Bad CD-RW/DVD Rom Drive

[Guest]

My daugherts HP Pavillion CD Rom Drive is not working properly. It does not
read the CDs or DVDs right. Music CDs skip really bad. I have tried cleaning
it, but it still is screwed up. So, my question is can I purchase an external
CD-RW/DVD drive to use rather than take it to a computer repair shop? I would
think that this would be the easiest solution, but I did not know if I had to
have a working CD drive to install any software first before the new drive
would work. I would appreciate any help any one can give me here.
Thank-you
Kemm

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Windows XP should automatically detect and install
the external CD-RW/DVD drive. Afterward, you can
then install the CD/DVD recording software using the
new drive.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| My daugherts HP Pavillion CD Rom Drive is not working properly. It does not
| read the CDs or DVDs right. Music CDs skip really bad. I have tried cleaning
| it, but it still is screwed up. So, my question is can I purchase an external
| CD-RW/DVD drive to use rather than take it to a computer repair shop? I would
| think that this would be the easiest solution, but I did not know if I had to
| have a working CD drive to install any software first before the new drive
| would work. I would appreciate any help any one can give me here.
| Thank-you
| Kemm

 

[Merlin]

Replacing an internal cdrom is very simple. You can do it yourself, no need
to take it to a shop.

 

[Guest]

Maybe for you it would be simple, but I would be a little leery to open up my
computer not knowing what the heck I am doing. Maybe someday I will get brave
enough to tackle it. It just seemed so much easier to just buy an external
one to use for the time being. I don't think she even used any dvds in her
computer before, so I figured I could probably find and inexpensive external
CD-RW drive to use.
Thanks

 

[Steve N.]

Maybe for you it would be simple, but I would be a little leery to open up my
computer not knowing what the heck I am doing. Maybe someday I will get brave
enough to tackle it. It just seemed so much easier to just buy an external
one to use for the time being. I don't think she even used any dvds in her
computer before, so I figured I could probably find and inexpensive external
CD-RW drive to use.
Thanks

It's not difficult.

http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/pc/hardware/cdrom/replace.php

Steve N.

 

[Jan Alter]

When the writer says it's "simple" he's not kidding. Let me ask you this.
Do you drive? If you had a flat tire would you be able to change onto a
spare tire? The hardest part will be opening the case. It you can do that
you're almost 50% done once you've noticed how the CD-ROM drive is attached.
Yes, you can get yourself an external CD-ROM drive. The cost will be
twice as much as an internal drive and more inconvenient as the drive will
take up space and and additional plug.
Your choice of course.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Maybe for you it would be simple, but I would be a little leery to
open up my computer not knowing what the heck I am doing. Maybe
someday I will get brave enough to tackle it. It just seemed so much
easier to just buy an external one to use for the time being.

If you've never opened the case before, I can readily understand the fear of
doing this. But it really is very simple. It isn't much different from
connecting an external drive, except that you have to mount the drive inside
the case.All you have to do is the following:

1. place a single jumper correctly to identify the drive as a master, slave,
or only drive (the same way the old one is set).

2. Unplug two cables from the old drive (power and data)

3. Remove the four small mounting screws that hold the drive in place.

4. Slide the old drive out

5, Slide the new drive in.

6. Secure the drive in place with the mounting screws you removed.

7. Replug the two cables.

It doesn't take much longer to perform these steps than to type them.

What I would suggest is that you get a friend who's done this sort of thing
before to work with you. That will stop you from making any mistakes and
give you he confidence you need to do something similar alone in the future.

 

[Richard Urban]

Check in Device Manager under the properties for the IDE controller that
your CD drive is connected to. It should be set for DMA 2 or Ultra DMA 2. If
the setting shows PIO mode, that is your problem. Change the setting and
reboot. Check again to make certain that the change has taken place.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[HeyBub]

Maybe for you it would be simple, but I would be a little leery to
open up my computer not knowing what the heck I am doing. Maybe
someday I will get brave enough to tackle it. It just seemed so much
easier to just buy an external one to use for the time being. I don't
think she even used any dvds in her computer before, so I figured I
could probably find and inexpensive external CD-RW drive to use.
Thanks

Does your hand fit a screwdriver?

Opening the computer's case is no different than raising the hood of your
car. Nothing - either bad or good - happens when you do so. You can even run
the computer with the case removed (I do).

Many internal parts on computers are commodities. That is, they are
standardized and interchangable - like spark plugs or radiator caps. ALL
CD-ROM internal drives are exactly the same size and have the same mounting
screws and cables. Well, almost all.

Open the case.
Unplug the two cables to the CD drive.
Remove the (usually) four screws holding the drive in place.
Take the drive to a computer store. Say "This one no work. Need new."

(Notice I didn't even preface the instructions with "Turn off the power!"
It's not necessary, but you can if you want.)

You have enough smarts to find and post to this group; you'll be fine. From
replacing the CD-ROM drive to replacing the motherboard is but a small step.
Welcome to a new hobby.

 

[Guest]

Thanks everyone for their responses, I do appreciate everyones advice.

 

[Galen]

In Steve N. <[email protected]> had this to say:

Steve,

If you get a minute and do not mind then please (I don't know your address
else I'd have just emailed) ping me off-list? 1) I want an opinion. 2) I
want more information. <g> Nothing major nor big really but just not
something for newsgroup stuffs. The reply to address in here is a real inbox
and is nearly always open and downloading email.

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/

"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of
existence." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[Jonny]

Some things that can bite you. Always grasp the 4 wire power connector by
the connector, not the wires. Its okay to slightly rock the ide connector
for disconnection, but not severely as this can cause bent pins on the cdrom
or motherboard.
Its a good idea to replace the ide ribbon cable for replacement ide devices.
80 wire type is best.
If a retaining screw is lost during the disassembly or assembly, find it at
all costs. This may cause a major electrical short if not found.

 

[Steve N.]

In Steve N. <[email protected]> had this to say:

Steve,

If you get a minute and do not mind then please (I don't know your address
else I'd have just emailed) ping me off-list? 1) I want an opinion. 2) I
want more information. <g> Nothing major nor big really but just not
something for newsgroup stuffs. The reply to address in here is a real inbox
and is nearly always open and downloading email.

No problem Galen, email sent with my real email addy.

Cheers,
Steve N.

 

[Galen]

In Steve N. <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

No problem Galen, email sent with my real email addy.

Cheers,
Steve N.

Most excellent. I replied late last night, just a minute after 10 PM EST.
Hopefully you get it. Often I get a return email from your ISP's spam
service requesting that I click a link, fill in a name, and type a number. I
do all that and click the submit button but, no... It never actually really
works. I didn't get one from your address so I suspect that it's made it to
your inbox by now and you're doing that real-job type of stuff. Icky... <g>
Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/

"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of
existence." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[Steve N.]

In Steve N. <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:




Most excellent. I replied late last night, just a minute after 10 PM EST.
Hopefully you get it. Often I get a return email from your ISP's spam
service requesting that I click a link, fill in a name, and type a number. I
do all that and click the submit button but, no... It never actually really
works. I didn't get one from your address so I suspect that it's made it to
your inbox by now and you're doing that real-job type of stuff. Icky... <g>
Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.

Got `em and more info sent today, too. I don't know why Earhlink does
that. I certainly have not put your address in the "this is spam" list.
When I can afford DSL (it's too expensive out here in the boondocks
right now and no cable internet service available) I'll lose good ol'
Earthstink.

Steve N.