When it comes to desktop computer repair, one of the most common hardware failures is CD/DVD/BD drives. If you're having problems with getting the disk tray to eject or disks are not being recognized, it may be time to replace it. Here's how to replace a CD/DVD/BD drive in your desktop computer.
So you're tired of trying to get your old desktop CD/DVD/BD drive to work and are ready to replace it with a new one. Having to
use a paper clip to manually eject
your computer's CD/DVD/BD drive tray can get old quick. Replacing a desktop CD/DVD/BD drive is relatively easy; you have to make sure you get one with the correct connections and dimensions.
Find a new drive
The majority of CD/DVD/BD drives on the market nowadays will have
SATA
(
Serial ATA
) connectors for data and power. But there are still quite a few older systems that still use
PATA
(
Parallel ATA
) for data and
4 Pin Molex
for power.
SATA
type drives are the de facto standard, so finding
PATA
replacement drives can be tricky.
Newegg
and
TigerDirect
are good places to find these older style drives.
PATA and SATA drive connections
Desktop CD/DVD drives have standard width and height dimensions, so all you have to do is check your existing drive's depth. Som
etimes you have room to put a deeper drive in, and sometimes you don't. Always check to see what kind of space you have available before purchasing a replacement drive.Uninstall the old software
Once you have your new CD/DVD/BD drive, you will need to uninstall the software that came with your old CD/DVD/BD drive. It's usually a version of Nero or PowerDVD, and it is branded to your old drive. Once you remove the old drive, the software that came bundled with it won't work anymore. Your new drive should have come with its own disk burning software.
Install the new drive
From here, we need to turn the computer off, disconnect the power cord from the back of the system, and open up the case. Now there are two possible ways of mounting the CD/DVD/BD drive in the case: screws or quick release rails. You may have to remove the front bezel from the case to access the CD/DVD/BD drive, as it will need to come out the front of the case. Please note the connections and remove the old drive and replace it with the new one.
Drives attached by screws and quick release rails
Install the new software
Once you get the system back together, power it up, and let Windows discover the new CD/DVD/BD drive. Windows may require a restart to finalize the setup. After that, you are ready to install the software that came with the new drive.