Worried About Burning DVDs (PC)...

[Frontier]

So back in November, I got a DVD burner for my birthday for my computer. The system was given to me by a friend, and had previously had a DVD burner in it. So I figured "no problem" on having another one installed. For a few weeks, it was heaven. Then one day I go to turn the thing on and it... won't. After a day of total failure I hook up my older machine, and the general consensus by folks was that either A) my power supply had died, or B) my mother board had died, and that likewise, the DVD burner likely played a key roll in at least one of those scenarios.

Well now, months later, I have a new system. Brand new. Core 2 Quad processor, lots of ram, the whole sha-bang. And as I get ready to start burning DVDs again... I find I'm scared to death of a repeat!

Am I just being nutty? This system is brand new, factory installed, compared to an older system and my own installation of hardware. I'm just being a computer hypochondriac or something. Worrying about nothing... right?

 

[SalvorHardin]

I'm not a computer wizard, but how can a dvd burner be responsible for either killing a pc power supply or a motherboard ??

In any case, stop worrying and use your new pc.

 

[backstept]

sometimes power supplies just fail . . .
barring power surges you should have no trouble with the new machine

 

[Frontier]

I'm not a computer wizard, but how can a dvd burner be responsible for either killing a pc power supply or a motherboard ??

In any case, stop worrying and use your new pc.

*Shrug*

People smarter than I at such things deduced such. Don't know myself. Heh.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

If you're really paranoid, put the DVD burner in an external enclosure with its own PSU, connected to the PC by USB 2.0 or Firewire.

 

[Rii]

I'm not a computer wizard, but how can a dvd burner be responsible for either killing a pc power supply or a motherboard ??

Perhaps it interpreted its function a little too literally.

 

[SalvorHardin]

I'm not a computer wizard, but how can a dvd burner be responsible for either killing a pc power supply or a motherboard ??

Perhaps it interpreted its function a little too literally.

It evolved, it rebelled and it has a plan ?

 

[Mr. B]

I don't think you have any cause to be concerned about a DVD drive causing a failure of any other component. They can't cause a power surge, there's only 5 volts going in. You could make the best of your paranoia and buy a USB universal drive adapter to connect the drive via USB to test it. If the adapter doesn't explode you'll have a nifty little tool that you'll be glad you bought later.

 

[Luckyflux]

So back in November, I got a DVD burner for my birthday for my computer. The system was given to me by a friend, and had previously had a DVD burner in it. So I figured "no problem" on having another one installed. For a few weeks, it was heaven. Then one day I go to turn the thing on and it... won't. After a day of total failure I hook up my older machine, and the general consensus by folks was that either A) my power supply had died, or B) my mother board had died, and that likewise, the DVD burner likely played a key roll in at least one of those scenarios.

Well now, months later, I have a new system. Brand new. Core 2 Quad processor, lots of ram, the whole sha-bang. And as I get ready to start burning DVDs again... I find I'm scared to death of a repeat!

Am I just being nutty? This system is brand new, factory installed, compared to an older system and my own installation of hardware. I'm just being a computer hypochondriac or something. Worrying about nothing... right?

Yes you are being nutty and yes you have nothing to worry about. What is the alternative, live in fear for the rest of your life? Just use it and if it bombs out again then that's just bad luck. Unless the burner is cursed, in which case you're f-cked ::::

 

[Trekker4747]

There's no way I can think of for a DVD-burner to cause a PS failure.

I mean, *maybe* if it was a really poor PS and it was a really robust burner but that would be more a case of the PS just not being "big" enough for the demands being put on it by the computer as a whole. And this scenario is very, very, very unlikely. Almost to the point of being impossible.

What caused your last computer to fail? Could be any number of things and it may very well have been something to to with the burner but there's no way of knowing without looking at it.

Millions of people use DVD burners every day and have used them for years and years with no problems whatsoever. I think you'll be fine.

Your last computer's problems was nothing more than a fluke.

 

[Cutter John]

Man up nancy and go burn a disk!

I suppose anythings possible. I replaced any number of components on my last computer before I realized there was just some bad wiring on my case. But honestly, I'd say the odds are pretty slim that your burner caused the problem.

But really, power supplies do eventually just wear out on their own. More than likely it just wore out. If you're really that worried though, just go buy a name brand replacement burner. They're cheap enough these days.

 

[Kryton]

You mean ... that ISN'T a retractable cup holder?

 

[trekkiedane]

sometimes power supplies just fail . .

That's what I figured -bought a new and installed it -but alas that wasn't the problem… anyone want to buy a new power supply -only used once!

 

[Garrovick]

I've never had luck with a DVD burner. I've had four fail on me. I even had one external that took over my computer. It was USB, plug it in and no boot, unplug it and the machine worked, plug it back in and the system ground to a halt. My iPod and printer worked fine, so it wasn't a USB problem.

No more DVD burners for me.