Is it difficult to change the DVD player in your PC?

Question

Mine's broke, you could grate cheese with it!

I can see it's easy enough to take one out and replace it with another...but what then? Don't get clever with me, because I'm a techno' idiot, hence the question. Ok, the answer's probably get someone else to do it, but I thought I'd ask first just in case it was something I could do without much problem. Would a new DVD player come with the relevant instructions or software?

brilliant answers guys!!!! exactly what I wanted. Thanks

Answer 1

There is nothing more to do - the software you currently use to view DVD's should still work with the new drive, you might have to set it in preferences for the player, but it shouldn't be a problem. Fitting the drive is easy - just swap out the old one, connect the cables you removed from the old one and the computer will autodetect it - no hastles.

Regarding the Earth comment - I find that just touching an earthed object like a radiator is sufficient, and I've build about 5 PC's from scratch. People can be a little hysterical about static and earthing IMHO. (I'm sure some will say I'm wrong.)

Answer 2

Changing a DVD player is pretty straightforward and, yes, it should come with relevant instructions and software.

Simplistically, it's a case of opening the PC unit, removing the old DVD drive and slotting in the new one; the only wires you will need to attach to your new drive will be the same power lead and IDE cable (the wide flat grey cable) that you will detach from your old one (and, possibly but not always needed, a cable to link to the sound card).

Then it's a question of switching on, booting up and (if you are running Windows XP) that's it; most drives these days use fairly standard device drivers, so the PC will probably recognise it automatically. At worst you will have to insert the software CD/DVD to install extra programs.

They usually have a quick start installation guide these days. As long as you are careful and methodical this is one of the easiest upgrades you can make to a PC. And the drives themselves seem to be stupidly inexpensive these days, I can pick up a 16 x speed drive for under £25 here in the UK.

Answer 3

Once you have choosen the new DVD player you power off the old computer. Remove the holding screws, power cable, sound cable, and then the ribbon cable. Your old player should now come out and you slide the new one in. Replace the holding screws. The power cable is 'Keyed' and will only go back one way. The same for the sound cable. Lastly the large ribbon cable must be put back. THe RED side goes towards the power connect. When you cold start the computer, assuming Win XP operations, it will see that you have a different device and will load the necessary drivers. Test it out ... Techie!

When shopping for the new player, try to stay in the same brand line and you will be safer and easier to change out.

Answer 4

You need to open your PC's case, slide the DVD Player in, tighten the screws and then put power cable an HDD Cable. The power cable and HDD Cable must go in proper direction only. If you remove existing power cable and HDD cable from damaged Drive, note down which colored wire or Red strip on HDD cable goes in which direction. Otherwise, it would cause the device or PC's motherboard to go. Be careful.

If you think, you can do all the above, dont worry. Go ahead and do it.

Answer 5

I'm assuming you are using windows.
Most DVD players will work just fine if you plug them in. Once plugged in and the computer restarted, WIndows will pick it up with no problem. Any additional software provided is usually just for recording CDs or DVDs not to make the DVD player work with Windows.
So YES, go ahead and plug in the new one.

Answer 6

to earth yourself touch your fingers off the main metal frame in the tower. the connections are rather easy, theres only really 2, a wide IDE cable and a power cable. most novices find this install the second easier after a memory install.

Answer 7

Yes its quite easy to do.

Just take the leads from your old one and put them into the same place on the new one.

The worst part is often getting to the screws to get the old one out.

Answer 8

it should come with installation instructions and a driver cd if need be

but the system itself should recognise it and do whats needed

and its not that hard to do JUST REM TO EARTH YOURSELF or your gonna screw up your pc