asked on

Dell Inspiron 7000 CD drive (toshiba XM-1802b)....replacement any ideas?

I have a CD drive on a laptop that is not running well, usually the drive mkes a lot or low speed startup noises when you insert a CD, leading me to think the drive is faulty. Does anyone know of a new or more reliable drive than the old Toshiba XM-1802b type originally fitted to the laptop? or a source where i can get a new CD (im in the UK).
Cheers
Ben

Lee W, MVP

If you're willing to take apart your CD enclosure, then you should be able to put just about anything in it, as long as it's a slimline drive - that includes a CD Burner, DVD burner, or plain old CD-ROM.

You can look on ebay, but I'm otherwise not familiar with vendors in the UK.

Benboben

ASKER

Lee, thanks, what would be the issues trying to install a CDRW drive on an old laptop such as this?
any ideas on what is possible?, the drive has a casing around it and comes out with the floppy, is the
connector on the rear likely to be a standard pinout and style?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Lee W, MVP

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

Benboben

ASKER

Do you know who makes a flat fronted drive as used in the inspiron, i found someone selling them on ebay but they are in USA, im UK,

http://search.ebay.co.uk/combo-drive-cd-rw-inspiron-7000_W0QQsofocusZbsQQsbrftogZ1QQsojsZ1QQfromZR10QQsatitleZcomboQ20driveQ20cd-rwQ20inspironQ207000QQsacategoryZ-1Q26catrefQ3DC6QQsoloctogZ9QQsotrZ2QQsosortpropertyZ1QQsosortorderZ1

Samsung 324? i found a few references to, the link above has some pictures of the drive.

Cheers

Ben

Lee W, MVP

Sorry no - anyone I could suggest would be US based (that's where I am - please forgive me)

Benboben

ASKER

The samsung sn324 looks to be the same mechanically see below:

http://www.baber.com/drives/laptop_cdrom/dvd/samsung_sn324bea_specs.htm

If i install this, will easy cd creator recognise the drive and allow me to "write" as well as read cd's? or do i need some drivers to get this to work?

Cheers
Ben

Lee W, MVP

It should - provided you have a new enough version of Easy CD Creator. The drive must be in its database of burners, that's it.

Benboben

ASKER

I had an older version of CD software that wouldnt recognise the drive, i updated to a newer one, and success !!! i now am able to write CD's. The only difference with the samsung drive is the front panel is slightly smaller than the
dells original panel, leaving a small gap 3-4mm each side, it looks like the front panel can be switched though
so ill try this next.