Dead DVD drive in laptop
The DVD drive on my Dell Inspiron laptop has died. I see three options: 1. Get it fixed 2. Replace it 3. Ignore it and get an external DVD Which would you recommend? (I'm running Linux Mint.) -- Chris F.A. Johnson, <http://cfajohnson.com>
On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 05:02:38PM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson via talk wrote:
The DVD drive on my Dell Inspiron laptop has died.
I see three options:
1. Get it fixed 2. Replace it 3. Ignore it and get an external DVD
Which would you recommend?
(I'm running Linux Mint.)
If you go for option 3 then you already have a drive for your next machine, which will most likely not come with one since that seems to be the way things are going. My wife replaced her DVD with a second hard disk in her laptop. She thought it was a better use of the space. -- Len Sorensen
On 29 September 2017 at 21:11, Lennart Sorensen via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 05:02:38PM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson via talk wrote:
The DVD drive on my Dell Inspiron laptop has died.
I see three options:
1. Get it fixed 2. Replace it 3. Ignore it and get an external DVD
Which would you recommend?
(I'm running Linux Mint.)
If you go for option 3 then you already have a drive for your next machine, which will most likely not come with one since that seems to be the way things are going.
My wife replaced her DVD with a second hard disk in her laptop. She thought it was a better use of the space.
I've worked for a group called "Repair Cafe" on and off, and I can assure you that #1 isn't really an option. Unfortunately, the world has moved to everything being disposable - although laptops are at least disposable in smaller chunks. A repair shop would simply replace it. You can almost certainly do it yourself - most optical drives come out after removing a single screw on the back (the location isn't obvious - consult YouTube for your model) and a gentle pull. If the machine is relatively modern, the drive is probably SATA and that means the connector and even the shape of the drive is semi-generic, so replacing it should be quite easy - Canada Computers was carrying the replacement drives a year and a half ago for ~$20 (but check the return policy first). It may not sit perfectly or exactly match the colour, but it should work fine. If it's not SATA, you'll have to get a machine-specific replacement - and those are harder to find and more expensive. Even if it's SATA, I would agree with Lennart's suggestion to get an external - unless, as someone else said, you have to carry it a lot. He's right: hardly any laptops have optical drives anymore, and this will future-proof you since you probably have a fair number of DVDs around. Someone else suggested BluRay - I don't think you can play DRM BluRay media under Linux, but if it was a writer you could use it as a backup (not my first choice with external HDs so cheap, but definitely an option, and possibly useful if you shoot your own videos). Buying the external also offers another option hinted at by Lennart: the dead drive can be replaced by a hard drive holder. I did this in one old laptop because it had a dead 1.8" HD (yup, 1.8" - you know how hard those are to replace?!). So I removed the optical drive and replaced it with a device the same shape and size that now holds a SATA 2.5" drive that acts as the primary drive. So you could add a secondary HD if that appeals. -- Giles https://www.gilesorr.com/ gilesorr@gmail.com
Le 29 septembre 2017 à 17:02, "Chris F.A. Johnson via talk" <talk@gtalug.org> a écrit :
Hi, I'm not an expert, but here are my thoughts:
The DVD drive on my Dell Inspiron laptop has died.
I see three options:
1. Get it fixed
This will likely be the most expensive in both dollars and hours-of-downtime
2. Replace it 3. Ignore it and get an external DVD
3 is the easiest and the fastest (cost in time, relative to 2), because you don't have to open up your lappy, and you don't have to figure out which model of internal drive is compatible with your lappy, and possibly wait while it is ordered. Couldn't say which (between 2 and 3) would cost more dollar wise. But, with 2, you don't have to carry around, and find desk space for, another device and cable. All the best, -- znoteer znoteer@mailbox.org
Have you checked on eBay if a replacement is available? It might be very inexpensive. If not, then how often do you use the DVD? I replaced mine with an extra disk and rarely miss the DVD. Don On 29 September 2017 at 17:14, znoteer--- via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
Le 29 septembre 2017 à 17:02, "Chris F.A. Johnson via talk" < talk@gtalug.org> a écrit :
Hi,
I'm not an expert, but here are my thoughts:
The DVD drive on my Dell Inspiron laptop has died.
I see three options:
1. Get it fixed
This will likely be the most expensive in both dollars and hours-of-downtime
2. Replace it 3. Ignore it and get an external DVD
3 is the easiest and the fastest (cost in time, relative to 2), because you don't have to open up your lappy, and you don't have to figure out which model of internal drive is compatible with your lappy, and possibly wait while it is ordered. Couldn't say which (between 2 and 3) would cost more dollar wise.
But, with 2, you don't have to carry around, and find desk space for, another device and cable.
