Re: DVD+RW Drive
"laura" <laura@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:221FFA14-667D-40A5-946A-B36060FE2C5F@microsoft.com...
> My DVD drive does not read cd's. It used work occasionally but now not at
> all. The light goes on when the cd is inserted but then it cannot be
> read.
> I am trying to load music to my Ipod.
Drives do fail in time (just like car parts!) but fortunately, unless this
is a laptop, DVD drives are cheap and easy to replace. Where I am, such
drives are around $30. Open the case and see if the cable leading to the
drive (the one that isn't the power cable) is wide (almost 2") or narrow
(about 1/4").
If the cable is wide, you need an IDE drive. If it's narrow, you need a
SATA drive.
The only other thing you need to know is, if it's an IDE drive, how the
jumpers are set (does not apply to SATA drives). On the back of the drive
near where the cable is, there are three pairs of pins marked MA, SL, and
CS. These stand for Master, Slave, and Cable Select. One of those pairs
has a jumper on it. Set the new drive to the same setting - the new drive
will have the jumper, probably on the MA pair.
Aside from that, plug it in exactly the same way, and just move whatever
screws. Put the system back together; you're done. Windows will detect
the drive and install it.
If it's a laptop - the parts aren't standard and are expensive and you have
to contact the manufacturer.
HTH
-pk