PC drive in set top DVD player?

[wetcamelfood]

I often read about when trying to make DVD's compatible for set top DVD players that usually discs will play on your PC (computer) drive OK but not necessarily your set top DVD player.

So, is it possible to take a PC drive and put it in a set top DVD player in place of the drive that's already there?

I'm sure there is an obvious reason I don't know about (being a newbie to all of this) you can explain to me but that sure sounds like the most simple way around all the compatibility issues.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this. Thanks in advance for the replies.

[guns1inger]

First and foremost, the drives in most DVD players are basically just laptop and desktop drives. There is little or no difference between the drive in a set top player and a standard laptop. And as with desktop and laptop drives, quality and finish differ, as do the capabilities to play certain media.

Which leads to your question - why not just change over the drive to use a desktop drive ? Because most of the time it would make no difference. That said, a small number of players will happily and easily allow you to change over the drive. Just pull out the old one, put in a new one, and turn it on. Most brand players will not allow you to do this so easily. While the parts may be standard, the change over process usually involves having a service disc and or service remote on hand to be able to start the player after the change over. If you don't have these things, you will just get an error message and little else.

The simplest and most reliable way to get the best play back is to use quality media, burned properly with a reliable tool. At the moment this means Verbatim or TY discs, and Imgburn.

[jagabo]

I often read about when trying to make DVD's compatible for set top DVD players that usually discs will play on your PC (computer) drive OK but not necessarily your set top DVD player.

This is quite rare now. Virtually every DVD player made in the last 10 years play DVD+-R if burned properly.

[jman98]

To expand a little on guns1inger's answer, playback problems essentially are in 3 categories.
1) Bad quality media. The format is supported by the DVD player, but it doesn't like the media. Replacing the drive MIGHT help here, but I can't promise it. It's just easier to use better quality media.
2) Firmware. If your firmware doesn't support a format, say, VCD, replacing the drive won't fix that issue.
3) Chipset. Video and audio formats not supported on the chipset still won't play even if you change the drive.

[wulf109]

Some older set top DVD players used IDE drives just like a computer. Newer computer drives are SATA. I have an Apex and a Bravo set top and I have replaced both with stanard IDE computer drives.