how to install cd writer on a desktop computer?

Answer 1

I'd recommend getting an IDE burner because these are cheaper and much easier than SCSI. They are also faster than USB.

First, shut down the computer and turn it off.

Open the case. I can't go into great details about this as there are dozens of designs for cases.

Find the existing CD-Rom or DVD drive. There will be a flat cable about two inches wide coming off of it. It will also have a power connector that consists of four wires. Two black, one red, and some other color such as orange or yellow. You will need to connect the NEW CD-Burner in a similar fashion. I'm not saying remove the existing drive. I'm saying you will have to connect it in the same way.

Check the ribbon cable. It may have two connectors on it or three. One end will go to the CD-Rom, the other to the main board. It MAY have a free connector on it or it MAY go to the hard drive. (The hard drive looks like a metal brick 3.5" wide by half an inch or sol high.)

The BEST would be if there is a free connector on the ribbon cable, you would then simply use this connector for the new drive. If not, the CD-Burner may come with a ribbon cable that contains three connectors. If this is the case, simply swap the original cable with a new one. In any case pull out the old CD-Rom and check the back. There will be four or five slots of pins in the back. One will be 40 pins wide. There will be one, two or three analog AUDIO connectors (depending on the drive design), and a power connector. Somewhere between the power connector (four large pins with the two black, one red, and one yellow wire connector) and the 40 pin cable will be a connector with three or four pairs of pins (six or eight pins). Either on the label for the drive, embossed in the plastic near the pins, or silk screened on the main board of the drive will be a series of letters. M S or CS. These stand for Master, Slave, or Cable Select. Some drives have a SINGLE designation; most do not. If your fingers are small enough, move the little plastic jumper to SLAVE on one of the two CD drives, and MASTER on the other. When I install drives I usually make the burner the MASTER and the CD-Rom the SLAVE. It really does not matter which is which as long as they are not the same.

Reinstall both drives again. The ribbon cable with the 40 pins will have a stripe on it. This stripe goes to the side closest to the power connector. These connectors are usually keyed so that they cannot be plugged in wrong. But this is not always the case and knowing that the stripe is closest to the power connector makes finding the keyed slot easier. The original CD-Rom likely had an audio cable connected to it in addition to the power and 40 pin ribbon cable. Don't forget to reconnect this. (I'd reconnect it to the original drive to save wear and tear on the CD-Burner when playing audio discs.)

When both drives are connected power on the computer. Depending on the BIOS of the computer, a message may come up stating that a new drive has been found. Don't worry if this DOES NOT happen as it may not. When you boot into windows, check the MY COMPUTER icon by double clicking it. There you should see two CD drive icons. If all went well you can right click each drive and select EJECT. Note which drive ejects for each letter. Likely the MASTER drive will be drive D:\ and the SLAVE drive will be drive E:\. You can change this letter designation using drive manager, if you want.

Answer 2

First you need to purchase the hardware and install it. If you're purchasing an internal one you need to open up your computer, install it in a free drive bay and attach it to your IDE or SATA controller. If it is an external one you need to attach it to your USB port.

Next you need to install the software that came with it. Most likely it is either Nero or Easy CD Creator.

Once that is done you can start to use your CD writer!

Answer 3

If you want to wander into unchartered territory, remove the casing from your PC, slide the drive into the drive expansion bay. If you have a CD rom in there already, set the writer to SLAVE. Plug it into the IDE cable. Plug in power. Turn on computer. Yay. But I would suggest that if you are unsure how to do it - take it into a technician. Its an easy and cheap procedure.

Answer 4

This question is EXTREMELY vague.

Is the writer internal or external? Do you have a free bay, power and ATAPI connector to install an internal?

Follow the instructions that come with the CD writer because they will guide you.

Or please post further information to get a more accurate answer. Have you tried searching for an answer using Yahoo! or Google?

Answer 5

You need to fix the CD writer to your PC first.
You may need help for physically doing it.

Get a floppy containing CD Writer drive programs and simply click to install.

If it is Win XP it will recognise by itself.

Answer 6

First, you'll need to unscrew the old one from the drive bay. then put your new CD/RW drive in, and screw it in. get the drivers for it, then it should be working.

Answer 7

take out old drive and replace with new one SAME way! reboot and then your good to go