Latitude E6410 optical drive - d'oh!

So I was an idiot and managed to get a stupid 8x DVD-ROM with my brand spankin' new E6410. I'm going to call the customer support line tomorrow and find out if I can swap it for a DVD-RW and just pay the $50 price difference I would have paid if I'd ordered it originally, but if they say no, I really don't want to drop $100 on one when I know I can find them cheaper on eBay.

My question is this - are SATA laptop optical drives the same as older IDE drives, in that they are universally compatible with laptops, or do OEMs have drives that don't follow a standardized size and form factor now? I found a Lite-On DVD-RW with LightScribe on eBay for like $40, but I don't want to get it if it's not going to fit.

Thanks!

 

They are somewhat specific to the Latitudes. I haven't tried to fit an aftermarket, but at a minimum you would have to adapt the sled/housing to the drive. I don't recommend it. This particular link is for the E6400, but they are identical in this respect: Documentation

Assuming you are within the 21 day return period, my suggestion would be to contact Customer Care and threaten to return the laptop.

Remember, you can return the system within 21 days for any reason.

One caveat to this, if they do send the drive for the current system, write the order or dispatch number on the drive. There will be no record under the service tag that you have the upgraded drive.

 

The E6400 optical drive is a standard component with a release latch held on by a couple of screws. The basic specification is 9.5mm (3/8" inch) with SATA connector. Note the thickness.

There are several compatible models. You can see the list under the E6400 drivers > All versions.

John

 

you can return it for any reason, but they charge you a restocking fee, right?

I made the same mistake as the OP, plus, i cannot use this thing on my lap because it gets really really hot on the bottom. But I was unaware that returning was an option.

 

There is no restocking fee to return it - it's part of the "total satisfaction guaranteed" policy.

I ended up calling customer service, and she offered to send me a refurb DVD-RW at no charge with a prepaid shipping label to return the DVD-ROM. It's a perfectly fine solution in my book; I don't care if it's refurb, especially since it's saving me the $50-$100 for a replacement.

Old IDE laptop optical drives were all essentially the same - different OEMs would include different brackets that screwed onto the drive, and various interface adapters for the data and power connector on the rear of the drive, but the form factor was universal. It seems like SATA drives would be the same way, but it's hard to tell from pictures online if that's the case.

Also, to bradsh WRT heat - did you get the 512MB nvidia GPU option? That's going to make the machine run hotter, especially if you're gaming or doing anything graphics-intensive. Not only that, but the i5 CPU isn't exactly going to run cool. If it's unbearable, try using a laptop desk or any kind of hard surface - keeping it on your lap/bed/other fabric is going to insulate the bottom and prevent the airflow necessary to keep the internals cool.