My PC has a normal CD drive so I can't watch DVDs; my friend just gave me a DVD-Rom drive and my PC doesn't have an extra drive slot. Can I just open the PC, unplug the CD drive I have and plug in the DVD-Rom drive so that I could start watching DVDs on my PC? Do I need a sofwatre or I can get one free online?
He also gave me a TV card; what's that for and how does it work? Does this also need a software?
2007-04-01 10:32:35 · 9 answers · asked by AlphaOmega 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
You should be able to unplug the CD drive and plug in the DVD-ROM drive. Of course, you will need DVD playing software, but that can be found on the net for free (Media Player Classic, VideoLAN Client i.e. VLC player are two such).
TV card need to be installed, then its drivers must be installed, and it needs to be connected to a TV antenna or video cable outlet. If you can ascertain the model number we can probably dig up some instructions.
2007-04-01 10:38:01 · answer #1 · answered by Kasey C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can plug the DVD drive on the cable you disconnected the CD drive from - but check the jumper first. The jumper is a small plastic block on the back of the drive next to the long connector that connects 2 pins in either the MASTER, SLAVE or CS position. If you look at the jumper on the CD drive first you should be able to determine where the jumper should be on the DVD drive. When you have plugged it in power up the PC and check the drive is in "My Computer". 99% of DVD drives don't need drivers but it will need DVD software if you want to watch DVDs. You could download something like DivX Player or PowerDVD.
The TV card will allow you to watch TV using a normal TV aerial. This will probably install inside the computer in a PCI slot, unless it has a USB interface then you can just install the driver and viewer application from the CD or the manufacturers website and plug it in.
2007-04-01 18:35:07 · answer #2 · answered by Craig B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, not sure about the TV card but the DVD drive i can help you with.
It all depends on the make of the dvd drive. I know that some third party DVD roms are actually plug and play and self installation. Now, what i would recommend is that you try it first, plug it is and see if the power is on. The windows thing shoudl alert you of new drivers. It will either come up the new dialogue box explaining to enter the cd, or will say in a speech bubble its installed. If the dialogue box opens, go onto the internt and search in Google "driver [name of your dvd drive including the model] and download it. If you have trouble finding the driver, you might want to try the official website for the DVD drive. I hope this was helpful.
2007-04-01 17:41:34 · answer #3 · answered by Simon P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Windows already comes with most of the drivers you could need for both the DVD-ROM and the TV card. If Windows doesn't have the right driver, the manufacturer's website will have it for free.
I'd leave your CD drive where it is and use the DVD drive as a secondary - you can have up to 4 drives in the average computer (not including the floppy drive.)
The TV card is a graphics/video card that lets you plug your PC into your television, so that you can watch movies on a bigger screen than your monitor. However, the graphics quality may not be as good as the video card your PC is using at the moment - check first. Generally, I prefer to keep a separate DVD player (attached directly to the TV) for movies.
2007-04-01 17:40:15 · answer #4 · answered by Me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Windows media player can play your dvds and its free... you will need drivers to run your dvd-rom drive... check the manufacturers for drives compatible with your dvd drive...
The tv card is for watching tv on your pc... you need to install it on the back of the pc (a open port) and install the drivers as well.
You will need windows media center or an equal software to watch tv.
I hope this helps. :)
2007-04-01 17:38:56 · answer #5 · answered by Oscar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the drive should self install but you will need the codecs to watch a DVD...the TV tuner is for watching TV on you computer.you can all so record and pause live TV.use it just like a dvr.You need to go to the manufacturers website and download the drivers for the card.there is a neat little program to be used with TV cards and its free.its called virtual VCR here's the link
http://virtualvcr.sourceforge.net/
2007-04-01 17:59:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have only one Hard drive and one CD drive, you still have 2 IDE ports to use. Connect the DVD-ROM drive, to the IDE2 connector.
2007-04-01 18:17:49 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you will need the drivers for the dvd and the tv card. The tv card lets you watch television channels on your PC.
2007-04-01 17:38:16 · answer #8 · answered by Thrill K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your gonna need software to play dvd's . get this http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ it's free. and the tv card is for playing tv signals on your comp and yes you need software for that too check the maker's website
2007-04-01 17:39:46 · answer #9 · answered by lowrider6204 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