Need a replacement DVD drive for a laptop.

[btcomm1]

Specifically it's an Acer Aspire 3003WLCi. Does anyone know of a dvd drive that will fit and work in that computer?

 

[moonsite]

As with most laptop, the main issue with replacing the optical drive is actually the face plate. If your drive doesn't have a special face plate, you probably can get any slim drive and put it in. And might as well get the burner since it isn't that much more expensive. Check out newegg. They have some slim dvd burner for around $50+.

 

[btcomm1]

Can you usually take off the face plate off of the one that is on there and put it on the new one? How can I tell if I even have a face plate is there a website or anything that lists the models that will accept a slim drive?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Is getting an external one an option? Just a thought.

 

[moonsite]

If you show me a picture, I can probably tell. It is not that complicated to see if yours has a special face plate or not, but it is hard to describe. When you hit the eject button, the tray slides out, does the plate on that tray the whole plate for the DVD-ROM or is there some other part of the face plate that didn't slide out. If everything slides out, then it is easy to get the whole thing replace. If there are some part of the face plate that didn't slide out, then you can try to get the same make/model of the DVD-rom. You can take it out of the casing to check. Then you can swap the face plate. The problem with swaping the plate is just the locations of the button(s) and led and the latch. Some don't match. That is why it is hard to get the right one.

Go to this link and check out the picture of the drive. That is the actual bare drive of a slim CD/DVD rom. If you see any thing else on your drive, that would just be extra casing and can be removed. Check out the face plate also to see what I mean.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827248004

 

[moonsite]

As Chocobo said though, an external USB wouldn't be a bad one either if you get a slim USB drive.

 

[corkyg]

Go with the external. This is a very simpl;e task in the Lenovo Thinkpads with Ultrabay. The optical slim drive is placed in the Ultrabay carrier, and comes out easily - just slide a button. Then you can use an adapter with the same form factor to insert a second HDD. This is a SATA optical and HDD. Pretty neat arrangement.

Ultra