How do you replace a laptop dvd-rom drive?

[Chubbz]

I have a Sony VAIO with a matshita ujda755 dvd/cdrw and it's gotta go. It's making very loud, very wrong noises and I must replace it. Does anyone know how to replace a dvd drive on a laptop? Can this be DONE?!

 

[TheStu]

Absolutely this can be DONE! Anything they can put in there, you can take out or replace.

You will need to get a replacement drive, and you can either get one the is exactly like it, or go to newegg and look around there for a while and pick out a dvd burner. Then you will need to crack that laptop open. Generally, there are a bunch of screws on the bottom that you will want to remove, and remember/mark where each one goes, it is not uncommon for companies to use multiple differently sized screws. Once you have all the screws removed, you should be able to pull off the bottom. If you can't or it is taking a lot of force to do it. STOP. Now, check around the keyboard/trackpad (hereafter referred to as the top) and see if there are any screws there, if so, remove them again marking the placement. Now try to remove the bottom, or the top of the laptop. In theory it will go much smoother. From what I ahve heard, Vaios are an absolute bear to take apart, so good luck.

 

[thirtythree]

I'm guessing TheStu knows something I don't about Sony VAIO laptops, but just in case... first check if there is a release button for your DVD-ROM drive. All the Dell laptops that I've seen and also my Toshiba laptop have a button or a single screw holding the DVD-ROM drive in. If you release it, you can just slide the drive right out.

 

[TheStu]

Ah, I forgot to ask about that. Some vaios do have the quick release thing. I think that the smaller ones do not. Or, if it is older (the DVD-ROM makes me think it is older) then it may not have the quick release.