How to Install a CD Rom Drive

CD ROM drive installation is fairly simple. The procedure varies from computer to computer, so you should check your manual and become familiar with your computer's layout before installing a CD ROM drive. However, you'll use the same basic approach regardless of your computer.

Instructions

1. Disconnect power and all peripheral devices from the computer. Remove the cover of the computer case so that you can access the system board. Pop out the cover for the CD ROM drive bay with a screwdriver.

2. Ground yourself. Wear a wrist strap or touch a metal part of the case. Be sure you're standing on an anti-static surface like a mat or tile floor.

3. Check your computer manual to find out how the CD ROM drive is attached to the bay. You may have to attach a rail or screws to the side of the CD ROM to hold it in place in the bay. If you're replacing an existing CD ROM, make note of how it was installed. If the CD ROM drive uses rails to hold it in place, remove the rails from the old CD ROM drive and attach them to the new one.

4. Remove the CD ROM drive from its packaging. Check the manual for the drive to make sure the jumpers are set correctly. Attach screws or rails to the side of the CD ROM drive to hold it in place, if necessary.

5. Slide the CD ROM drive into the vacant bay. Depending on your computer, you may have to attach the drive to the rails with screws.

6. Attach the IDE cable to the CD ROM drive. There's a notch on the cable that ensures you put it in correctly. The other end of the cable goes to the IDE slot in the system board. This is usually next to the slot that the hard drive is plugged into.

7. Plug in the power cable from the power supply. Attach the audio cable to the sound card to complete the installation.