Changing the dvd drive on an acer aspire 1692WLMi

Hi, i bought one year ago an acer aspire 1692 WLMi and the latest problem i'm having with it is that the cd/dvd drive doesn't want to "swallow" cds/dvds anymore - it spits them instantly without having even properly chewed on them.

The drive is a panasonic/matshita UJ 845D, and i would want to change it. I seem to be able to find for online sale drives of the UJ 845B type (but not D) and wonder if it would work ? Also, even if i've done some assembling on desktop computers (changed drives, cards, etc.) and changed the hard drive on the laptop twice already, i don't have a clue as to how to access the dvd rom drive to remove it and swap it, so if anyone could share their lights on the matter, or give me a link, i would be very grateful.

Thank you in advance !

 

Remove the two screws at the back of the hinge covers. This will allow you to pop off the cover that covers the power switch, hinges, and the top of the keyboard. Pry carefully. Iy is easy to break this piece! This will allow you to see the screws at the top of the keyboard that hold it in. Remove the screws and lift the keyboard from the top. Don't pull too far. You will see that the keyboard is attached to the mobo via a ribbon cable. It may not be nesassary to remove the cable...just don't pull hard on it as you might rip it.
You will see a single screw that is attached to a black plastic tab on the end on the cd drive. Remove this screw, and the drive will slide out. Voila! You now have the drive in your hand.
I accept no responsiblity if you break anything. I am recalling this from my memory of taking apart many laptops to repair them. If you do not feel comfortable with my description...don't do it! Do NOT force anything. I swear, they design these things to break if you pull on the wrong part or forget to remove a screw. And finally, if you pull out the ribbon cable for the keyboard, you might rip it or worse, break the connection on the mobo.
Hope this has helped.

Bill, the Canadian laptop guy.

 

Hi Bill ! Thank you very much for your reply and all the details you give me. I'e been having a look at the beast with your instructions at hand and in mind, and the way it looks for the "screws at the back of the hinges" is as follows : there are screws on the back of the hinges indeed, but there are also 3 other ones (going down in the "body" of the laptop, as opposed to the screen) at the vertical of the screen itself : and it seems that there would be no angle to unscrew them unless the screen gets totally disassembled : will i need to remove these ones too ?

I'm sorry to bother you again after all the descriptions you gave, but i'm trying to assess whether i should do it myself or have it ran through some specialists (which i'd want to avoid if i can, obviously, considering the costs and the time it takes.)

Thank you in advance again

 

Hi, i wanted to let you know that i checked it and managed to remove the drive.. now i only have to make sure that the "d" model and the "b" one are such that i can swap one for the other.