It’s fairly easy to upgrade your computer and install a DVD drive whether it’s internal or external. The total cost should be under $100 since you’re doing the labor.
To install an external DVD drive:
Step 1
When purchasing a new drive be sure to understand the many formats available: DVD, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW are a few for example. More recent technologies include DVD-DL, HD DVD and Blu-Ray Disc. A decent DVD drive should be able to read and write both "+" and "-" technologies and also support recordable (R) and re-writable (RW) technology. Essentially look for a DVD+/-RW drive if you plan on recording DVD's, or just a plain DVD drive for reading DVD's (movies, games, etc). There are a variety of speeds from 2x-16x for a wide spectrum of users and needs; higher speeds will record faster.
Step 2
If you have a USB connection on your computer you can use an external drive. The advantage to an exterior drive is that you can use it on other computers as well.
Step 3
To install an external DVD, just follow the instructions provided with the drive.
To install an internal DVD drive:
- Look for a DVD with the letters RW on the box. This is so you can read disks and record them as well. Make sure the speed rating is 16X and that the DVD is dual layer so that it takes care of the latest technology.
- Read the instructions that come with the DVD. It may require you to load the provided CD software before installing the DVD player. Leave the disk in your CD ROM player for the rest of the procedure.
- Disconnect the power cord from the back of the computer (goes to the wall socket of your house.)
- Open the case of the computer.
- Locate the hard disk or CD drive. Most have two connections and can only be snapped in place one way. One connection is for data and one for power.
- Check to see if your computer mounts the DVD/CD ROM drives from the inside or if they are pushed through the front panel (you may have to remove the plastic panel on some models.)
- Carefully remove the plastic “knock-off?? cover on the outside of your computer. Make sure you do this only when you are ready to install the DVD drive.
- Slide the DVD drive into an empty compartment or bay. If it’s an older computer you can secure it with screws that come with the DVD drive. Many newer computers have spring clips to secure the drive in place.
- Connect the DVD drive to the data cable. The data cable is wide like a ribbon and is also called a ribbon cable and has a red stripe on one side. There are two or three connectors on the data cable. One is connected to the circuit board, one is connected to your CD drive or hard disk and one in the middle (optional third connector) is usually not connected to anything. Use the middle connector for the DVD drive. If your data cable only has two connectors replace it with the one that is generally included with the new drive.
- Hook the DVD to the power connector. This is a normal round looking cable. There are usually several power connectors in the computer.
- If you don’t have an available power connector, then you can buy a “Y?? connector to hook up to the existing power cable. Unhook the power connector and hook it to one side of the “Y?? and hook the DVD to the other side of the “Y??.
- Re-assemble the cover and plug the computer back in.
- When you run Windows up it should look for the drivers for the new DVD player and automatically locate and load them from the CD ROM that you left in the CD player from the first step.
