Before you upgrade or replace the DVD/CD-RW drive in your notebook, make sure that the drive you are buying is compatible with your computer. Some notebooks require an optical drive that works in cable select mode (CSEL). Some notebooks require master/slave (M/S) drives. Typically the drive is set to master or slave through a firmware flash. If the optical drive is not configured properly, it will not be detected by the BIOS or you will get IDE #1 error when you start the laptop. The best way to avoid these kinds of problems is to buy an optical drive designed for your laptop. If you plan to buy a generic drive, make sure to contact the seller and confirm that the drive will work in your computer.
In most cases you would be able to use the same connector board and DVD drive caddy (braces) from your old device. Just remove them from your old drive and install on a new drive.
Also make sure that your current plastic bezel (front panel) will fit a new optical drive. All bezels are different and very often you have to have a specific bezel for a specific drive. Do not hesitate to contact the seller and ask about the drive and the bezel computability.
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April 25th, 2007 at 6:51 am
I purchased the correct replacement DVD drive for my Toshiba laptop – but it came without instructions and I can’t figure out how to get the old one out. Is there a place on the net where I can get installation instructions. Thanks for your help.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Ellie,
First of all, try booting the laptop from a recovery DVD (or CD). Do not start the restore, just boot the laptop from the recovery disk. Press F12 on the laptop startup to get to the boot menu.
If the laptop can read the CD/DVD and boots fine, most likely you have a problem with the operating system and there is nothing wrong with the drive itself. In this case reinstall Windows and everything should be fine after that. Do not forget to backup all personal files before you run the restore.
If the laptop cannot recognize the recovery disk and will not boot from it, apparently you have a bad drive. Before you replace the drive, try reseating it. Here are some disassembly guides for help. Just disconnect it from the laptop and install back in place. Sometimes the drive doesn’t work properly because of a faulty connection between the drive and the motherboard. In this case reseating the drive might help.
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:09 am
My Toshiba Satellite will not read CDs/DVDs or any disks that go into that particular drive, i am really worried, please help!!!
April 9th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Bruno,
Right click on the drive and uninstall it. Reboot the laptop and test again.
Can you see the drive in My Computer? If not, try this solution.
April 9th, 2007 at 4:31 am
It will not recognize CDs/DVDs?
cj2600,
the drive don’t recognize a new empty dvd, she assumes that is a CD.
I look in the system for Hardware manegement and surprise…drive isn’t recognized by the system!
Can you tell me what may hapen?
April 7th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Bruno,
The drive doesn’t work at all, you cannot open it or it will not recognize CDs/DVDs? Try booting the laptop from the Windows CD. Can you boot?
If the laptop boots from Windows CD, most likely there is nothing wrong with the drive and you have a software related issue. Try reinstalling Windows again.
April 4th, 2007 at 9:20 am
i have a sony laptop PCG-K115S. it has a matshita UJ-820D.l would like to replace this drive with a new one as this one is not region free. please advice what drive to buy.
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:46 am
I have a Acer Travelmate 270. A while ago I reinstalled windows and now I cant get the dvd/cd drive to function.
If is a IDE problem how can i fixed?
i already think buy a newdvd7cd drive but i don’t now witch drive is compatible with my computer.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Bruno
March 27th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Cj:
I have tried several times to reinstall windows, but the drive works for a very few moments. Some seconds later i try to reboot the system as it is done to reinstall windows (through the recover DVD menu), and the computer freezes. Plus when i go to see the drive (either in windows or DOS), the drive isn’t shown (again).
Curious thing is that the drive has energy, when it works it does it very well, but that won’t last much time (like 4 -5 minutes).
Is there any other way to reinstall windows? Since the drive is the only one i have on my notebook, i’m not able to do it with the recover DVD.
March 23rd, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Hi,
I own a Acer Travelmate 240. A while ago I reinstalled windows and didnt use the machine for about 5 months. Strangely enough I cant get the dvd/cd drive to function.
Its got electricity and ejects and everything. The problem is that it doesnt see the drive in windows or dos.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Sam