Comments on: Installing a internal dvd writer

Question: Installing a internal dvd writer

tom123 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:05:41 -0800

Is installing a internal dvd writer to a laptop easy ? Any instructions on how to do it.

By: box

box — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:08:38 -0800

What kind of laptop?

By: bondcliff

bondcliff — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:09:19 -0800

Installing internal anything on a laptop usually isn't trivial, but it really depends on the make/model of the laptop and whatever you're installing.

I'm assuming whoever makes your laptop also makes a DVD writer specifically for that make and model. Laptops aren't like clone PCs, you don't just buy a generic DVD writer and install it in any ol' laptop.

Chances are, if an internal DVD writer exists for your laptop a bit of googling will get you instructions on how to do it.

By: tom123

tom123 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:32:07 -0800

I have a toshiba laptop. It does not have dvd writer. It is a dvd-rom read-only.
I feel internal dvd writer are cheaper than external. So i am looking for an internal
one.

By: mr_roboto

mr_roboto — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:40:01 -0800

I have a toshiba laptop.

Which model?

By: pupdog

pupdog — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:42:10 -0800

If there is one available, Toshiba will be the supplier. Laptops aren't designed around 'commodity' parts - the carriers, mountings, and connections are going to be specific to a certain model. In many laptops the optical drive can be ejected and replaced with another optical device (this will be in your manuals, and you would buy the DVD writer designed for your laptop by your manufacturer). If it's not a module-based optical drive it's much more difficult, and more expensive. In this instance, an external drive is going to be easier and not really any more expensive.

In general internal drives are cheaper than externals, when dealing with standard full-height desktop-style drives. These aren't what laptops use.

By: jjb

jjb — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:44:25 -0800

Either the laptop is designed with easily swappable parts, or it's a serious headache.

Back when floppies were still common and CD-ROMs were just hitting the market, many laptops would come with both drives and the user could swap between the two as needed. These days, you'll almost certainly have to tear the whole thing apart in order to do any swapping.

Some things to consider:

If you go ahead with that, be VERY careful. laptop components are typically connected with very flimsy connectors that aren't designed for disconnecting and reconnecting many times like a desktop PC. I've torn apart a couple older Toshiba laptops, and to get out the DVD-ROM you have to pretty much disassemble the entire machine.

Assuming there is an internal dvd writer for your specific laptop, it will probably only be available through toshiba, and it likely wont be inexpensive. External drives are pretty cheap, usually in the $100 range.

If the laptop is still under warranty and you're able to do a swap, theres no way Toshiba will honor your warranty after you've torn it apart.

By: so_

so_ — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:03:10 -0800

I'll be the first to point out that the drive part is actually fairly commodity, but installing such things is not generally trivial unless they made it particularly easy on that model with the use of a quick replace tray or something.

By: -harlequin-

-harlequin- — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:28:52 -0800

Back when floppies were still common and CD-ROMs were just hitting the market, many laptops would come with both drives and the user could swap between the two as needed. These days, you'll almost certainly have to tear the whole thing apart in order to do any swapping.

It's pretty common these days for the same swappability thing, it's just the options that are different, eg "DVD or extra battery", instead of "CD or floppy"

On my laptop, it was trivial to change the DVD drive. I didn't need to take it apart, just unscrewed a single screw on the bottom, and the drive slides out. Slid the replacement in, and windows automagically knew what it was, not a mouseclick was needed. YMMV of course :-/

Search for the service manual for your computer (with luck, available as a pdf online), this will give step by step instructions on changing the drive (and everything else you might want to do).

By: exphysicist345

exphysicist345 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:34:23 -0800

Here's an interesting site that sells laptop parts. Put in your brand and model of laptop and see what they have.

By: exphysicist345

exphysicist345 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:41:56 -0800

You might find disassembly instructions for your Toshiba laptop at this site.

By: mu~ha~ha~ha~har

mu~ha~ha~ha~har — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:52:04 -0800

If you're doing what I think you're doing -

- Make sure there is nothing in there!
(Unless you want to take it out(1), put it in(2). ...where's that disc.. Fuck!! Take it out(3), put it in(4). Remove disc!! Take it out(5), put it in(6!!) You'll only do that once!)

- Remove battery pack
(nuf said.)

- Remove screws
(Pick a method for doing this and lay them out in sequence as you go *on a rag in a dish ect*. Sometimes this is important due to the length or whatever so it's not a bad habit to get into.)

- Take Drive out
(There is a connector along the back edge that basically plugs the drive in. So there will be *say 1cm??* of resistance from that and then it just slips out easily. Be firm but gentle. If it doesn't seem to 'give' at all, you may have missed a screw?)

- Ransack it!
(*Lay out screws.* Take the the slider rail from each side. And the plug/doobie from off the back - for mine this is vital! It is shaped oddly so others won't fit. Be patient with the slider rail screws they tend to thread... when you have to mess with them a billion times in a row!! No but seriously we have tonnes so it's ok but you'll be screwed.. ha ha! get it? Ehhh. anyway-)

- Re-attach, then put Drive in.
(Put those snavelled bits onto the new drive. Then just slide it in 'til it butts against the thingy inside, give it a little wriggle to make sure it feels lined up then jam it in 'til it sits nice and flat on the outside. Replace the screws - :) you should be sweet with that one.)

- Replace battery and start that badboy up.
(Expect it to run as per normal when you turn it on.)

*Some machines have quirks (eg. mine and its shape) - saves on frustration to be aware of these!!
**Not responsible - but email if you need help... I'll get the SO, who does not use terms like 'thingy' or 'doobie' and has had the odd 'Shiba'.
***But seriously I can do it, it ain't that hard! :)