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CD-RW/DVD-RW/DVD
GENERAL INFORMATION
There are three basic types of CD drives available. CD-ROM drives are read-only, meaning that they can read data that has already been written to a disc, but cannot write new data. CD-R drives can read like a ROM drive, but can also write to the appropriate blank media (CD-R discs). Note that CD-R discs can only be recorded once, and that the information written to them cannot be changed or erased. CD-RW drives can again read discs, can write to the CD-R discs, but can also write to CD-RW discs. Information written to a CD-RW can be altered or erased at will, making them a little more versatile for data storage. Note that some CD players are unable to play CD audio that has been burned to a CD-RW disc.
DVD drives are a little more complicated. DVD-ROM drives are similar to CD-ROMs in that they are only capable of reading discs, though they can generally read both CD and DVD discs. The complications begin with the recordable and re-writable media. There are two formats currently in use for recording DVDs - plus and minus, denoted as DVD+R and DVD-R. The two formats are not compatible with each other, and a drive may only be capable of handling one format or the other, though some drives may be able to handle both. Make sure to check both your drive and media to see which format they can handle before you buy to avoid future problems. Other than that, DVD recorders and rewriters work basically the same and CD drives, though some DVD drives may be capable of writing to CDs as well as DVDs.
INSTALLING A DRIVE
Installing a CD/DVD drive is a relatively quick and painless process, as long as you keep a few things in mind. First, as with any hardware changes you may make inside the case, always make sure your system is powered down and unplugged from its power cord before beginning. Plugging in or unplugging cables inside the computer while it is powered can cause major damage to your components. Second, make sure to touch a piece of metal (not inside the computer) before touching anything inside the case. Static electricity can easily fry components. Finally, the connectors you will be working with are designed to plug in one way only - if you have to force something, make sure it's turned in the right direction. Forcing plugs in the wrong way can cause damage.
If you are replacing an existing drive, you must first remove the old drive. Unplug both the power cable (four colored wires leading to a plastic plug) and the IDE cable (a ribbon cable with a wide, thin connector). Remember to pull by the connector, not the wires.
Next, remove the actual drive from the case. The exact technique depends on the case. In some cases, you can simply remove the screws (there should be two on each side) from the drive and slide the drive right out the front of the case. In certain tower cases, the drive is attached to rails which allow you to slide the drive out. In this case, there will be a metal clip on each side of the drive. Squeeze there toward the drive, and the drive should slide out. The rails are attached by screws, which can then be removed and used to attach the rails to the new drive.
Rackmount cases are a little more complicated. The CD drives are attached to a bay, which must be removed from the case before you can remove or install a CD/DVD drive.
Before you actually install the new drive, you will need to make sure the jumper is set correctly. The jumper on the rear of the drive (next to the port for the IDE cable) allows the drive to tell the system whether it is in the master or slave position on the cable. Setting this jumper incorrectly may cause the drive to be detected incorrectly or not at all by the system, and may also cause long delays when you boot the system.
What is all this talk about masters and slaves? The drive in the master position uses its internal drive controls to run both itself and the slave drive on its cable (if one is present). Having two drives both set to master will cause the two controllers to fight for control, delaying bootup and preventing one of the drives from working correctly. Having both drives set as slaves will prevent either controller from running, generally preventing either drive from working at all. The upshot of all this is to make sure that each cable has exactly one master and one slave drive.
Check the jumper on the back of your drive, and make sure it's set correctly. If you're replacing a drive, you can set your new drive's jumper to match the setting on the old drive and you should have no problems. If you're adding a whole new drive to the system, check the cable position of the drive. Generally, the master drive will be at the end of the cable, while the slave will be in the middle. While this is not mandatory in newer systems, slightly older systems may have issues if the cable positions don't match the jumper settings, and using this standard will help keep everything straight to avoid any later confusion.
With the jumper set, install the new drive by reversing the steps you took to remove the old drive. Plug both cables in, keeping in mind that both cables are designed to plug in in only one direction. Once both cables are in, power the system and watch the POST screen. If the new drive is listed, it's been detected by the system, and you should be ready to roll.
If you are simply installing a new drive without removing an existing one, you can basically follow the above steps, though you will of course not be removing any drives. You can use any power plug that has all four wires (some power supplies have two-wired plugs that will fit, but these are for case fans) and any open IDE plug. Just make sure to set the jumper according to the drive's position on the IDE cable, and you should be fine.
TROUBLESHOOTING A DRIVE PROBLEM
If you're having problems with a CD/DVD drive, there are a few basic steps you should follow to help narrow down the problem.
1.) Make sure the drive is getting power. If the tray opens (or a disc ejects from a slot-loaded drive), and the drive light flashes when you insert a disc, then the drive is getting power. If the drive is not getting power, power down the system and make sure the power cable is plugged firmly into the drive, or try a different power plug. If the drive is still not getting power, you may have a bad drive.
2.) Try another disc in the drive. There is always the possibility that the disc you're using is bad, especially with home-burned and blank discs. If another disc works with no problems, then the disc you were using is most likely bad (you can check the disc in another drive or system if you have one handy, just to be sure).
3.) If the drive is not showing up in Windows at all, power down the system and check the jumper settings, as well as both the power and IDE cables plugged into the drive. If the jumper is set incorrectly, or either cable has come lose, it can cause this problem. Simply set the jumper correctly or plug the offending cable in firmly and the problem should vanish.
4.) If nothing else seems to be helping, try another IDE cable (if you have one handy). Sometimes a cable may go bad, leading to problems. If this is the case, changing the cable should solve the problem.
5.) If you're having problems burning a disc, make sure that the disc is the correct type (CD or DVD), format (R or RW, and plus or minus for DVDs), and speed (blank discs will have a maximum speed rating, and burning faster than this speed can cause problems). Using the wrong blank discs can cause various problems, generally ending in "the disc won't burn."
If the above steps don't solve your problem, or you determine that you have a bad drive, call your computer manufacturer (or the company that sold you the drive if it didn't come in the system) for further troubleshooting and possibly replacement instructions.
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