Computers ?

Question

Im a little thick when it comes to Computers,so help needed,I have a Packard Bell which only has a CD-R,there is another slot which looks like it's been left for a DVD-R which ive been told you can buy and fit,i was wondering if there is any software i could buy which i could use to make the player i have play both for me.....told you i was thick.
Thanks

Answer 1

short answer no there is no software. unless the cd-rom manufacturer has any firmware updates or upgrades available.
however you can easily buy a DVD-RW which can use any dvd format except high def or blue ray discs. theses dvd recorders cost from as little as £25 delivered, depending on your requirements.
take a look at http://www.dabs.com and look up optical dri ves.

adding or replacing the drive is one of the easiest jobs you can do on a computer.
all you need to do is find a screw driver or two that will be used to open your computers chasis and then remove the screws holding in the existing drive.
you need to remove the cables from the back of the drive before removing the screws to make your life a little easier.
once removed make a note of the jumper position (the piece of plastic with ametal insert surrounded by pins) normally it would be on cable select CS. make sure your new drive has the jumper in the same position.
insert the drive in your computer chasis now connect the cables and finally screw the drive back in place. close the chassis and boot up your computer.
install the software that may have come with your drive (depends on what drive you buy). once done your new DVD will be ready to be used as your old CD-rom was (or was your existing drive a CD-RW) either way your DVD will read and write to CD-rw, and DVD-RW (depending on the model you decide to buy, your drive will read multiple or different formats)

the replacement is so simple a child of two could do it with a little adult supervision. Though i would not reccomend you let your kids do the work.
however remember when you do do the internal work be careful not to touch the printed circuit boards in the system.
for best results turn off the power at the mains and at the switch on your computers Power supply (at the rear of the chassis where the mains lead plugs in) leave the cable connected between your computer and the power supply. this will be or in my experiance is adequate to ground yourself in order to work on the internals of your computer without fear of frying the components. just make sure during your work you keep at least one part of your flesh touching the internal bare metal on the chasis.
you only need to ground yourself when actually working on the inside of the computer where you expect or think you may inadvertantly make contact with the internal circuit boards which are could be killed by the static electricty that builds up naturally in your body.

be careful and if you can use an antistatic wrist strap and connect it to a properly earthed area then you can unplug the mains supply while you work.
personally I work with my system plugged in but off at the mains and i have never yet had a problem. However it should be stressed that for your safety you should in a perfect world remove the plug from the mains when you are working on the inside of your computer.
good luck.

Answer 2

A dvd drive laser is 6 times finer so you need the extra drive not software sorry. You can play cd's in a DVD but not the other way around.

Answer 3

No,
If you buy a DVD-Writer (Sony, Samsung, LG)
Then you can play DVDs Write DVDs, Play CDs and Write CDs
It will cost you about £ 20

Answer 4

no software you could get can make a cd-rom drive play or read dvds, they are different kinds of discs and different technologies.

to read/play/access dvds, you'll need at least a dvd-rom drive installed. to be able to write/burn dvds, you'd need a dvd-rw drive.

Answer 5

im even thicker than you when it comes to my computer so my advice would be to ask a 15 year old child they no so much about computers but good luck