Blu-ray on 7811

The only additional thing I really want on my new 7811 is Blu-ray playback.

After poking around on the Gateway site, it appears that there is a 7812j model (probably for the Japanese market) that includes a BD-ROM / DVD-RW drive. I gave Gateway a quick call to see if I could order that drive, but as others have reported Gateway support seems limited to employing sub morons. The nice, but useless support guy said Gateway no longer does direct sales even for replacement / repair parts. He directed me to Tiger Direct.

After a bit more poking, I have found the manufacturer and model number of the BD drive in the 7812j. It is an Optiarc (Sony + NEC joint venture) model BC-5500S. These are available in raw form (i.e., no Gateway specific bezel) for about $330 at newegg.com.

Has anyone ever tried to install a raw DVD drive in an FX notebook? Seems to me the only hard part would be removing the bezel from the stock drive and installing it on the new drive. Have I missed something here? All thoughts welcome.

TIA,
Ira

 

From my understanding you can take out the bezel from the Gateway and put in on the new Blu-Ray /DVD drive. I believe it is held on by 2 or 3 small screws. Again you would have to check. I hope this helps. God Bless

 

seach around this forum for the 6831/6860 Blu ray drive

the 68xx and 7811 are very similiar, so u can do the swap. someone has posted a specific Blu ray drive model for a perfect bezel swap

 

mine just pulled off, no screws.

it would be quite easy to replace.

 

sorry for the crappy quality pic, but its the only camera i have. if you look on the underside of the laptop, you should see a screw cover close to the hard drive bay. take off the cover and unscrew it, and use a flat head screw driver to push the dvd drive forward. from there, the faceplate just comes off, no screws or anything. the interfaces could be different from the 6860 and the 7811, but the 6860 has an IDE dvd drive. compatible model blu ray drive here

and just in case the 7811 has a sata dvd drive, look here

 

Thanks, after a bit more poking around, I believe the DVD does use a SATA interface, so the second link you provided would be correct. I will open check this evening to be sure.

Ira

 

I can't seem to get the face plate off it's REALLY on there,lol I have the 7811fx so if anyone else has got it off successfully please let me know. Getting the drive out is easy but getting that face plate off is hard

 

That Someone is me and here the topic:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3370068#post3370068

Don't Forget the +rep

^^

TipTip

 

http://www.notebookforums.com/showpost.php?p=2853999&postcount=4

The picture may help you.

 

Be aware that the 7811 takes a SATA optical drive, NOT a PATA. You want part number BC-5500S not BC-5500A for the 7811.

Ira

 

I dont see the clips that its talking about the face plate just refuses to come off