Member Avatar for Martian

I am trying to install a new DVD drive in my computer and I wanted to know how would I go about doing this. Do I just put the drive in an open slot and then do all the connections and go on the computer and click on Detect New Hardware...

If someone could give me a step by step process on how to do this it would be great. I have an idea how to go about and do this but I don't want to risk it, since this is something I have never done. Thanks. :)

  • 5 Contributors
  • 7 Replies
  • 335 Views
  • 5 Years Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by 5555

Dani AI

Generated

As covered the basic physical install and pointed out the jumper diagram, the following notes fill in common gaps and troubleshooting steps that were not mentioned earlier.

First, identify the drive interface before you start: older PATA (IDE) drives use a wide 40-pin ribbon and a separate 4-pin Molex power plug; newer SATA drives use a thin 7-pin data cable and a 15-pin SATA power connector. SATA is point-to-point (no master/slave or jumpers), so if your new drive is SATA many of the jumper questions do not apply. Also check your PSU for the correct power connector or use a quality Molex-to-SATA adapter if necessary.

If the drive does not appear at boot, check the motherboard BIOS first (is the optical controller enabled? is the boot order appropriate if you need to boot from disc?). In Windows 2000 look under Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager -> DVD/CD-ROM drives to confirm detection; expand IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers if the drive is missing. Swap cables or a different IDE channel to isolate a bad cable or channel. On older systems, some CD audio required a separate analog cable to the sound card; modern motherboards usually handle audio digitally so that cable is often unnecessary.

Practical cautions: ground yourself to avoid static, do not force connectors, and avoid flashing drive firmware unless the vendor specifically lists your symptom and provides exact instructions. If you plan to play commercial DVDs remember region coding is limited (changes are finite) and requires compatible player software and decoders. These checks cover the less obvious issues that cause a perfectly mounted drive to be invisible or behave incorrectly.

Recommended Answers

All 7 Replies

Member Avatar for viperman224

First, Shut the computer down and unplug it from the wall. Then remove the PC's cover. Next find a free bay (under or above the cd-rom inplace now) You can have two cd-roms depending on the machine and what other drives you curently have. Open the box the drive came in and take the drive insert it into the free bay after you remove the bay cover. New drives usually come with screws (4?) allign the drive with the screws holes in the case and insert the screws. Then connect your cables. Before this make sure the drive's jumpers are set to either master or slave. If you already have a cd-rom on a cable its probably a master thus you would set the dvd-rom to a slave drive. Same goes if your putting it on a cable with a hard drive. What operating system are you using? XP, 2000, 98, me, etc. If your using 2000 or XP they should probably find the driver for the dvd-rom themselves. You will also want to install the dvd-rom software to play dvds that comes with a new drive. Then put the cover back on the machine and boot it up and make sure the computer sees it and install your DVD software. A new drive should also include a set of instruction more detailed then this and will show you visualy how to install and connect the cables. Let me know how you make out.

Member Avatar for Martian

First, Shut the computer down and unplug it from the wall. Then remove the PC's cover. Next find a free bay (under or above the cd-rom inplace now) You can have two cd-roms depending on the machine and what other drives you curently have. Open the box the drive came in and take the drive insert it into the free bay after you remove the bay cover. New drives usually come with screws (4?) allign the drive with the screws holes in the case and insert the screws. Then connect your cables. Before this make sure the drive's jumpers are set to either master or slave. If you already have a cd-rom on a cable its probably a master thus you would set the dvd-rom to a slave drive. Same goes if your putting it on a cable with a hard drive. What operating system are you using? XP, 2000, 98, me, etc. If your using 2000 or XP they should probably find the driver for the dvd-rom themselves. You will also want to install the dvd-rom software to play dvds that comes with a new drive. Then put the cover back on the machine and boot it up and make sure the computer sees it and install your DVD software. A new drive should also include a set of instruction more detailed then this and will show you visualy how to install and connect the cables. Let me know how you make out.

Thanks for the info. I'll let you know how it works out.

Member Avatar for Martian

This might sound silly but how do I change the settings from Master to Slave or vice versa, is it done through the BIOS Setup or on the back of the DVD-ROM. I am running a Windows 2000. :o

Member Avatar for Civilian

This might sound silly but how do I change the settings from Master to Slave or vice versa, is it done through the BIOS Setup or on the back of the DVD-ROM. I am running a Windows 2000. :o

There are jumper settings on the back of the DVD drive, look at the top of the drive and there should be a diagram showing you three different jumper settings Master, Slave, and Cable Select. All you need to do is take the plastic jumper (located in back near the power plug) off of its current setting and switch it to the pins that correspond with slave as per the graph on top.

Hope it helps

Member Avatar for Martian

There are jumper settings on the back of the DVD drive, look at the top of the drive and there should be a diagram showing you three different jumper settings Master, Slave, and Cable Select. All you need to do is take the plastic jumper (located in back near the power plug) off of its current setting and switch it to the pins that correspond with slave as per the graph on top.

Hope it helps

Ayight. Thanks for the help.:cheesy:

Member Avatar for merlinosj

There are jumper settings on the back of the DVD drive, look at the top of the drive and there should be a diagram showing you three different jumper settings Master, Slave, and Cable Select. All you need to do is take the plastic jumper (located in back near the power plug) off of its current setting and switch it to the pins that correspond with slave as per the graph on top.

Hope it helps

Thanks a lot Buddy!! it really helped me!! i had been looking for somebody to help. And sure you did it!! I visited so many other websites but none could help me!!! Because of ur help i've joined this site.
THanks A lot!!!

Member Avatar for 5555

go fcuk urself

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.