How to Install a CD-ROM Drive

Installing a CD or DVD drive is typically extremely simple and takes very little effort. Chances are, if your computer is an older model, you may have only a CD-ROM or CD-RW installed. If you want to upgrade your computer's capabilities and start burning your own CDs or DVDs, follow this guide to learn how to install a new CD or DVD drive.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• screwdriver
• new cd/dvd drive
• cd/dvd drive manual

1. Before purchasing a new CD or DVD drive, review its minimum system requirements to make sure your PC is up to par. If your PC does not meet the minimum requirements, your new drive may not be able to run at maximum performance.

2. Power off your computer, remove all connections, and ground yourself either by touching a piece of unpainted metal or by wearing an anti-static wrist-strap. Remove the case from your computer.

3. Locate the CD-ROM bay. This should be very simple; in almost all instances, with the exception of very old computer models, it is right in the front, towards the top of the case.

4. 
   CD-ROM Cables

   Inspect the cables connected to your current CD-ROM drive, if you have one. There should be two cables: the flat, wide cable is known as the ribbon cable, whereas the smaller cable with the plastic end is known as the power cable. Look at the picture for reference.

5. 
   Motherboard & IDE Connector

   Check to see if part of the ribbon cable connected to your old CD drive is also connected to the hard drive. If it is, you may need to install a second ribbon cable to your motherboard. Click on the picture to the left to get a general idea of what a motherboard looks like (yours may be different). One end of the ribbon cable should be marked with a red line. Insert this end into the motherboard. It if doesn't fit at first, turn it upside down and try again.

6. 
   Jumper Settings

   If the CD drive currently installed in your computer uses the same ribbon cable as the hard drive, you will need to make sure your new CD or DVD drive is set as a master. On the other hand, if your old CD drive uses its own ribbon cable, you're going to need to set the new CD or DVD drive as a slave. Since jumper placement varies with every CD/DVD brand, you'll need to refer to your product manual to see how to configure them. If it's cable select, you don't have to change anything.

7. Install the new drive into an available CD-ROM bay. You may need to pop off the panels at the front of the case. Some computer models will require you to unscrew the area around the bay (usually 2-4 screws on each side), while others will allow you to simply slide the CD-ROM into the bay, where it will snap in place. For the former, after installing the CD-ROM, replace the screws back into the bay.

8. 
   Install CD-ROM Cables

   Connect the ribbon and power cable to the back of the new CD or DVD drive (review picture for reference). If you are installing it as a slave drive, you will need to share a part of the hard drive or old CD-ROM drive's old ribbon cable with the new drive (there are usually two connectors on one ribbon cable).

9. Power on the computer, leaving the case off for now. Access the BIOS screen. Your computer should indicate, on the bottom of the screen, which key to hit to enter BIOS. If your BIOS does not have an auto-detect option, you will have to set up your new CD drive as a master or slave. If the computer is not reading your new CD-ROM drive, power off the computer and make sure all connections are secure, then try again.

10. Reattach the case. Install any required software and configure your new CD-ROM as necessary.

[jenniferclaerr]

on 7/6/2009 I've actually done this several times. Thanks for the tips!