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[Olympia5776]

Right , bit of help needed here.
My desk top is a 20 month old Dell Dimension E520.
The DVD RW internal drive has swallowed a disc tonight and won't give it back...
I've tried the paper clip trick but it seems to be mechanical as it tries to push out the tray but cant.
I've had the cover off but cannot see how to dismantle it but will have another go tomorrow but my question is are these a common device ie will all internal drives have the same connectors?The reason is that to have the local repair shop look at it will probably be more than it would cost to replace so if that is the case then and  I don't have to stick with a Dell product I'll just chuck the module and replace with another.
Here's the only one I could find on E Bay.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DELL-52X-CDRW-DVD-Combo-Dimension-E520-E521-C521-9200_W0QQitemZ390056470092QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCC_Drives_Storage_Internal?hash=item5ad12d664c&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1683%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

[mantahatch]

To my knowledage there are only about 2 different ways to connect a drive to the motherboard nowadays. These are the slightly older IDE ribbon connector which has 40 pins.
And the newer style SATA connectors which are much smaller, and have about 8 pins (eyesight)

So your only choice should be to decide which one you need.

HTH

Mike

[cem_devecioglu]

no need to be dell..

and buy something like LG ..

nowadays I'm in trouble with both the dvd writers in job and home..none of them work properly and need replace..

and not worth repair if mechanical problem..anyway happens again..

[Olympia5776]

Thanks lads.
Just got scrubbed up and performed Open Heart Surgery on it . Removed it from the chassis and opened it up .Found that the release pin for the paper clip removal function was jammed and misaligned .Managed to right the wrong and out popped the disc.
That's it working again.
Its a SATA connector so if there are any more relapses I'll switch off life support and clone .
Right then back to burning some discs....
Thanks again.
Don

[Del Boy]

Thanks lads.
Just got scrubbed up and performed Open Heart Surgery on it . Removed it from the chassis and opened it up .Found that the release pin for the paper clip removal function was jammed and misaligned .Managed to right the wrong and out popped the disc.
That's it working again.
Its a SATA connector so if there are any more relapses I'll switch off life support and clone .
Right then back to burning some discs....
Thanks again.
Don

Well done on sorting that, they're a right bugger when that happens

[TheBoy]

if it does it again, replacement DVD writers are only around £15 upwards, any will do as long as connector is right (SATA/IDE/SCSI/SAS)

only thing to check is that replacement drive is not too deep (no standard for depth), which could would foul system board or PSU

[Olympia5776]

if it does it again, replacement DVD writers are only around £15 upwards, any will do as long as connector is right (SATA/IDE/SCSI/SAS)

only thing to check is that replacement drive is not too deep (no standard for depth), which could would foul system board or PSU

I'll bear that in mind . Ther's about 3 inches between the rear on the DVD RW and the PSU .
Thanks

[KillerWatt]

Just replace it with a Pioneer DVR-216DBK, £16.99 inc VAT and will record anything with the right software.

PM me if you want to know about the software 

[TheBoy]

Just replace it with a Pioneer DVR-216DBK, £16.99 inc VAT and will record anything with the right software.

PM me if you want to know about the software 

Not yet seen a 216, but Pioneers often are deeper than, for example the Panas that Dell frequently use.

And no further discussion on why Panasonics aren't great, as the defficiencies in it would not affect day to day legal use 

[KillerWatt]

Just replace it with a Pioneer DVR-216DBK, £16.99 inc VAT and will record anything with the right software.

PM me if you want to know about the software 

Not yet seen a 216, but Pioneers often are deeper than, for example the Panas that Dell frequently use.

And no further discussion on why Panasonics aren't great, as the defficiencies in it would not affect day to day legal use 

First off, where do you get the idea I'm gonna slag Panasonic off?

Second, I have the very drive I mentioned (and no, it's not brand spanking new), so I know what it's depth is from first hand experience (although that info is freely available anyway).

[TheBoy]

Just replace it with a Pioneer DVR-216DBK, £16.99 inc VAT and will record anything with the right software.

PM me if you want to know about the software 

Not yet seen a 216, but Pioneers often are deeper than, for example the Panas that Dell frequently use.

And no further discussion on why Panasonics aren't great, as the defficiencies in it would not affect day to day legal use 

First off, where do you get the idea I'm gonna slag Panasonic off?

Second, I have the very drive I mentioned (and no, it's not brand spanking new), so I know what it's depth is from first hand experience (although that info is freely available anyway).

I suspect you wouldn't rate some of the Panasonics due to some lack of capabilities that would only affect certain groups of people.

I like Pioneers , but depth can be an issue on them, hence my warning to the OP. Dell Dimension 5100/E520 chassis doesn't have the greatest amount of room for longer dvd drives.

[KillerWatt]

I suspect you wouldn't rate some of the Panasonics due to some lack of capabilities that would only affect certain groups of people.

You mean like writing in RAW mode?
Those days are long gone J, all the burners do the same these days with the right software.

I like Pioneers , but depth can be an issue on them, hence my warning to the OP. Dell Dimension 5100/E520 chassis doesn't have the greatest amount of room for longer dvd drives.

The days of the 8" deep drive are long gone mate, these days they are just about big enough (externally) to get the actual disc in.

[TheBoy]

I suspect you wouldn't rate some of the Panasonics due to some lack of capabilities that would only affect certain groups of people.

You mean like writing in RAW mode?
Those days are long gone J, all the burners do the same these days with the right software.

I like Pioneers , but depth can be an issue on them, hence my warning to the OP. Dell Dimension 5100/E520 chassis doesn't have the greatest amount of room for longer dvd drives.

The days of the 8" deep drive are long gone mate, these days they are just about big enough (externally) to get the actual disc in.

There are other issues with some Pana drives.  I know, I have one in the Dell upstairs.

I had a Pioneer that I bought to go in an existing external enclosure a few months (maybe a year - time flies as you get older  ), but it was too long. I then leant drive to a mate, never saw it again, thieving git

Still got and use and older Pioneer, 108 possibly, that also is longer than some. Good old reliable performer though