Adding a DVD-RW drive to Dimension PC

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Hi

A friend has asked me to install a non-Dell DVD burner into his Dimension
4xxx (can't quite remember it exactly) and the things that bother me are:

One side of the case is held by studs not screws so it doesn't seem to be
detachable.
Only one screw hole is accessible for the 5.25 in drive bay from the other
side - can the metal drive holder be removed at all, or will one screw be OK
to hold the drive? I'm concerned about the drive vibrating.

Any advice/comments welcome.

Steven Thompson

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Steven Thompson" <sjthompson@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
newszFHe.8679$GO1.632@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> Hi
>
> A friend has asked me to install a non-Dell DVD burner into his Dimension
> 4xxx (can't quite remember it exactly) and the things that bother me are:
>
> One side of the case is held by studs not screws so it doesn't seem to be
> detachable.
> Only one screw hole is accessible for the 5.25 in drive bay from the other
> side - can the metal drive holder be removed at all, or will one screw be
> OK to hold the drive? I'm concerned about the drive vibrating.
>
> Any advice/comments welcome.
>
> Steven Thompson
>
>
>


If it's a beige box, then you'll want the side cover off, use the three
press tabs on the front cover/bezel to swing it off. Look for a single
screw behind the bezel located directly front/bottom of the optical drive
cage. Remove it, then pull the cage forward and then out to the left with
the drives unplugged in back.


Stew

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Thanks guys. I've located the user manuals on the Dell website and can
identify it as the 4600, with a dark grey/black case.

The machine currently has a single DVD drive, set to master. Ideally
what I would like to do is install the new drive as master, which means
switching the current DVD drive to the bottom slot.

The drive is held with two screws, but the second screw is hard to get
at so I was wondering if the drive cage can be unscrewed? The manual
isn't clear on this point.

Thanks again

Steven Thompson

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Steven Thompson" <sjthompson@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
newszFHe.8679$GO1.632@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> Hi
>
> A friend has asked me to install a non-Dell DVD burner into his Dimension
> 4xxx (can't quite remember it exactly) and the things that bother me are:
>
> One side of the case is held by studs not screws so it doesn't seem to be
> detachable.
> Only one screw hole is accessible for the 5.25 in drive bay from the other
> side - can the metal drive holder be removed at all, or will one screw be
> OK to hold the drive? I'm concerned about the drive vibrating.
>
> Any advice/comments welcome.
>
> Steven Thompson
>
>
>

Well, we need to know which 4xxx it is, as the case changed. On some, the
entire cage 'flips out'.

I'd suggest going to support.dell.com and putting in the service tag. It
will have all the doc you need.

Tom

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Steven Thompson" <sjthompson@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
newszFHe.8679$GO1.632@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
| Hi
|
| A friend has asked me to install a non-Dell DVD burner into his Dimension
| 4xxx (can't quite remember it exactly) and the things that bother me are:
|
| One side of the case is held by studs not screws so it doesn't seem to be
| detachable.
| Only one screw hole is accessible for the 5.25 in drive bay from the other
| side - can the metal drive holder be removed at all, or will one screw be
OK
| to hold the drive? I'm concerned about the drive vibrating.
|
| Any advice/comments welcome.
|
| Steven Thompson

Look at a manual. See "Removing and Replacing Parts."

Start here.
http://support.dell.com/support/systemsinfo/documentation.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~cat=12&~subcat=88

--
Doug

I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
I was just trying to help.
Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
advice herein.
No warranty is expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
See store for details.

Remove shoes to E-mail.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Steven Thompson" <sjthompsonuk@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1122992862.781783.122420@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks guys. I've located the user manuals on the Dell website and can
> identify it as the 4600, with a dark grey/black case.
>
> The machine currently has a single DVD drive, set to master. Ideally
> what I would like to do is install the new drive as master, which means
> switching the current DVD drive to the bottom slot.
>
> The drive is held with two screws, but the second screw is hard to get
> at so I was wondering if the drive cage can be unscrewed? The manual
> isn't clear on this point.
>
> Thanks again
>
> Steven Thompson
>


Ah, much easier.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4600/en/4600i/sm/parts.htm#1138667


1) The lone drive now there, as Tom Scales pointed out, should be jumpered
to CS/cable select.

2) Take the side cover off (as you obviously already have)

3) Look for the 2 plastic finger press tabs to swing the bezel/front cover
off.

4) Note the 2 SHOULDER/alignment screws in the existing drive that allow you
to slide an optical into the bay. You may have to remove 1 from the
existing drive to use on the new drive (though this may allow "slop/wiggle"
on one side of each drive).

5) You simply slide the new drive in and connect the cables. The drives are
only mounted to the cage with the screws visible from the open/cover side.
More simply, look at how the existing drive is screwed to the cage and
duplicate it. There are NO HIDDEN SCREWS on the lower side. I'm not even
sure you could remove the drive cage if you wanted to, but in any event,
don't do it as it's not needed.


hth

Stew

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Are you sure it is set to Master? Normally a Dell comes set to Cable
Select.
"Steven Thompson" <sjthompsonuk@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1122992862.781783.122420@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks guys. I've located the user manuals on the Dell website and can
> identify it as the 4600, with a dark grey/black case.
>
> The machine currently has a single DVD drive, set to master. Ideally
> what I would like to do is install the new drive as master, which means
> switching the current DVD drive to the bottom slot.
>
> The drive is held with two screws, but the second screw is hard to get
> at so I was wondering if the drive cage can be unscrewed? The manual
> isn't clear on this point.
>
> Thanks again
>
> Steven Thompson
>