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Installing a DVD-ROM

Mr Light

Mr Light

Admiral
Admiral
My computer doesn't have a DVD-ROM and it's five years old now. I never had a desire to have one until I discovered there's all these Marvel comic book DVD-ROM collections that has 100 comic books for $11 or all forty years of a title for $40 which is very cool. And looking on Amazon I see you can guy a DVD-ROM for just 20 bucks!

So my question is, how complicated is it to install a DVD-ROM? I have no experience at installing hardware. Also if I buy some random ROM is that going to be fine with a five year old computer? It's a Dell.
 
Read the specs on the box. Most run with very minimal specs. Almost every computer can run one.

It's like 486 with 128mb of ram.

Installing isn't rocket science. Many web sites for computer brands have guides for installation.
 
If it's a 5 year old computer (I'm surprised it doesn't have its own DVD ROM drive: I mean, my 10 year old Windows 98 [1st edition] Pentium II computer - built by Tiny Computers of all people - came with a DVD ROM drive too.) it should easily be compatible with the current crop of DVD drives. Just make sure the drive can read the types of discs you have, as there are so many of the recordable DVD formats out there.

As to how to connect it, is it an internal or an external drive you plan to purchase? Either way it shouldn't be too complicated if you follow the assembly instructions.

Oh, and always discharge yourself... I mean, earth yourself before opening your computer up. Static electricity is not your computer's friend. :)
 
Installing it is very easy. All you have to do is slide it into the case, screw it in, and connect the drive to the motherboard with an EIDE cable. (The red wire is "pin 1".) There should be an open EIDE connector on the motherboard, Pin1 should be marked or you should be able to tell which is which by the neighboring EIDE device (likely your hard drive.)

Connecting the power suplly plug is nothing complicated and there is likely another wire for connecting the sound between the drive and your sound card.

It's really very easy and whatever drive you buy will have more detailed instructions on how to do it.

Dishcarge your static electricity first by touching the metal of the case.

It can all be done with a screwdriver.
 
Zion Ravescene said:
If it's a 5 year old computer (I'm surprised it doesn't have its own DVD ROM drive: I mean, my 10 year old Windows 98 [1st edition] Pentium II computer - built by Tiny Computers of all people - came with a DVD ROM drive too.) it should easily be compatible with the current crop of DVD drives. Just make sure the drive can read the types of discs you have, as there are so many of the recordable DVD formats out there.

As to how to connect it, is it an internal or an external drive you plan to purchase? Either way it shouldn't be too complicated if you follow the assembly instructions.

Oh, and always discharge yourself... I mean, earth yourself before opening your computer up. Static electricity is not your computer's friend. :)
Click to expand...
Disconnect computer from power. Open computer, you'll see a ribbon wire cable with a black connector (IDE) and an another wire with a white plug (power supply) connected to your CD Drive. On that IDE cable you'll see another black connector hanging off of it that looks exactly like the one on the CD Drive and connected to the power supply wires you'll probably see several identical white plugs labeled with a P number (P1, P2, P3, etc.). You are going to basically use that extra black IDE plug and any one of those power plugs (the number doesn't matter) and connect them to the new DVD drive (BTW you can get DVD Writer $21 and shipping from Newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106281) and plug them in the exact same way they are plugged in on the CD Drive you are curently using.

Before you do this, though, look at the back af the DVD drive and you will see a little diagram for jumper positions (Master, Slave and Cable Select). Set the jumper to Cable Select (CS) according to the diagram.

Windows should automatically detect your new drive once you power up and you'll be good to go.
 
Oh, make sure you buy an drive that is not SATA, because I don't think it would be compatible with a computer of that age.
 
How much would the Best Buy people charge me to do it? I've always been afraid to do anything with my comp and screw it up... This talk of static shock scares me ;)
 
That sounds better. Will my five year old Dell have a USB? I don't even know what a USB is, I'm totally ignorant. I'm still on dial-up! :D
 
This is a USB port:
usbport.jpg


Most computers that age should have them, but they tend to be hidden in back... I don't think that ports up front didn't start becoming common until the last couple years
[EDIT] Beaten to the punch...
 
If you don't have USB already they sell cards that you plug into a PCI slot which give you 3-4 ports in the back. Just make sure its USB 2.0 not 1.0.
 
Mr Light said:
How much would the Best Buy people charge me to do it? I've always been afraid to do anything with my comp and screw it up... This talk of static shock scares me ;)
Click to expand...

Best Buy would probably charge $50 - $100 to install your drive.

It's really no problem at all and to avoid static shock all you have to do is touch the metal of the case -or anything metal- to discharge it. Further, static shock is less likely this time of year from the higher humidity.

It is no problem at all, I used to build computers for a business I had many years ago and never had a problem with static electricity and could install a CD drive blindfolded.

Do it. It's fun. :)
 
Yeah I tried a DVD in it when I first got it. I remember it was this thing where you pick what you want online and they ship your custom made comp to you and that was extra and I figured why do I need to play a DVD on my comp when my TV is right there?
 
Mr Light said:
How much would the Best Buy people charge me to do it? I've always been afraid to do anything with my comp and screw it up... This talk of static shock scares me ;)
Click to expand...
You can't screw it up. It's not complicated, it will either work or it won't but it is impossible to screw anything up. The simple act of opening the case itself (where you have to touch metal) will discharge your static. If you're still concerned, wear latex gloves. I get them for $5 for fifty in the Wal Mart paint department.
trekkiedane said:
Or you could just get an external drive and connect via USB.
Click to expand...
Why??? :confused:
 
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