental damage first though.

spaceman5

personally i would use dells 1 year warranty, no need to tell them that you messed it up, just tell them you tried inserting the cd into the drive, and for some reason the drive has gone stiff, they are not gonna know, or be able to find out, that you hit the tray as you fell back, but if you dont wanna lose your pc for days, or even weeks, then as billscarab advises, they are really easy to fit, just a case of opening up your case, taking out 2 screws and replacing the drive, hope this helps, Dave.

greyskittles

Ahh thanks - i didn't realise it was something i'd be able to buy & fit myself! for £20 i think i'll do that instead of sending it off and having to wait for it to be returned.

greyskittles

i've just looked at the tower-thing, and it seems the front is stuck on with glue. am i supposed to just pull it off, or are you supposed to do it from the back of the computer?

spakkker

Make sure that you get the same type insofar as a sata type or an eide type-if your dvd is connected by a wide flat gray cable it's eide, if its a 1 cm max. width cable its sata. Both should work but you will only have your existing cables, newer pc's may not even have an eide connection as sata is the newer technology

PZH

greyskittles wrote: »

i've just looked at the tower-thing, and it seems the front is stuck on with glue. am i supposed to just pull it off, or are you supposed to do it from the back of the computer?

You need to do it from inside the case as you need to connect power and data cables as well as mount it with screws.

If you are not fully up to speed with the inside of a PC case then I would ask around and see if any friends/relatives/neighbours could help you. You can do a lot of damage if you don't know what you are doing ( and with your track record of falling off a chair, I'd definitely be wary - lol )

BillScarab

If it is a tower system you should be able to remove the side panels. Usually there are a couple of screws each side at the back, remove these. Then the side panels normally slide back an inch or so and lift off. The front panels tend to be clipped into place, once the sides are off you should be able to see if it is and prise it carefully off.

What is the exact model of PC you have as someone may be able to offer specific advice?

nickcardwell

greyskittles wrote: »

Ahh thanks - i didn't realise it was something i'd be able to buy & fit myself! for £20 i think i'll do that instead of sending it off and having to wait for it to be returned.

tell them the cd doesnt work, and you can fit it yourself,

They will send out a new drive in the post (cheaper rather than getting an engineer to fix)

all you need to do is swap it out, and then send back the old drive (at your cost)

nick

greyskittles

^thanks for that - i'm currenty speaking to someone about it now on the webchat.