All the best,
-- znoteer znoteer@mailbox.org --- Talk Mailing List talk@gtalug.org https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk
4. Don't use DVD. Just use a USB stick and iso files instead. Sent from my iPhone On Sep 29, 2017, at 6:27 PM, znoteer--- via talk <talk@gtalug.org<mailto:talk@gtalug.org>> wrote: Le 29 septembre 2017 ? 17:02, "Chris F.A. Johnson via talk" <talk@gtalug.org<mailto:talk@gtalug.org>> a ?crit : Hi, I'm not an expert, but here are my thoughts: The DVD drive on my Dell Inspiron laptop has died. I see three options: 1. Get it fixed This will likely be the most expensive in both dollars and hours-of-downtime 2. Replace it 3. Ignore it and get an external DVD 3 is the easiest and the fastest (cost in time, relative to 2), because you don't have to open up your lappy, and you don't have to figure out which model of internal drive is compatible with your lappy, and possibly wait while it is ordered. Couldn't say which (between 2 and 3) would cost more dollar wise. But, with 2, you don't have to carry around, and find desk space for, another device and cable. All the best, -- znoteer znoteer@mailbox.org<mailto:znoteer@mailbox.org> --- Talk Mailing List talk@gtalug.org<mailto:talk@gtalug.org> https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk
On Fri, 29 Sep 2017, Alex Short via talk wrote:
4. Don't use DVD. Just use a USB stick and iso files instead.
I can't play DVDs with a USB stick. -- Chris F.A. Johnson, <http://cfajohnson.com>
On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 07:29:38PM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson via talk wrote:
On Fri, 29 Sep 2017, Alex Short via talk wrote:
4. Don't use DVD. Just use a USB stick and iso files instead.
I can't play DVDs with a USB stick.
Sure you can. vlc is perfectly happy with DVD files in a directory on a USB stick, complete with menus and all. -- Len Sorensen
On 2017-10-02 11:10 AM, Lennart Sorensen via talk wrote:
On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 07:29:38PM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson via talk wrote:
On Fri, 29 Sep 2017, Alex Short via talk wrote:
4. Don't use DVD. Just use a USB stick and iso files instead.Â
I can't play DVDs with a USB stick.
Sure you can.
You can once you have the image of a DVD on a USB memory stick. How is a person supposed to get an image of a DVD they just bought on to a USB when they don't have a DVD drive to read the disc? -- Cheers! Kevin. http://www.ve3syb.ca/ |"Nerds make the shiny things that distract Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172 | the mouth-breathers, and that's why we're | powerful!" #include <disclaimer/favourite> | --Chris Hardwick
On Mon, Oct 02, 2017 at 11:25:24AM -0400, Kevin Cozens via talk wrote:
You can once you have the image of a DVD on a USB memory stick. How is a person supposed to get an image of a DVD they just bought on to a USB when they don't have a DVD drive to read the disc?
Using the external DVD drive of course. :) Or another machine. I think the USB stick was to make your DVDs more portable than the external DVD drive itself. Of course you could fit a lot of DVD moves on your internal HD too read from an external drive. -- Len Sorensen
On Mon, 2 Oct 2017, Lennart Sorensen wrote:
On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 07:29:38PM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson via talk wrote:
On Fri, 29 Sep 2017, Alex Short via talk wrote:
4. Don't use DVD. Just use a USB stick and iso files instead.
I can't play DVDs with a USB stick.
Sure you can.
vlc is perfectly happy with DVD files in a directory on a USB stick, complete with menus and all.
I can play movies from a USB stick. I cannot play DVDs with one. A DVD is not a file; it holds files. -- Chris F.A. Johnson, <http://cfajohnson.com>
On Tue, Oct 03, 2017 at 12:44:17PM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson wrote:
I can play movies from a USB stick. I cannot play DVDs with one. A DVD is not a file; it holds files.
A DVD contains multiple files. Placing all those files in a directory works the same as being on a DVD to many player programs and gives you all the menus and special features and everything. You simply tell VLC to open the folder, not the file. I find this tool very handy for extracting the files correctly from the physical DVD: Package: dvdbackup Source: dvdbackup (0.4.2-4) Version: 0.4.2-4+b1 Installed-Size: 234 Maintainer: Stephen Gran <sgran@debian.org> Architecture: amd64 Depends: libc6 (>= 2.4), libdvdread4 (>= 4.1.3-4~) Suggests: libdvdcss2 Description-en: tool to rip DVD's from the command line dvdbackup will extract all (or optionally only selected) titles as found on the dvd. It will structure the extracted files in a format suitable for burning at a later time with genisoimage and dvdrecord. Has the advantage of being very easy to use, small, and fast. Description-md5: b4879cb8d0f49e81b7b69c9613032cb1 Homepage: http://dvdbackup.sourceforge.net Tag: hardware::storage, hardware::storage:dvd, implemented-in::c, interface::commandline, role::program, scope::utility, use::converting, use::storing, works-with-format::iso9660, works-with::archive, works-with::video Now if your DVD is not a movie DVD, but just data files on a DVD, well then I don't see a problem with a USB key instead. -- Len Sorensen
On Tue, 3 Oct 2017, Lennart Sorensen wrote:
On Tue, Oct 03, 2017 at 12:44:17PM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson wrote:
I can play movies from a USB stick. I cannot play DVDs with one. A DVD is not a file; it holds files.
