Tips for buying a new notebook DVD drive
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.
Entry Filed under: Laptop Upgrading Tips
December 31st, 2008 at 10:18 am
I have a Toshiba Satellite A15-S157. I tried to replace the original CDRW/DVD combo drive with a Samsung (TSST) Combo drive SN-M242D, but I received an IDE #1 error. All posts that I’ve read points to the problem being that the Samsung drive is set to Master in the firmware, but the Toshiba laptop Bios doesn’t recognize it because it needs to be a Slave. I need to obtain the software to change my new Samsung combo drive from Master to Slave. Can you help?
December 9th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Kenra,
First of all, try cleaning the laser inside the drive with a cotton swap soaked in 99% alcohol. Open up the drive and you’ll the laser - a small piece of glass.
If cleaning the laser doesn’t help, most likely you’ll have to replace the drive.
The best way to find a replacement would be searching by the HP spare part number from the drive.
1. Remove the drive from the laptop.
2. Find spare part number located somewhere on the drive.
3. Google the part number.
December 8th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Hey there.
I have an HP dv500 notebook and for a while now it hasn’t wanted to burn cd’s or play certain dvd’s, and when some did play it took several minutes for the drive to even read it. Most recently it has refused to play anything of any kind. I’m pretty sure I need a new drive, but I’m not positive on how to go about getting one that’s compatible. Help?
December 1st, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Hi, I have a Problem with a TS-L632 from my Samsung Notebook. I have flashed it and it wont show in the Bios after that, cause the flash goes wrong. Is there a way to flash it back to a previous Firmware? With a Flashing Tool a backup.bin on a PC perhaps? What have this Drive for a Connector? Sata? Pls HELP
September 9th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
anirudh ruhil,
If your laptop can recognize and read CDs but not DVDs, most likely there is a problem with the drive and it has to be replaced. Before you do that, try cleaning the laser inside the drive with a cotton swap soaked in 99% alcohol.
When you open up the drive, you’ll see the laser inside the moving mechanism.