Switch my optical drive with another one (same model)

[Synomenon]

Ok. I have one optical drive right now assigned the drive letter E. If I replace this drive with another one (exact same model), will windows recognize it as a new drive and also, will Windows assign it a new drive letter? Or will everything be as if I didn't even switch out the drive (except that I now would have a properly functioning drive)?

Just wondering because I have a defective NEC ND3520A DVD burner. Newegg is exchanging it with a new one (same model).

 

[Synomenon]

Just want to add that I'm running WindowsXP Pro. SP2 with all current updates.

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, Set the jumper the same as old one. Windows will see any CD drive you put there. Jim

Edit: Makes no difference if Windows thinks it's the same drive. Look at CDs in System manager in Safe Mode. You will see all CDs that have been run in that computer. Also all other devices will show.

 

[Synomenon]

This is a Shuttle SN25P. It only has one IDE port and I always set my drive to cable select since it doesn't really matter in this system. So when I exchange my defective NEC ND3520 DVD burner with a working ND3520 DVD burner (same model), will Windows pop up that little icon in the taskbar saying it has found new hardware, or will it just see the drive and think it's the exact same one I had in there before (since they are the same model, only the first one was defective)?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Should work just fine. If it for some reason assigns it a different drive letter, you can just change it back to the way you want it.

 

[Synomenon]

So Windows should not popup that little icon in the taskbar saying it has found new hardware, right? Windows will think it's the exact same drive? It will be like I never switched the drive out (except that the new drive will work properly)?

 

[stickybytes]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
So Windows should not popup that little icon in the taskbar saying it has found new hardware, right? Windows will think it's the exact same drive? It will be like I never switched the drive out (except that the new drive will work properly)?

i cannot tell you for sure since i never tried it but doesn't every piece of hardware have it's own signature?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
So Windows should not popup that little icon in the taskbar saying it has found new hardware, right? Windows will think it's the exact same drive? It will be like I never switched the drive out (except that the new drive will work properly)?

I think it should work fine with all the software...

Do you have a great fear of the new hardware popup or something?

 

[Synomenon]

No, no fear. Just wondering if Windows would think it's new hardware or just think it's the same drive.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
So Windows should not popup that little icon in the taskbar saying it has found new hardware, right? Windows will think it's the exact same drive? It will be like I never switched the drive out (except that the new drive will work properly)?

It'll probably think it's a new drive, but it won't be a big deal. When I upgrade the firmware on my optical drives, Windows thinks it's a new drive. Your new drive will have a different serial number (and possibly different firmware), so Windows might think that it's a new drive. But as has been said, if it's given a different drive letter, you can always change it.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

It will probably detect it as new hardware, but it won't be a problem.

 

[StormRider]

I've done that with a computer and several DVD-RAM drives I bought from eBay. To test the DVD-RAM drives, I just power down, swapped them out and reboot. Windows uses the same drive letter for them. When I swapped out a Panasonic DVD-RAM drive for a Toshiba DVD-RAM drive, it detected new hardware. But when I swapped out the same model (Toshiba for another Toshiba), I didn't notice any pop-up for new hardware (except maybe when the Toshiba's had different firmware). I think when it's the same model and firmware, Windows will probably think it's the same drive.

 

[Ausm]

Should be ok.


Ausm

 

[Synomenon]

Thanks everyone (especially StormRider).