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||bass
Posts: 694/817 |
I think you should use a combination of SmartRipper and ELBY CloneDvd2. SmartRipper is freeware and CloneDvd2 can be downloaded from.... err.... various sources. (I really do mean various sources.... you can download it simultaneously from various sources.... if you know what I mean.) |
Colin
Posts: 9639/11302 |
OK, I'll check the stuff out.
Funny thing is, the DVD-RW wasn't really my idea to begin with.  But if I have it, I might as well take advantage of it. |
neotransotaku
Posts: 3732/4016 |
um...the easiest would be DVDShrink--hasn't failed me except for one DVD that required an Intel processor to be used instead of an AMD one. This program will convert DVD-9 discs down to DVD-5 discs via quality reduction. The picture may degrade down to TV quality but it is sufficent enough to watch (it is not overly blurry) Also, it can cut out audio streams you'd never use as well as the open previews if you don't care about them.
DVD-Decryptor is a tool that allows you to decode DVDs but it won't help you to rip a movie you need other software for that.
doom9 is a place where you can go to get DVD-ripping information... |
Colin
Posts: 9633/11302 |
Got my drive. Installed it. Everything looks gooooooooooood.  Windows recognized it right away and everything.
Now, question... what would be the best DVD software package out there that would... *cough* be good for copying protected DVD's? *cough* |
||bass
Posts: 667/817 |
JUMPERSYou absoloutly need to remember to set the jumpers on your new drive. If the old device was set to be ide slave, make sure the new one has it's jumpers set. If the old device was master, set the new device's jumpers accordingly. The last thing you want is an IDE device conflict.
PS: Don't trust the cable select feature. It's best to set IDE master/slave option manually. |
mrmenz
Posts: 310/347 |
Oh man....Im gonna guess the drive was fried when the molex connector was inserted. Also isnt it Serial ATA? Just wondering because its proably my favorite interface  .
You'll be fine, installing an optical drive is very simplistic and the only part I could see someone getting lost on is jumper placement. |
Lenophis
Posts: 565/830 |
Originally posted by Colin
And that's all I pretty much needed to know if I end up picking up one tomorrow.
Thanks.
There is one other detail you must take note of. You must actually turn the machine off, and not set it to hibernate. I would share a horror story, but for the sake of simplicity, I'll just state what should be obvious. 
Shouldn't be hard to put the drive in, 5-10 minutes at the most. I don't forsee having any problems so long as you follow the said advise already mentioned. |
Colin
Posts: 9423/11302 |
And that's all I pretty much needed to know if I end up picking up one tomorrow.
Thanks. |
neotransotaku
Posts: 3626/4016 |
I see...yeah, the power connector and the IDE ribbon cable are standard for optical drives if they still use the EIDE interface. Super ATA drives (HD and optical) use a different interface and cables so you will run into trouble unless your computer supports Super ATA.
As long as you touch only the cables connecting to your CD-RW, you should be okay. |
Colin
Posts: 9410/11302 |
I NOTICED the dust on that board, yeah. Forgot that the screenshot would be THAT detailed. The problem is that I have a fan in the back of the unit, but my room picks up a lot of dust due to the PC, so... yeah. :\ It's not like I open up the thing often either.
Could I use the pre-existing wires for the new drive? I can't see there being any voltage concerns... The cables seem to be pretty standard. Drivers aren't a problem since I definitely know my way around those.
(I just want to cover all my bases here... The last time I tried to install something into a PC myself was with the Compaq and that was a near disaster since there were tons of wires and ribbons to work around. This is a lot easier since I can work my way in through the side.) |
neotransotaku
Posts: 3620/4016 |
That's exactly what you do, Colin.
When you take your CD-RW out, take a note whether the jumper on the back was set to master or slave. Then make sure the jumper of your DVD+/-RW drive is also set the same way. Plug in power and the IDE cable in (there is only one way to do it unless you force it the wrong way). If there is a CD-audio cable plug that in to. Then that's all. WindowsXP should not harass you about installing the new hardware and should autodetect the new drive.
Physical installation is as what you described. Software Drive installation should be taken care of by Windows unless windows decides now to start acting retarded for you.
Also, while you have your case open--why don't you clean all the dust out there?  |
Colin
Posts: 9404/11302 |
Just curious here, since I know a few of you are total whizzes when it comes to this stuff.
I want to get a DVD-RW drive for my PC, possibly tomorrow. I would have gotten it installed for a rather cheap additional fee ($25) but that got derailed when they told me they could have it done in "3-4 days". Totally unacceptable.
Anyways, I'm likely going to get an LG drive, which Future Shop here is selling as a "Dynex" model; people who have opened the box have noticed that they're packaging a perfectly good LG drive in it.  Top specs and 48x on CD-R burning, which is what I was looking for.
In any event... Actually, I'll do one better and take a pic.
Side of my PC (high detail)
Now here's the deal - the drive on the top (I can take a better picture if needed) is the one I'm going to replace. That's a CD-RW drive. So... Here's my question. I want to see if it's easy for me to install it.
Would it be as simple as to slide the drive out (the side of the PC can be screwed out so I can work through there instead of through the back), take note of where all the wires went and just plug them back into the new drive? Or are there other steps that I need to take?
Because in all honesty, if it's not going to take long at all I'd much rather save $30-40 on an install. Any tips/words of wisdom/reassurances would be appreciated.
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