DVD rom/CD R-W drive busted

vivekiny2k · 7th October 2007, 20:10

Hi guys,

my 4 year old laptop seems to have it's DVD drive aged enough. it freezes while playing movies, and fails after writing around half a inch while writing CDs.

should I:

1. get an external DVD drive? any advantages when i upgrade later?
2. get a replacement from DELL for the laptop?
3. get a DVD player and wait for the laptop replacement till it's natural death. (we don't really watch a lot of DVDs, plus what about my CD writing).
4. Go get a cheers:new laptop. (i had to be doubly sure wifey was not around when i wrote this

).

the laptop is placed in the bedroom and is directly connected to the TV for playing movies etc.

giri · 13th October 2007, 18:34

Try cleaning the drive first-perhaps the laser pickup is coated with grime.

Buy one of those CD-cleaners (looks like a regular CD with a small attached brush) with cleaning solution.

vivekiny2k · 14th October 2007, 03:33

good idea. thanks. will try it

vinee · 14th October 2007, 05:06

Get an external CD RW

or

Take your wife to a plush eatery and convince her that the one thing that you guys really need right away is a new laptop/PC, over a glass of Cinzano.

You are prone to these early hardware failures when you have a DELL.

anupmathur · 14th October 2007, 07:14

Vivek, after cleaning the lens, do try writing out a CD even if DVD writing fails. Different lasers are used for both and the one for CD might be working still.
You could go in for an external drive. That would be useful even after you buy a new laptop.
A DVD player would be the best solution for playing DVD movies at home.

iraghava · 14th October 2007, 12:05

Do you have a 4-yr warranty on your laptop from Dell? If yes, then call them & they'll send you a new drive which you can replace with the old one.

Sam Kapasi · 14th October 2007, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinee

Take your wife to a plush eatery and convince her that the one thing that you guys really need right away is a new laptop/PC, over a glass of Cinzano.
.

Given the value of laptops today, that exercise itself should cost a substantial chunk of the purchase lol

anupmathur · 14th October 2007, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

...& they'll send you a new drive which you can replace with the old one.

Why on earth would anyone want to replace a new drive with an old one?? LOL.

iraghava · 14th October 2007, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by anupmathur

Why on earth would anyone want to replace a new drive with an old one?? LOL.

Good catch! I must have been hungover when I typed this!

7th October 2007, 20:10	#1
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 209 Times View My Garage	DVD rom/CD R-W drive busted Hi guys, my 4 year old laptop seems to have it's DVD drive aged enough. it freezes while playing movies, and fails after writing around half a inch while writing CDs. should I: 1. get an external DVD drive? any advantages when i upgrade later? 2. get a replacement from DELL for the laptop? 3. get a DVD player and wait for the laptop replacement till it's natural death. (we don't really watch a lot of DVDs, plus what about my CD writing). 4. Go get a cheers:new laptop. (i had to be doubly sure wifey was not around when i wrote this ). the laptop is placed in the bedroom and is directly connected to the TV for playing movies etc.
	() Thanks

13th October 2007, 18:34	#2
giri BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: bangalore Posts: 35 Thanked: 4 Times	Try cleaning the drive first-perhaps the laser pickup is coated with grime. Buy one of those CD-cleaners (looks like a regular CD with a small attached brush) with cleaning solution.
	() Thanks

14th October 2007, 03:33	#3
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 209 Times View My Garage	good idea. thanks. will try it
	() Thanks

14th October 2007, 05:06	#4
vinee Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: sofia Posts: 8 Thanked: 0 Times	Get an external CD RW or Take your wife to a plush eatery and convince her that the one thing that you guys really need right away is a new laptop/PC, over a glass of Cinzano. You are prone to these early hardware failures when you have a DELL.
	() Thanks

14th October 2007, 07:14	#5
anupmathur Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 3,095 Thanked: 307 Times	Vivek, after cleaning the lens, do try writing out a CD even if DVD writing fails. Different lasers are used for both and the one for CD might be working still. You could go in for an external drive. That would be useful even after you buy a new laptop. A DVD player would be the best solution for playing DVD movies at home.
	() Thanks

14th October 2007, 12:05	#6
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 8,033 Thanked: 265 Times View My Garage	Do you have a 4-yr warranty on your laptop from Dell? If yes, then call them & they'll send you a new drive which you can replace with the old one.
	() Thanks