Internal DVD Writer for aging laptop?

[i_m_cameron]

Hi,
I am thinking about buying an internal DVD writer for my laptop.
Assuming I can find one to fit the space where my cd writer currently
fits. Am I right assuming all cd/dvd laptop drives are a standard size
with standard connections?

Is a DVD writer likely to work on my laptop which is about 4 years old.
Its an Intel P4 1.7GHz processor with 256Mb RAM running XP Pro? Or is
that likely to be too old?

Does anyone know the answers?

Thanks,
Cameron

 

[Rod Speed]

(e-mail address removed) wrote

I am thinking about buying an internal DVD writer for my laptop.
Assuming I can find one to fit the space where my cd writer currently
fits. Am I right assuming all cd/dvd laptop drives are a standard size
with standard connections?

Nope, fraid not.

Is a DVD writer likely to work on my laptop which is about 4 years old.
Its an Intel P4 1.7GHz processor with 256Mb RAM running XP Pro?

Should be fine.

Or is that likely to be too old?

It isnt the age that matters. Those specs are fine.

 

[Beemer Biker]

Hi,
I am thinking about buying an internal DVD writer for my laptop.
Assuming I can find one to fit the space where my cd writer currently
fits. Am I right assuming all cd/dvd laptop drives are a standard size
with standard connections?

Is a DVD writer likely to work on my laptop which is about 4 years old.
Its an Intel P4 1.7GHz processor with 256Mb RAM running XP Pro? Or is
that likely to be too old?

Suggest you get one of those new lightscribe burners and put it in an
external box. I just went thru the hassle of updating some old thinkpads
a20m, got some stuff on ebay and newegg.

I assume you want internal because you dont have USB2 or Firewire on you
laptop. I didnt have either on any of my A20M (PIII: 500 .. 700)

At newegg ($USD) you can get $50 lightscribe BENQ and add an inexpensive
external box and get a pcmcia combo firewire/usb2 card all for under USD
$150 total Including Nero 6 with the capability of burning labels on the
flip side of the cd.

On ebay I see DVD+/- RW for about $130 plus shipping but they are not
lightscribe and dont have Nero. That would be for thinkpads A series as i
was only looking at those.

Be aware that swapping out your DVD for a DVD Burner will count against you
as far as haveing to re-activate windows xp. That can be a problem for some
users. If you added memory, reformatted or ntfs converted or swapped out
hardware you may be on the edge of having to reactivate. I went thru this a
couple of times and m$oft made me feel like a product key thief trying to
explain where I got my key.

 

[Rod Speed]

Suggest you get one of those new lightscribe burners and put it in an
external box. I just went thru the hassle of updating some old
thinkpads a20m, got some stuff on ebay and newegg.

I assume you want internal because you
dont have USB2 or Firewire on you laptop.

Or because it maintains the convenient portability.

 

[Beemer Biker]

Or because it maintains the convenient portability.

yea, I forgot about that, might be convenient to burn dvd's at blockbusters
or while waiting in line at those movie rental places and not bother having
to rent the movie..just buy the popcorn.

I once thought about maxing out my cheap laptop, then I found dirt cheap
full docking stations were available on ebay that accept all my latest and
greatest desktop peripherals.


--
=======================================================================
Beemer Biker (e-mail address removed)
http://TipsForTheComputingImpaired.com
http://ResearchRiders.org Ask about my 99'R1100RT
=======================================================================

 

[LeonXander]

Hi,
I am thinking about buying an internal DVD writer for my laptop.
Assuming I can find one to fit the space where my cd writer currently
fits. Am I right assuming all cd/dvd laptop drives are a standard size
with standard connections?

Is a DVD writer likely to work on my laptop which is about 4 years old.
Its an Intel P4 1.7GHz processor with 256Mb RAM running XP Pro? Or is
that likely to be too old?

Does anyone know the answers?

Thanks,
Cameron

nice post

 

[i_m_cameron]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the advice. You have answered a lot of my questions,
but put a couple more in my mind.

Ideally I wanted to put an internal drive in for neatness and
portability. Also I only have USB 1.1 ports, but I do have a Firewire
port so I could go external and use that.

The laptop in question is an ownbrand laptop I bought from a small
company called Novatech. How many different standards of internal
drive are there? Is it likely to be very difficult to buy one to suit?

Look forward to the answers again,

Thanks Cameron.

Ps. I live in the UK

 

[Neil Maxwell]

Hi,
I am thinking about buying an internal DVD writer for my laptop.
Assuming I can find one to fit the space where my cd writer currently
fits. Am I right assuming all cd/dvd laptop drives are a standard size
with standard connections?

Is a DVD writer likely to work on my laptop which is about 4 years old.
Its an Intel P4 1.7GHz processor with 256Mb RAM running XP Pro? Or is
that likely to be too old?

Does anyone know the answers?

Much will depend on the brand of your laptop. Some use a standard
form factor (like some Dells), others (like IBM) tend not to.

The NEC ND-6750A has a decent reputation for fitting a variety of
laptops, though the bezel needs to be switched sometimes.
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827152069

If you google ND-6750A and your laptop model, you may find if it will
work for you. For instance, if I google ND-6750A inspiron 5000e, I
find that it will fit my old laptop, according to reports.