Installing a DVD-ROM

[FPAlpha]

Don't you know anybody (friends, family, colleagues) who's a bit tech savvy and can install the drive?

It's a rather simple procedure (i assembled many computers from scratch.. you have to be careful with certain parts and stages but otherwise it's not that hard) but i can understand people being reluctant to do something for fear of damaging something (my nemesis is electrical wiring in the house.. i'm colorblind and fear i'll connect the wires the wrong way and burn the house down ).


So get some help or pay a bit more and use an external USB drive (or still pay some more and get a cheap Laptop ).

 

[LaxScrutiny]

This is a 5 year old Dell you are talking about. I'm not surprised it doesn't have a DVD drive, my ex has probably the same machine and she chose not to take the DVD option to save a few bucks.

When I popped it open to instal a drive later I found that the case was riveted together in places where all other computers I'd had were screwed. This included the far side of the drive bay. I couldn't get at the screws to move the existing hard drive, I couldn't slide the new drive from inside because the PSU and existing drive were blocking, I couldn't slide it in from the front of the bay without taking a saw blade to the front bezel (the front of the case).

It wasn't completely impossible, I could have gotten out the Dremel and started modding the case, and could have drilled out the rivets, but a 5 minute job was looking like 5 hours now and I just couldn't be bothered, we could play or burn DVD's on my machine just fine, this was to just be an added convenience.

So I would strongly suggest, since this is a Dell and you don't have any experience, get an external drive. An external drive will also easily transfer to a new computer or laptop as a second drive in the future.

They are also handy because you can have the drive on your desk and the computer under the desk, for example.

External drives should only be about $10 more than a comparable internal.

 

[trekkiedane]

Or you could just get an external drive and connect via USB.

Why???

Well some people would rather not play around with the insides of their computers and don't know anyone that could help them...

Don't you know anybody (friends, family, colleagues) who's a bit tech savvy and can install the drive?

And of course...

An external drive will also easily transfer to a new computer or laptop as a second drive in the future.

They are also handy because you can have the drive on your desk and the computer under the desk, for example.

External drives should only be about $10 more than a comparable internal.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

Which Dell model? If you're unsure, there is a little service tag on the back with a bar code and a 6 or so character code on it that always ends with a 1. If you post that number here, I can look at the Dell web site and see what model you have and determine what you need to do in order to install an internal drive.

Most Dells utilize plastic mounting rails for large drives like CD and DVD. Basically you power down, unplug the power cable, open the box, pull 2 cables from the drive and then use the green tabs on the drive rails to pull the drive out. (slides out the back end, not out through the front panel!)

Use a philips head screwdriver to remove the rails from the old drive, place the rails on the new drive in the came orientation as the old drive.

Slide the drive into place, connect the IDE and power cables (they are both keyed and you can't mess up if you pay even a little attention) and close her up.

Plug in, power up, and log on! (Now there's an anti- Tim Leary statement for ya!)

 

[Mr Light]

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.

 

[trekkiedane]

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!

 

[Jadzia]

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.

I remember the first time I installed a new drive in my computer. I was quite nervous because I really couldn't afford to break it, and I really wasn't confident in what I was doing.

But in retrospect, it really wasn't that difficult to install a new drive, and I've learned that computers are not that fragile. If I can do it, anyone can

If you have two computers (the one you're upgrading and one you're online with) I'm sure people here can talk you through it step by step if you don't feel confident with a long list of instructions. Giving us step by step photographs of your progress can help us point to things with arrows and labels to show you exactly what to do

 

[trekkiedane]

If it is possible to find a place with a better connection than dial-up, these two (1½ minutes each) videos might help show just how easy it is.

how to install any kind of cd drive in your computer
(^that's actually done in a DELL computer)


Install a CD/DVD Drive

 

[archeryguy1701]

Do you live near a comunity college? Even if you just go the external route now, it could be interesting to take a computer hardware maintainance class, which I would imagine most colleges have. I used to not be good or familiar with the insides of a computer, but i took that class, and now I've upgraded several internal parts on my own. In fact, I would often just open up my machine just to look around, and the only reason I don't as often any more is because I now have an Alienware, and the external cover is a pain in the ass to reassemble.

