How do I replace my DVD burner in my computer with a new one?

Question

My DVD burner lens is weak (it seems), and all the DVD's I burn are now choppy. I bought a new internal DVD burner and wanted to replace the one that came with the computer.

I'm using an HP250n http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&lang=en&cc=us&product=326411&dlc=en&docname=c00024879 and I just bought a NEC burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152059 .

I know absolutely NOTHING about the wires and stuff on a computer, should I do it myself (I've heard it's easy) or somehow take it to a professional?

To Dr. House: Thanks for the sarcasm, but the burner I bought does not come with one.

Answer 1

Its very easy, all you need is a phillips screw driver.

1- use it to open your case
2- use it to unscrew your old drive
3- remove the power And data connection
4- insert your new drive and insert the power and data connection
5- screw it into place
6- screw the case back in place.

Boot up and it should work, there's no need to install any drivers.

Answer 2

Congrats on the new drive. The other answerers have pretty much summed up the process, but I'd like to mention a couple of things more. Prior to taking out the old drive, go to the Device Manager within Windows and uninstall the old drive first. Then shut the computer down, and unplug the power cable. Secondly, take a look at the back of your old DVD drive...you should see a slot that contains three settings, with a jumper in one of the slots. It'll be set to either "Master", "Slave", or "CS" (which means Cable Select). You'll want to make sure that you've got the jumper on the new drive placed in the same position as the jumper on the old drive. Once all that is done, just follow instructions on how to mount the drive in the case, seal the case, and then power up the computer again. Windows should detect the new drive as "new hardware" and install the proper drivers for it. Click on the below link for a guide. Good luck.

Answer 3

A professional would enjoy your money to do a pretty simple job.

UNPLUG YOUR COMPUTER

The sides of your computer case should be removable, check your computers manual but most likey there are four screws (2 on each side) holding the side panels to the case frame.

Once the sides are removed look closely at the dvd you wish to remove. It should be sitting on a metal frame (rails) held in place by small screws or clips (depending on the case design) . Look at the rear of the drive to be removed. Note how the various wires and situated.

DID YOU UNPLUG YOUR COMPUTER?

There should be a power cable (sometimes hard to remove) an ide ribbon (note the orientation of the colored marker wire) and a two wire audio connector (note color orientation).

Carefully remove the wires/cables from their connectors. Then unscrew the drive from your computer pulling it out through the front of the computer case. Slide the new drive in and screw it into the case making sure the drive lines up with the front of your case. connect the wires/cables to the dvd and reassemble your computer case.

PLUG IN YOUR COMPUTER ;)

Restart the computer and click on my computer to see if the new drive is recognized... If it is Uninstall the burner software that came with the old drive and then install the software that came with the new drive.

Good luck

Answer 4

You need a screw driver (star edged) .
Turn Off the Power supply to your computer.
Disconnect the power cord from the computer.
Open the lid of your computer.
See where your dvd drive is located.
It is fixed with a few screws. Unscrew them.
Pull both the cables out of the drive.
There is on broader called data cable.
smaller one with four wires is the power supply.

Carefully pull them out. see that you do not exert too much pressure or jerk to the cables. Hold them by the plastic part inserted in the drive slot.

Take the drive out, from front side. You can push it from inside the computer so that it comes out.

Insert the newer drive.

Put the screws back.

Put both the cables back.

Usually they can be inserted in the socket in only one way.
So there is no chance of doing it the wrong way.

Put the power cord, and turn ON the computer to check in your installation is successful.

If everything is alright, Turn the power OFF. Unplug the computers supply cord again, and Put the computers lid back. Tighten the remaining screws.

Answer 5

It's really simple, as long as you have the same type. There will usually only be two cables you need to unplug. One is a data cable and one is power. Just unplug the old one and plug in the new one. You will need to fix the new dvd writer in the either screws or if it is a Dell computer, the green sliders will need to be screwed to it. The cables will only fit the correct sockets and will only go one way up.

Answer 6

gennerally that's not as complicated as you will possibly element you will possibly first decide to unplud the powercord to you computing device and counting on its area something of the cables their are quite a few diffrent steps you international probrably decide to purchase a usb flashdrive the earlier you do something coppy the archives from the driving force cd lined interior the burner directly to the flash tension so which you will set it up from their besides once you unplug the cables you will possibly open up your computing device maximum situations are diffrend you could might desire to unscreew it or press a button to enable the section lose you will possibly additionally decide to take off the front panel the cd tension might desire to be interior the ideal of the case and can desire to have 3 cables linked to it one might desire to be a white flat cable approximately 2 inches extensive the seccond could be a ability cable it would desire to have the third could be the cd audio wich might the smallest of all of them unplug all 3 of them dont complication they're all made so as that they might purely be plugged in one way then wou might uncrew the screws conserving interior the tension in whwn it fairly is compleete you will %. the tension foward interior the process the front of the case then take out the recent tension and slide it in in basic terms the different way of how you placed it in then screw it in place then you definitely plug interior the cd audio ability and the enormous flat cable (ide) then % up the computing device and plug the cabled in and turn it on whe homestead windows is up you will possibly desire to be certain a stumbled on new hardware wizzard bypass nonetheless the wizzard if it cannor dind the drivers have plug interior the flash tension and tell it to seek what ever tension letter became assigned to the flashdrive for the drivers then it would set it up many situations are lots diffrent you have got diffreent strategies you could might desire to eliminate a rack to realize the screws or you have have been given a tooless layout make shure you dont purchase a sata tension maximum desktops won't be able to safeguard those

Answer 7

since you don't know anything about computers, i recommend bringing the cpu and the new drive to a computer repair shop. it's better to pay a professional to install it than waste a lot more money if you connect the wires wrong yourself.

Answer 8

open your case. get your old CD rom out and just connect the same cables to the new plug. That will help you.

Answer 9

Open the case.....unscrew the old one.....unplug the power cable....unplug the ide cable.....put the new one in, replug, rescrew......reboot, done...........this is simple

Answer 10

Learning how to read the installation manual might help?