Installing a DVD-ROM

[Jadzia]

penetrating oil should not be used

 

[CaptainHawk1]

I promise I won't take it to Best Buy Thanks for all the advice. It was something I was just wondering about it, I might do it still, though if I get this then I'm going to have to spend money on all those comic book DVD-ROMs and I can't afford to spend much on anything as I got laid off six months ago And if I do, I will just install it myself! And it sounds like I need to pop this puppy open ASAP and dust it out. Maybe this is why my comp runs slow as molasses

There could be a few reasons for that but that could definitely be one of them because of the the heat issue.

I know this is OT but it's your thread so you can do whatever the hell you want with it, I say. Everything I'm about to recommend is free and reliable.

1.) The Obvious: Make Sure you run your antispyware/anti-virus regularly and update it every day (or at least every week. If you aren't using a an antispyware program, I would highly recommend Ad Aware http://lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php )
2.) Clean your crap with CCleaner regualrly http://www.ccleaner.com/ (this program also has a feature avaialble to stop unnecessary processes from running in the background as well)
3.) Defrag with Defraggler http://www.defraggler.com/
4.) Clean your registry with RegScrub XP regularly http://www.sofotex.com/RegScrubXP-download_L7528.html (CCleaner also has a Reg Cleaner built in but it's not as thorough and you should take advantage of both)

Before using these, Go to the Control Panel and click on the icon for "Add Remove Programs" and start dumping programs that you no longer use or need.

I use every single one of these programs on my own computers (although I do pay for Webroot Antivirus/Antispyware for my main computer at home and I don't use Ad Aware on that one only because it's unnecessary with the Webroot) and they work very well. You should notice a marked increase in the speed of your machine.

I hope this helps.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

It's a Dell Dimension 2400 bought in Feb '04, but if I do get anything I'm sure I'll just go with the external one.

You shouldn't be afraid of opening up the machine and putting in an optical drive though -it really is very simple and if you know how a screw driver works you can do it!

That is the same machine my ex had. When I tried to install a DVD drive, it wouldn't go into the drive cage from the inside, the PSU was blocking. I approached the PSU with my screwdriver, it was RIVETED IN PLACE. Tried to take the far side off the case, IT WAS RIVETED IN PLACE. Tried to remove the entire drive cage IT WAS RIVETED IN PLACE. The DVD was larger than a CD drive which the Dimension case was designed for, the CD drive would slide out fairly easily. The front bezel wouldn't allow drives in or out from the front, and IT WAS RIVETED IN PLACE and wouldn't remove without breaking it.

The bezel could have been sacrificed, but it wasn't worth all this effort. That year at least, Dell RIVETED IN PLACE nearly all the parts of the Dimension.

I've built myself a new computer every other year for the last 15 years. I've never had a problem building or upgrading any box, but that Dimension was RIVETED TOGETHER.

 

[trekkiedane]

It's a Dell Dimension 2400 bought in Feb '04

/.../ RIVETED IN PLACE. /.../ IT WAS RIVETED IN PLACE. /.../ IT WAS RIVETED IN PLACE. /.../ IT WAS RIVETED IN PLACE
/.../
RIVETED IN PLACE
/.../
RIVETED TOGETHER.

Hmmm, it would seem we have a hard case of "DELL "

I haven't heard of/seen anything this user-unfriendly since i tried to take a 70's B&O cassette player apart in order to replace a burnt out indicator light on the front (didn't use LED's back then) - It wasn't actually RIVETED TIGETHER, but I had to take apart the whole thing to get to the bulb; You won't believe how many screws that thing had!