Optical Drives' short life span?

Hey experts! I am wondering if Optical Drives are commonly replaced after a short 2-3 year life span. When you start to have trouble reading and writing, then almost certain is time to replace the drive. No cleaning agents would suffice.

Am using the TM8204WLMi since its first release and aside from Orbicam and minor display issues, the machine is still impressive. However, now the DVD/RW is having issues. About the same time, I have 3 desktops at office that also have problems with reading and burning. So I'm thinking... is this a common issue that opticals have to be replaced?

Anyhow, the desktops were easily replaced but am not sure about notebook drives. Any suggestions on brands I should look for? Or best to return to Acer? Or should I go to external?

Thanks.

 

Most of notebooks also have drives that can be easily replaced.

 

yup. ODD get damaged quite fast especially if you are using low quality cD/DVD/DVDR. these low quality discs have problem with their so called Tracking and focusing signal. For the tracking, if the information track is not center with the hub then your drive servo motor will always move erraticaly thus shortening the life of you motor.

 

Thanks bulik... that's one point I overlooked, quality of the discs.

 

you should be able to use any brand of CD/DVD as a replacement.... i currently have an NEC OPTIARC DVD in my acer,, but slimline DVDs are built on a standard.... and should be interchangeable with little effort


bigO

 

I searched out for a replacement drive today to no luck. I'm not sure about the make/model but the shopkeeper said a couple drives didn't work or fit. Acer's shop sells for about USD150... which I quickly turned away. I hope I have better luck next time.

 

You can always do what I did - get an external drive..

Try John's advice, maybe the drive still work..

 

Thanks, but having an inoperable drive still attached is not what I plan to look for, and an external is what it is. I have checked the transfer mode and indeed is UDMA2.

It's hard to believe other internal notebook optical drives costs about 5 times cheaper than Acer's... it's a rip off.

 

1. What is the model number of your current optical drive?

2. Is it the only device on an IDE channel?

3. Read this thread and its links.

John

 

1. MAT****A DVD-ROM UJ-840S
2. Only device? Other than the SATA harddrive, yes.
3. Same as IZarch, I too have 2 IDE channels (Channel 0, ATA, UDMA5; Channel 1, Atapi CDROM, UDMA2) and 1 SATA. If I read the post and links correctly, then I would need to find a standard slim 12.5mm, as master, and that would fit my bezel.

 

OK, well those asterisks weren't on purpose. It IS the brand of my drive... :O

 

I have an Acer with that **** in it

 

Just let you know that dvd drive is sata not ide

so you need sata replacement

also since you driver is sata not ide they is no master and slave on it

also watch out for diffent face plates on them I asume model you have is slot load?