Installing the DVD Drive

• Step By Step Contents
  • Step 1 - Initial Decisions
  • Step 2 - Purchase Computer Components
  • Step 3 - Gather Your Tools
  • Step 4 - Computer Case Preparation
  • Step 5 - Getting To Know Computer Motherboards
  • Step 6 - Installing The CPU
  • Step 7 - System Memory
  • Step 8 - Motherboard Installation
  • Step 9 - Power Supply Installation
  • Step 10 - Computer Wiring
  • Step 11 - Hard Drive Installation
  • Step 12 - DVD Drive Installation
  • Step 13 - Graphics And Peripheral Cards
  • Step 14 - Initial Bootup
    • Install Windows XP
    • Install Windows Vista
  • Step 16 - Finalize Install
  • Step 17 - Troubleshooting

Installing your DVD drive into your case is similar to installing a hard drive into your computer system. Or adding external DVD drives to your system (simple plug-in). DVD troubleshooting of your drive requires finding the root cause of the problem.

While there is still a need for DVDs (at least to watch or run your old DVD copies), they are not as important as they used to be.

Many computer users find that they can download the video, or files, or graphics onto a flash drive and use that flash more easily (because not all computer systems have a DVD drive).

However it is important to understand the process of installation of your drive and to understand how to troubleshoot if, or when, necessary.

Therefore, the next step in the computer build is to install your drive.

Depending on your case, you may or may not need to connect rails to your drive. Some cases may have pre-installed rails you can just snap into. Go ahead and install the rails, 2 per drive if needed. In the case of our example here, the DVD drive is installed the same as a hard drive, attached directly to the non-removable cage.
Again, depending on the case, you may need to remove one of the slot covers on the front of the case. Most cases will need this done. You may either have a metal one that you can twist out, or a plastic one that you can just pop out.
Or you may have both kinds, as is usually the case.
Slide the drive into the case from the front. You will hear the rails click when it is in position. It should be lined up with the front of the case.
Attach a power connection to the drive, directly from the power supply.   Then it is simply a matter of attaching either an IDE cable, or a SATA cable to the drive, and the other end to the motherboard. If you are using an IDE drive, see the above note on IDE connections.

Install Floppy Drive

Finally, if you have a floppy disk drive to install:

1. There is only one location on modern cases to install your floppy drive. You will see on the front of the case a smaller panel that you can remove, usually below the DVD slots. This is where the floppy drive will be installed. Slide the drive in the slot and secure it inside, usually with a few screws. Make sure the front is lined up nicely with the front of the case.

2. Connect a power cable to the drive, directly from the power supply.

3. Connect the FDD cable to the drive, and to the FDD connection on your motherboard. See label "J" on the motherboard diagram. You will notice that the FDD connection is wider than the IDE connection.

That's it for installing the DVD and floppy drives. You can also use external DVD drives (outside of the case); these are easy, plug in systems.

If your system needs DVD troubleshooting for drive issues, check out the computer troubleshooting page for more information.

Next up are graphics and sound cards...

Step Thirteen - Installing a Graphics Card.

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