Who here has upgraded a laptop before?

[JoLLyRoGer]

I want to replace the cd rom in my laptop with a dvd rom, but I want to know what I'm getting into before I attempt to do this. (If it can even be done).

I've built several desktops before, so I'm completely comfortable with cracking open a case and working inside a regular computer. But, I'm a little bit intimidated by my laptop.

If anyone has done something like this, give me some pointers on what I need to know before I start. Im sure there are industry standards, and I want to make sure I get the right kind of dvd rom that will fit my laptop like it's supposed to.

Thanks in advance.
JR..

 

[ojai00]

As long as your laptop can support the DVD-ROM drive, then you should be okay. The only things you can really upgrade are the memory, and removable drives and your PCMCIA cards. You can't upgrade the CPU or anything else on the motherboard because it's all soldered in. It's not like cards that you can remove and install like on desktop PCs. Just make sure that your laptop can support a DVD-ROM drive. If it can, just remove the CD-ROM and pop in the DVD-ROM. There should be something like a latch under your laptop that you can push/press to remove the drive. Hope this helps.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Well...It's not exactly that simple, I should have specified this earlier, my laptop doesn't have removable drives (hot swappables). Unless this latch you speak of is inside the case. I'm not sure, but I have seen some laptop dvd drives on the net at appear to be meant for internal installation.
It seems reasonable enough to me that this would be possible.

It's not even an issue if I have to solder something to install the drive. I'm a NAVSEA Certified 2M (miniature/microminiature) circuit card repair technition. I have the equipment at work to solder damn near anything, no matter how small or complicated.

But I do appreciate the reply

 

[ojai00]

What laptop do you have? I'll try to find some pics of it to see if I can locate anything for you

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

It is an Ashton Digital, Maximate 600. Link to Homepage.. I bought it off of a friend of mine who decided not to go for the DVD upgrade

. I primarily use it for school, and it serves its purpose beautifully as far as that goes, It would just be nice to watch movies when I have to travel somewhere.

 

[ojai00]

Sorry dude...I think I have to say that you can't do it with the laptop that you have. According to this page, the DVD receiver and remote are for Internal or External DVD-Rom Drive equipped notebooks. There is no support option on their page, so I think your last bet would be to e-mail their tech support and see what they say. You can always opt for the external DVD drive, but it'll cost a bunch. Good luck.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Yeah, I was looking at that page too. They make mention of an 8x DVD ROM, but I can't find it as an option anywhere. Thanks for your help.

JR..

 

[ojai00]

You're welcome...sorry I couldn't solve it

 

[hans007]

laptop cdroms come in a standard format. they just put a proprietary connector onto this on many laptops. but for ones with non removeable drives usually not. all you need is a standard 50 pin IDE laptop cdrom, and crack your case open. swap the drives out and the bezels if you can. also laptop CPUs ARE upgradeable. yours is probably mpga2 you can probably upgrade that too assuming your bios supports the CPU (some bios will support certain steppings only, like if you get a newer p3 it might stay in lower speedstep all the time or not shut down right with wrong stepping)

 

[jschuk]

Hans007 is right, all CD-Roms (since the 6x) and DVD-Roms use a standard connector. Well there is the Toshiba SD-C2002 which is a thick DVD-Rom, but otherwise all drives will be able to plug into your laptop. The only problems you may run into are the mounting points for the drive, though that can be remedied by creating new mounting points, and getting the bezels swapped, if necessary. Some laptops are CPU upgradeable, some are not. You have to open up the laptop and look, unless someone else has experience with that laptop.