How to Install a Dell DVD Drive

The prospect of opening up your computer and installing a new device can be a scary one. If you've never seen the inside of a computer before, it's easy to get overwhelmed. However, having a little confidence goes a long way. Devices tend to plug into very specific things in very specific ways, so there is little you can do to install anything wrong. Installing a DVD Drive, for example, is a process that should take no more than ten minutes, tops. You would almost have to go out of your way to break anything on the inside of your computer. Use the following article as a guide while you install your brand new Dell DVD drive.

Things You'll Need

• Dell DVD Drive
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Shut down your computer and unplug everything from the rear of the machine before attempting anything else involved in this process. Improperly shutting down your computer could result in a loss of files, and attempting to poke around inside your computer while it's still on could end with you either breaking your computer or getting hit with an electric shock.

2. Remove one side of your computer case. On the back of your computer case you will notice a series of large screws. Get a screwdriver in the style required depending on your brand and remove them. Be sure not to lose them, as you'll need to reattach them later. Grab hold of the side of the case you are working with and slide it off, being sure to put it in a place where it won't be stepped on or dropped.

3. Find the empty slot where your DVD drive will go. If you are removing an old drive, you'll have to unplug the ribbon cable and power cable from it and unscrew it. If you are simply adding a new drive, plug the ribbon cable and power cable that came packaged in with it into the motherboard. They have very specific inputs and can only go in one place, so don't worry about plugging something in wrong.

4. Insert the new drive into the computer. Use the tiny screws you either removed from the old drive or were packaged in with the new one to secure it firmly in place. Take the power and ribbon cables and plug them into the back of the new drive.

5. Reattach the side of your computer case, being sure to secure it with the screws. Once this is done, plug your computer back into a power source and plug all of its various accessories back into the computer. Hit the power button and boot into your operating system. Dell DVD drives are all "Plug and Play" devices, which means that your operating system will automatically recognize the device and you won't have to load any complicated settings. Congratulations, your drive is ready to use.

Tips & Warnings

• If at any point you don't feel comfortable poking around inside your computer, there are a variety of places you can take your computer and drive to for installation (Best Buy, for example). They will charge a small fee, but it beats having to buy an entirely new computer.