- Saki [faqs]

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<--- 100th post

Edited by - Anteros on 12/2/2003 6:11:40 PM

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You can get a internal DVD-ROM very cheap, they ONLY read content -RW or +RW drives actualy write. I used WinDVD, I just prefer the interface, les of a resourse hog if I remeber correctly as well... But it's been a while since I have compaired them, and as you can see I review mine with my comp. Sometimes I do watch on my stand alone, but still cap screens with the WinDVD

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But how do I know if my Dell Dimension L933r PC can be upgraded with an internal DVD-ROM drive? It's a 2 1/2 year old PC, with a Pentium III processor, and Windows ME software. Would a store like CompUSA be able to do an upgrade; I don't have the computer skills to do one on my own.

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CompUSA currently has free in-home or in-store installation on all drives. For about $50, you can get a 16x-speed DVD-ROM drive with PowerDVD software. Since installation labor is normally that much, it's a pretty good deal. They'll also give you a free orientation on how to use the new drive.

- Saki [faqs]

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or better still a 4x DVD+R/+RW Internal DVD Writer Drive. Also writes CD-RW discs for $100 after $30-50 rebate (Damn.. I paid $300 for mine only a year ago).

check SalesCircular for best deals in your state

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Combo drive $53.99 shipped free.

Plain DVD drive $33 shipped free.

No rebate BS. Newegg.com is the best online merchant (of anything) that I've ever done business with. As for CompUSA . . . oy.

Renee, replacing your existing CD-ROM drive with a new drive is really pretty easy. You just open up the case, pull the data cable, audio cable, and power connector off the rear of the old drive, remove the pair of screws on each side of the old drive, pull the old drive out, and reverse the process with the new drive. I'm sure there must be tons of places on the web that have pictures and more detailed descriptions of this process. A friend or relative should be able to help you out with it if you're a complete mechanical klutz.

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I checked on Compusa's website. If they make a in-home call for the installation of an internal drive, there is a $149 fee. They won't charge a "trip fee" because I live within 25 miles of a store. Plus, my computer is in my bedroom, and the technician will spend up to an hour giving me a "tutorial"; I suppose we could pop in my favorite Rocco DVD to make certain everything is working OK . This sounds like a plot to a bad porno film.

Anyway, I found an external Micro Solutions CD burner/DVD-ROM drive on Staples.com, that comes with the PowerDVD software, for $149, and no shipping cost this month. So, I'm thinking of getting that one, since that is no problem for me to plug it in and go.

One other question I have - How do I tell if I have USB 1.1 or 2.0 ports on my Dell computer? The computer is 2 1/2 years old. When I check the specifications that came with the computer, it just says that it has USB ports.

Is it worth it to upgrade to the 2.0 ports? I don't have any problems running my scanner, and I'm only going to be using the DVD drive to capture screenshots, not watch a whole movie.

Thanks for any info.

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I'm almost positive that your Dell does not have USB 2.0. I have a high end Dell from that time period and it only has USB 1.1.

You can pick up an USB 2.0 expansion card for fairly cheap, but you still will have to open up the case and install the card.

- Saki [faqs]

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You are right. I checked my Compusa newspaper insert, and in the fine print it does say that installations of hard drives are free right now. I'll call Compusa tomorrow and find out for certain.

I also checked on the I/O magic website, and the CD-DVD drive that is on sale comes with the PowerDVD software.

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Be aware that the PowerDVD that comes with the drive MAY not be the full featured version. Software companies often like to produce special "limited edition" software that is distributed with new hardware, and when they say limited edition, they mean it. It is very possible (and... I might even go so far as to say, likely) that the PowerDVD you get with the drive will not have the ability to do screen captures. I'm not saying that for sure cuz I don't know what they're offering, but based on experience--specifically with PowerDVD packaged with something else, I would be careful when considering that as a motivator in buying one drive over another. You might have to pay for the full featured version of the software anyway.

Again--this isn't for sure, but I would say the likely-hood is high. Just wanted to give you fair warning.

Mike L.

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M. Lyons, I will next be figuring out what version of PowerDVD software I have on the drive. Thanks for everyone's help.

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The installation guy from CompUSA came and put the CD/DVD-Rom in for me, and he did do it for free (I could never have done it myself). It does appear that the software on it is PowerDVD, but it has the brandname 'Roxio' instead of Cyberlink. But, it works fine, and I don't have any problem doing what I want with it.

So, thanks to everyone for your help.

P.S. While the computer guy was at my house, we put in Tom Cruise's Vanilla Sky in the DVD-Rom, and did a screenshot check. The guy (a 20-something, married, told me he liked Lord of the Rings and the IMAX version of Disney's the Lion King), went looking for the screenshot, in my Pictures folder, before I could stop him. In the folder, he found pictures from Rocco's Initiations 7, and from Michael Stefano's Fresh Faces 2. I was so mortified, I wanted to crawl under my bed . But, luckily, the above pictures were mixed in with a lot of my bunny photos , therefore diluting the depravity factor . I have since cleaned up my Picture folder. Live and learn.

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(Some clean file folders are nice to have too. )

DenverDon

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