A DVD contains multiple files. Placing all those files in a directory works the same as being on a DVD to many player programs and gives you all the menus and special features and everything. You simply tell VLC to open the folder, not the file.
If I don't have a DVD player, how can I transfer a DVD to anything? -- Chris F.A. Johnson, <http://cfajohnson.com>
On Tue, Oct 03, 2017 at 05:01:41PM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson via talk wrote:
On Tue, 3 Oct 2017, Lennart Sorensen wrote:
On Tue, Oct 03, 2017 at 12:44:17PM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson wrote:
I can play movies from a USB stick. I cannot play DVDs with one. A DVD is not a file; it holds files.
A DVD contains multiple files. Placing all those files in a directory works the same as being on a DVD to many player programs and gives you all the menus and special features and everything. You simply tell VLC to open the folder, not the file.
If I don't have a DVD player, how can I transfer a DVD to anything?
You get external DVD drive, you use dvdbackup to transfer the disc to a folder, then bring the folder on your harddisk or a usb key and play it when you want. The external DVD drive can stay home unless you plan to transfer a new DVD while out. Conviniently external DVD drive can work with a new machine in the future that does not have an internal DVD drive (seems hardly any do anymore). -- Len Sorensen
Ignore it. I don't know how long since I last used my DVD drive. I don't even know if it's working... If you want to replace it, replace by an SSD drive. On Sep 29, 2017 19:30, "Alex Short via talk" <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
4. Don't use DVD. Just use a USB stick and iso files instead.
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 29, 2017, at 6:27 PM, znoteer--- via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
Le 29 septembre 2017 à 17:02, "Chris F.A. Johnson via talk" < talk@gtalug.org> a écrit :
Hi,
I'm not an expert, but here are my thoughts:
The DVD drive on my Dell Inspiron laptop has died.
I see three options:
1. Get it fixed
This will likely be the most expensive in both dollars and hours-of-downtime
2. Replace it
3. Ignore it and get an external DVD
3 is the easiest and the fastest (cost in time, relative to 2), because you don't have to open up your lappy, and you don't have to figure out which model of internal drive is compatible with your lappy, and possibly wait while it is ordered. Couldn't say which (between 2 and 3) would cost more dollar wise.
But, with 2, you don't have to carry around, and find desk space for, another device and cable.
All the best,
-- znoteer znoteer@mailbox.org --- Talk Mailing List talk@gtalug.org https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk
--- Talk Mailing List talk@gtalug.org https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk
On 2017-09-29 05:14 PM, znoteer--- via talk wrote:
Le 29 septembre 2017 à 17:02, "Chris F.A. Johnson via talk" <talk@gtalug.org> a écrit :
2. Replace it 3. Ignore it and get an external DVD
3 is the easiest and the fastest (cost in time, relative to 2), because you don't have to open up your lappy, and you don't have to figure out which model of internal drive is compatible with your lappy, and possibly wait while it is ordered. Couldn't say which (between 2 and 3) would cost more dollar wise.
But, with 2, you don't have to carry around, and find desk space for, another device and cable.
The other consideration regarding option 2 vs 3 is how often does the laptop get carried to other places? That will tell you how much of pain it might be to have an external DVD drive. If you do a lot of travelling with the laptop you may be looking at option 2 as your best bet but it might be difficult to source a replacement drive and take the laptop apart to replace the drive. -- Cheers! Kevin. http://www.ve3syb.ca/ |"Nerds make the shiny things that distract Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172 | the mouth-breathers, and that's why we're | powerful!" #include <disclaimer/favourite> | --Chris Hardwick
On Fri, 29 Sep 2017 17:02:38 -0400 (EDT) "Chris F.A. Johnson via talk" <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
The DVD drive on my Dell Inspiron laptop has died.
I see three options:
1. Get it fixed 2. Replace it 3. Ignore it and get an external DVD
Chris, Replace it with a Blu-Ray. You should be able to manage backups with 25GB. -- Howard Gibson hgibson@eol.ca jhowardgibson@gmail.com http://home.eol.ca/~hgibson
On Fri, Sep 29, 2017 at 05:02:38PM -0400, Chris F.A. Johnson via talk wrote:
The DVD drive on my Dell Inspiron laptop has died.
I see three options:
1. Get it fixed 2. Replace it 3. Ignore it and get an external DVD
Which would you recommend?
(I'm running Linux Mint.)
I'd think external DVD would be as cheap as getting it fixed or replacing it. -- William Park <opengeometry@yahoo.ca> .
participants (11)
-
Alex Short -
Chris F.A. Johnson -
Don Tai -
Giles Orr -
Howard Gibson -
john.moniz＠sympatico.ca -
Kevin Cozens -
lsorense＠csclub.uwaterloo.ca -
Mauro Souza -
William Park -
znoteer＠mailbox.org