DVD-Rom Drive Died... Please Help

[KaneKungFu123]

My DVD-Rom/CD Drive doesnt work anymore. I have gone to My COmputer->Hardware->Devices->Drives-> It says that it is working properly, but to trouble shoot if you have a problem.

I have trouble shooted and all of my drivers were updated and in order, but my drive is still dead.

(The computer is a New Dell I bought in Dec.)

Is it safe to assume that I need to buy a new DVD-ROM/CD-ROM drive? If so, is it easy enough to install myself? I dont want anyone else to touch my computer because it would require me deleting a ton of personal information, etc.

[TheTROLL]

Just about the easiest thing to change on a PC - couple of screws and power and data cables, you'll be fine.

[Sooga]

Yep, agree with the poster above. By far the easiest thing to change/replace on a computer. So easy that I was able to guide my mom through it on the phone, and she probably knows less about computers than any living person on the planet. In fact, I can probably give you a pretty good step-by-step guide right here:

1) take off computer case
2) locate dvd rom drive and unscrew the screws securing it.
3) remove IDE cable (should be flat and grey) and power supply cable (should be multicolored).
4) take out the drive from your computer.
5) look at the back of your old drive. there should be a jumper that determines master/slave/cable select (might be denoted as MA/SL/CS or some variant). make sure your new drive has the jumper in the same place.
6) put new drive in, and reattach cables and screws, and put case back on.
7) go have a beer.

[flash8pro]

It seems a few of us on 2+2 have had problems with our Dell optical drives. Does the drive happen to be a Sony?

[KaneKungFu123]

Oddly enough, after restarting my computer the 10th time, it is now working again.

[flash8pro]

It sounds like the drive is ready to go - I'd keep a close eye on it. I'm guessing it will stop working again (hopefully it will be ok), so prepare to make a call to Dell.