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    Upgrade DW-D56A DVD-R/W With Blue-Ray Drive, Is it Possible?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Reaver, Oct 14, 2007.

  1. Reaver

    Reaver Newbie

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    Hi,

    I have a Sony Vaio VGN-A417M with the dreaded DW-D56A which has been faulty for a while so I'm after replacing it. I'm considering getting the DW-Q58A to replace it but then I wondered if there was a Blu-Ray drive out which can replace my DW-D56A which could read Blu-Ray discs and burn cd's and DVD+/-R's.

    Is there such a drive I could purchase and use my existing faceplate or would it be wiser just getting the DW-Q58A to replace my faulty one?

    Thank you
     
    Reaver, Oct 14, 2007
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  2. beefman

    beefman Notebook Consultant

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    That's the trick; if your existing faceplate will fit on the new drive. I got lucky and was able to replace my drive in a Clevo M570U with a Panasonic UJ-210 completely. The faceplate fit perfectly. No one else makes a BD-R right now but Panasonic so it SHOULD fit.
     
    beefman, Oct 14, 2007
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  3. Reaver

    Reaver Newbie

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    The drive I'm after replacing is only a DVD-R/W so there's a good chance the Panasonic drive won't match my faceplate.
    I'm presuming it would be ok to remove the faceplate of the Panasonic and reshape it to fit my slot? Has anyone ever done that?
    Thank you for your reply.

    **EDIT**

    It seems that the Panasonic drive is the same shape as my faceplate, completely oblong with no rounded off edges, so I should be ok with just slotting in this drive. Would anyone agree?

    [​IMG]
     
    Reaver, Oct 15, 2007
    #3