optical drive replacement

Hi, my DVD drive has been working extremely poorly lately, and I would like to replace it. Since my warranty has expired I was thinking of buying a new one. Can someone tell me if any of the online retailers sell drives for notebook's, is there something I should look for when buying it to make sure that it's compatible with my computer, and also it would be great if someone can recommend a drive for me to buy. I have an HP pavilion zd8000 computer. Is it better to call HP customer service and buy from them or just to buy by myself? Thanks,

Bill

 

buying fromhp direct will probably be more expensive. you should search for the optidal drive part on the hp website and then search for that product number on google or something.

or you can buy a slim internal dvd drive from a place like newegg or zipzoomfly. however, if your drive bezel (i.e. not perfectly rectangular), then you won't be able to use these. i can't be 100% sure that this will work for you, though it would be much cheaper than buying an hp part. here are some choices:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?N=2010100005+1036508690&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=5

 

Indeed, if you buy from HP, you are going to pay alot more. I upgraded my drive from a DVD-CDRW to a DVDRW. I research at Dell, they want $150. So I got it at newegg, $70 and I am very very happy with it. Of course, I had to switch the bezel from old drive to new drive to make it look nice, or else it will be bad looking.

JC

 

Buying from HP will ensure compatibility. Sometimes using an off the shelf drive is more tricky as things don't always line up.

 

Yes, you will have to switch the benzels on the drives - a drive that you buy from Newegg will only have a standard, rectangular benzel, and to get a flush fit, you will need to swap them. It isn't hard, but make sure the benzel on the drive you have now can be removed. I remember replacing the optical drive on my old HP zv5000z, and the drive it came with (CDRW/DVD) couldn't have the benzel removed.

 

well, usually quite a simple process. A matter of undoing a screw, pulling the drive out and slotting the new drive in.

I'd buy it from HP, even though you have to pay a premium. You'll get a replacement drive if it does not fit.

 

Sometimes where the old bezel snaps on is not the same as where the new one does.

 

All the size of bezel is not standard for all the models, it is very complicated to find a right one to replacement when it doesn't meet a same series models.