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    Replacing Bluray/DVD Optical Drive

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Howie, Nov 8, 2012.

  1. Howie

    Howie Notebook Guru

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    My bluray drive has died. What do I look for in a replacement? Is there only one-size of laptop bluray burner/reader drives?

    I figured I'd ask here if anyone else has replaced their M17x optical drive in the past.

    Thanks!
     
    Howie, Nov 8, 2012
    #1
  2. radji

    radji Farewell, Solenya...

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    Notebook optical drives are all the same form factor (trust me, I've replaced quite a few). The only differences are whether the optical drive is slot-load or tray load. Also, the drive is either SATA or IDE.

    For the m17x (all versions), your optical drive needs to be a slot-loading SATA optical drive.
     
    radji, Nov 8, 2012
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  3. Howie

    Howie Notebook Guru

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    I appreciate the such quick and helpful info!

    I couldn't find any laptop slot-load drives on Newegg...any suggestions?
     
    Howie, Nov 8, 2012
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  4. Howie

    Howie Notebook Guru

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    Howie, Nov 9, 2012
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  5. david84

    david84 Notebook Geek

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    david84, Nov 9, 2012
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  6. radji

    radji Farewell, Solenya...

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    That will work just fine. Its got the slimline SATA on the back so it be compatible connector wise.

    Never heard of Teac either. You can always look for the Panasonic brand. I know those slot-load SATA blu ray drives are good quality. The Teac brand looks like it will work. From the photos on the site, the screw holes are in the correct place and the connector on the back is a slimline SATA. The only thing you will have to do with any of these drives is to remove the front bezel (plate) before you install it. The drives will not fit into the m17x with that front black plastic plate installed.
     
    radji, Nov 9, 2012
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  7. bigtonyman

    bigtonyman Desktop Powa!!!

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    On the m17x r3/r4 your gonna have to strip the machine down quite a ways to get to the Optical drive. :(
     
    bigtonyman, Nov 9, 2012
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  8. Howie

    Howie Notebook Guru

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    Thanks radji!

    I think I found the model you were referring to:
    Panasonic Slim Blu-Ray Burner Slimline SATA (Slot Load) Drive-PAN-UJ-265A
    same read/write specs as the Teac but much much cheaper! I will most likely get this one! Is it easy to remove the bezel?
     
    Howie, Nov 9, 2012
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  9. Howie

    Howie Notebook Guru

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    I think I have R1...it was like the first m17x close to when Dell acquired Alienware. Is that R1? I looked over the manual and even mine will require going pretty deep...
     
    Howie, Nov 9, 2012
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  10. radji

    radji Farewell, Solenya...

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    Depends on the processor you have. The R1s have Core 2 Duos. The R2s and later use the core i3, i5, i7.
     
    radji, Nov 9, 2012
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  11. Howie

    Howie Notebook Guru

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    Yup, I have Core 2 Duo Quad. R1!
     
    Howie, Nov 10, 2012
    #11