 

[Mr Light]

I found two external drives for only $25 each: http://www.amazon.com/Lite-Layer-DV...6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1241020812&sr=8-6 and http://www.amazon.com/External-Slim...4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1241020812&sr=8-4

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I found two external drives for only $25 each: http://www.amazon.com/Lite-Layer-DV...6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1241020812&sr=8-6 and http://www.amazon.com/External-Slim...4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1241020812&sr=8-4

The first of those is an internal drive, and the second is a CD-ROM drive.

 

[Jadzia]

awww never mind. it was a nice thought.

 

[Mr Light]

I only have the one computer (which is dial-up).

 

[Amaris]

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

My dear sir, at one point I had been electrocuted so many times I actually changed the name of my company to Blue Lightning. I have always been a recipient of electric shock. It explains so much.

It is very simple to install. It will take about 5 minutes, and that includes opening the computer. Great advice has already been given in this thread on how to do it, so I won't get into that, but it is very easy.

Zion Ravescene, I remember my first real computer was an HP 533 Mhz 64 MB RAM PC with Windows 98SE and a 10 GB hard drive. I got it from Walmart and it came with a 15" monitor and an HP printer. The biggest surprise was a 12X DVD ROM, and I got PowerDVD with it to watch movies. Oh, it was truly a beautiful machine. That computer is still alive, I might add, and is a gift to a church. They tell me it still runs as good as the day they got it.

J.

 

[CaptainHawk1]

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.

Hey, that's my old box. Swapped the optical drives out so many times in it I can't count.

Dude, it's 2 screws and 2 plugs.

Use latex gloves. Seriously, it's not a matter of it being highly improbable that you could screw it up and hurt your machine it is NIGH IMPOSSIBLE.

Like I said, the worst case scenario is that the new drive simply doesn't work and BTW, the instructions I provided assume that you are keeping your old CD drive because there's no reason to get rid of it and in fact it's more work to get rid of it. Your new drive will slide right into the slot beneath the old one and the there's a plastic slot cover on the bezel on the front of the case where your new drive goes thqt you just pop off and discard.

There's something else that no one else has mentioned either: your box is 5 years old and considering how terrified you are of the optical drive upgrade process, it would seem safe to assume that you've never opened up your case before to clean out the dust which is something you should do every six months.

You've got 5 years of dust accumulated in there and that is very dangerous to your computer. You need to pop that thing open and take a can of airduster to it and blow it out.

On the back of your computer is a black "L" shaped, spring loaded lever, lift it and hold it up and your side panel will slide right off.

And BTW, whatever you do, don't let anybody at Best Buy touch your computer.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

Here's the exact procedure to do the job in your Dimension 2400!
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim2400/en/sm_en/drives.htm#1107290


The D2400 doesn't have the rails that many of the Dell models do, but relies on a couple of alignment screws in the front end of the drive. Don't fret though.

The replacement of an optical drive is one of the most simple tasks of computer repair and upgrade there is. No need to be apprehensive, just go slow, make sure the cables are seated well when you finish and you'll be good to go!

 

[Amaris]

And BTW, whatever you do, don't let anybody at Best Buy touch your computer.

I'm quoting this because I feel this must be reiterated over and over again.
In fact,

And BTW, whatever you do, don't let anybody at Best Buy touch your computer.

One more time:

And BTW, whatever you do, don't let anybody at Best Buy touch your computer.

Oh, and once more in bold:

And BTW, whatever you do, don't let anybody at Best Buy touch your computer.

And now for some celebrities:

And BTW, whatever you do, don't let anybody at Best Buy touch your computer.

And BTW, whatever you do, don't let anybody at Best Buy touch your computer.

And BTW, whatever you do, don't let anybody at Best Buy touch your computer.

Don't take it to Best Buy. Ever.

J.

 

[CaptainHawk1]

And BTW, whatever you do, don't let anybody at Best Buy touch your computer.

I'm quoting this because I feel this must be reiterated over and over again.
In fact,

And BTW, whatever you do, don't let anybody at Best Buy touch your computer.

One more time:



Oh, and once more in bold:



And now for some celebrities:

And BTW, whatever you do, don't let anybody at Best Buy touch your computer.

And BTW, whatever you do, don't let anybody at Best Buy touch your computer.

Don't take it to Best Buy. Ever.

J.

You're welcome...



I like how you got both Jesus and Jamie Farr together on that one.

 

[Amaris]

^ I felt it was important we reach all walks of life with this message.


J.

 

[Mr Light]

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