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    Change DVD-drive in laptop

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Kwakkel, Jul 19, 2007.

  1. Kwakkel

    Kwakkel Weirdo

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    Hello all,

    I have a small question :)
    If you want to change the DVD-drive of your laptop with another drive (DVD/BR/HDDVD), can you just order one? Or are their specific things you have to watch out for?
    If it's "buy and put in" thingie, I'll order a laptop with a regular DVD+/-RW (and save €450). If it's not, I might go for a HDDVD from the start :)

    Thx for any advice you could give me :)
     
    Kwakkel, Jul 19, 2007
    #1
  2. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    any slim line cd/dvd/hd drive should work. One thing that causes problems is the cover. the drives have the eject button and light in different places. You need it to be in the same place as the regular build in drive so that you can use the cover of your laptop.
     
    wave, Jul 19, 2007
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  3. Kwakkel

    Kwakkel Weirdo

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    so, when you buy a new drive, it doesn't come with a new front for it?
    good to know :)
     
    Kwakkel, Jul 19, 2007
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  4. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    some do. but the front might not fit or look different from what you need. using the old front if it fits would be better.
     
    wave, Jul 19, 2007
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  5. Kwakkel

    Kwakkel Weirdo

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    ok, thx for the info :)
     
    Kwakkel, Jul 19, 2007
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  6. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    One possible problem is the IDE master or slave setting.

    Go into Device Manager, ATA/ATAPI controller, and look at the properties of the IDE channels. The optical drive normally runs at UDMA 2. See if it has one IDE channel for itself (probably as Device 0 (master) but maybe as Device 1 (slave)). If it has, then no problem with changing to another optical drive.

    However, on some notebooks the ODD shares one IDE channel with the HDD. If you have this situation then you need an ODD with the same master/ slave setting. This is done in the firmware and most ODDs are pre-set to master.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jul 19, 2007
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  7. Kwakkel

    Kwakkel Weirdo

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    another good tip
    thx a lot :)
     
    Kwakkel, Jul 20, 2007
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  8. aaa

    aaa Notebook Consultant

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    The thickness matters sometimes. Some laptops use extra-thin drives, usually because they're extra-thin as well.
     
    aaa, Jul 20, 2007
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