Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Dazzler]

I have a Hp PC and both of its rom drives are knackered
Can anyone reccomend a half decent replacement??
I need a DVD/CD writer and a standard DVD-Rom.
How much are they and are they easy to fit DIY??

Thanks

[Andyb]

http://www.ebuyer.com/store/Components/cat/CD---DVD-Drives?refmen=tn

easy to fit m8 just remove old drive and replace with a new one and update the bios if it not reconised

[Omegaani]

Make sure the replacements use the same connection as the originals. If your originals are IDE you don't want SATA. Also ensure the replacements read and write the disc types you use.

Another thing to check is if your Hewlett Packard PC uses a cosmetic front to the drive bays that requires the drives' own front panels to be removed. The HP at my workplace does have cosmetic fronts but leaves the drives as standard. Hopefully yours is the same.

As far as the bios and operating system are concerned (assuming recent), there shouldn't be any work at all.

About a tenner for the ROM and up to twenty quid for a regular rewriter. You can even get a rewriter unit that also reads Blue Ray and HD-DVD if you spend about £80. Prices on the new technology will drop quickly so only buy into it now if you really need it now.

[HolyCount]

Have a look at SVP -- usually do decent prices

[dbug]

Try DABS online - dual layer DVD/RW around £23.00 incl VAT - DVD ROM drives not much cheaper and not worth buying - get 2 x rewriters!

When fitting ensure u set master/slave jumpers on back of drives exactly same as on ones you remove.  Otherwise plug 'n play.  Get BIOS to identify them on first boot - windows should accept them ok.

[TheBoy]

ABout £15 upwards for new DVD writer. Get either IDE or SATA to match your PC (guessing IDE), and set jumper on back to match jumper setting on your old one.

[Dazzler]

How do i know if IDE of SATA??
The PC is a HP Pavilion about 4 years old, running XP from factory, AMD 64

[Marks DTM Calib]

How do i know if IDE of SATA??
The PC is a HP Pavilion about 4 years old, running XP from factory, AMD 64

IDE then......

[Mr Skrunts]

The IDE will have a a flat ribbon cable with a 40 pin connector on it 2 rows x 20 pins

Also of all the replacment drives I would be tempted to stick with the Pioneers as 1st choice with the LG or Sony as 2 nd choice from personal experience.

Also look at Aria.co.uk then comepare with the likes of ebuyer.  look at the overall basket value and then check delivery times.  Ebuyer can tend to be a bit slow but will deliver quicker if you pay them more.

[Dazzler]

The IDE will have a a flat ribbon cable with a 40 pin connector on it 2 rows x 20 pins

Also of all the replacment drives I would be tempted to stick with the Pioneers as 1st choice with the LG or Sony as 2 nd choice from personal experience.

Also look at Aria.co.uk then comepare with the likes of ebuyer.  look at the overall basket value and then check delivery times.  Ebuyer can tend to be a bit slow but will deliver quicker if you pay them more.

Thanks for the discription will have a strip and look inside

[Mr Skrunts]

Will be interesting to see what Brand the drives are that are in.

[Martin_1962]

I use Pioneer DVD drives too

[Dazzler]

Its a Hp drive fitted, no other names on it.

The good news is once i had it out and opened up the draw manually it now works again

Must have been just stuch i suppose :-/

[TheBoy]

HP use their own brand writers, obviously.

Anything from that era will be IDE, which will be an 80 way ribbon (not 40 as suggested earlier).

If it plays up again, just replace the drive, they are only £15 upwards.  Then again, the PC is probably tired, and being an HP, probably shite.

[Mr Skrunts]

May be an 80 pin cable but the connector will still be 40 pins