Fitting A DVD Writer?.........

[ShorN]

Ok im very close to buying a Pioneer 106 DVD Writer, I was just wondering how easy it is to fit?

I only have a small tower so I will have to remove the CD writer and replace it in that slot. Im looking at buying an OEM one aswell so does anyone know of places for fitting instructions?

On the other hand would a USB enclosure with the writer in work in a normal USB slot?

Many thanks in advance!

[hech54]

Unless you have an old Packard Hell computer....a drive bay is a drive bay. I had an IBM Aptiva mid-tower...the only problem I had was that I needed smaller hands.

[ShorN]

I guess that means it shouldnt be hard?

[elmotheteapot]

Not at all

http://www.buildyourown.org.uk/build.asp?sect=drives&page=3

has a simple guide
or

http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/step/15/

its really simple, as logn as you can use a screwdriver

[hech54]

That is the least of your worries....trust me. 4 screws...a few connections and the old one is out of there. Just keep the old one handy to check the jumper settings....whether it is MASTER or SLAVE.

[ShorN]

ok thanks for your help, just a quick q,

How do I see if the cd/rw was a master/slave, where are the jumpers, what will i need to look for?

[redwudz]

Most (but not all) IDE devices have a jumper diagram on the device itself. If you can't find it, go to the manufactures site and they will have a jumper guide.

[Vanderlow]

They use ually have a "M" , "S", and "C" above 2 each two pin jumper setting standing for Master, Slave and Cable select. Most people don't use cable select. Master devices should also be put on the end pin socket of the ribbon cable and the slave on the pin socket 4 inches down on the ribbon cable.

[ShorN]

Well thanks for the help all, ive just ordered the Pioneer A06 and should be coming in the next few day! If I get stuck ill be back to bug ya!

[hech54]

Hey....I have a question about CS - Cable Select guys

I heard somewhere that Dell computers with XP Pro use CS on ALL of the devices.....is this true? COULD this be true?
I'm installing my LG 4040B burner tomorrow on this here Dell Dimension 4500 with XP Pro.

Thanks if you can help.

[smellycanine]

CS might work fine, you cant hurt the drive trying it, but The LG should be set as the Master on channel 2. Thats the way LG wants it,anyway, I cant see why it matters on a Dell if you switch to a non cable select setting.

However, if you update the firmware, you should put the drive in channel 2 as master, as thats in the instructions from LG, and you dont want to toast your drive.
sorry for the run-on sentence

[jdizzy40]

CS or Cable Select is designed for the high IQ people working on the computer building assembly lines. The drives come to the OEM with the jumper set on CS, so they, the assemblers can't get it wrong.

[gmatov]

Actually, if you want to look at it that way, they CAN get it wrong. If the device, a DVDR, for instance, should be connected as master, and they connect it to the center of the cable, it WILL be set as Slave.

That is what CS means, master/slave is selected by the cable position. On the end, Master, in the center, Slave.

Really very complicated, ain't it, to look at 3 pairs of pins and set jumpers to one of the first 2, Master or Slave?

If you swap out Hard Drives a lot, cable Select is useful, you don't have to figure what the drive letters are as much, if they are broken into multiple partitions..

Optical drives will always, unless you change it, be the last 2 or even 3 drives in My Computer., in my case, S and T.

Cheers,

George

[ShorN]

well...i said I would update!

Just got my Pioneer Ao6/106 today from Novatech + 25 Novatech DVD-R (4x) for £115

Got the old cd/rw out put the DVD-RW in, no probs at all.

Backed up Charlies Angels 2 onto 1 DVD-r using CloneDVD, dropped all extras bar 3 featurettes, allowing movie to be kept at 100% quality.
It took 29 mins to do the whole transcoding and burning, popped in Standalone and its a perfect back up,

Looks spotless!

thanks for your help!