Replacing the optical DVD drive for TM290

I have a Travelmate 291 that I've been very happy with. It came with a LiteOn 4x DVD+-R writer, which is pretty outdated now. 4x DVD-R/+Rs are impossible to find now, and this thing will NOT burn 8x or above DVDs at ANY speed. I was wondering how tough is it to find a replacement drive for this model?

I assumed that since it was an "optical drive" (whatever that means) that it's easy to slide out and find a replacement, but apparently not.

Any ideas??

 

Well, unless your model uses the Super Slim DVD burners (for ultraportables), then you can certainly upgrade your drive. I have upgraded the optical drive in every notebook I've had.

The first thing you have to do is make sure you can get the benzel off the drive you currently have, so you can swap it with the new one. Shouldn't be hard to take off - I've never run into a situation where it wasn't removable.

Here is a drive I recommend. I've had Sony burners for years, never had a problem.

On the bottom of your notebook, underneath the optical drive, there are one or two screws. Remove them, and the drive will slide out. Swap benzels, and stick in the new one. Put back the screws and there you go! No drivers are needed, Windows will install the drive automatically when you restart.

Chaz

 

Thanks a lot ChazMan, I'll definately look into that!

 

I would look at the NEC ND-6650a also at NewEgg. They are the best laptop DVD burners in my opinion. Sony doesn't make their drives anymore, they are LiteOn drives. Master/slave can also sometimes be an issue.

 

Really? Where did you get that information from?

Last drive I bought from them was made by Sony...

Hm, in that case, get the NEC drive zazonz suggested - LiteOn drives are terrible!

Chaz

 

Sony hasn't made their own drives for quite some time. Just like HPs are BenQs. There are fewer and fewer drive manufacturers. Even NEC is starting to outsource the making of some of their desktop drives to LiteOn.

 

Hmmm...I guess that I will just have to be careful then. My experience with Lite-On is, well, let's just say that I was never satisfied.

Chaz

 

LiteOn seems to be hit or miss. One drive will be very good, then the next one is crap, then back to good and so on.