Installing a CD-Writer

September 29, 1999

Jose Henriquez wrote:

Q.Can you please send me information regarding the installation of an internal
cd writer.  I would also like to know whether it is best to have an internal model or an external one.  I have a Compaq Presario 4508, 200MHZ.  Is is possible for this type of computer to run a CD-Writer?  Thanks

Eric Georgieff answered:

A. As you have mentionned, when buying a CD Writer, it is important to decide what type of drive you want. An external drive has the advantage of being easy to install (all you have to do is hook it up to your parallel port), as well as being portable. However it's big disadvantage is that it is extremely slow. In fact, it could quite possibly take up to two hours to write 650 MB (the maximum capacity a CD can hold) to a single CD-R disk. An internal drive on the other hand, could accomplish the same job in much less time (I'm guessing probably about 20 minutes). Furthermore, an external drive will cost you much more then an internal model. So, as you can see, it would be
preferrable to choose an internal drive.

Installing the drive:

If you have ever installed a hard drive before, installing an internal CD writer should not be much harder. Just follow these steps:

1. Remove the case that covers your computer. This can usually be done by removing six screws fout at the back of your computer.

2. Look at how many free slots you have in front of your computer (each drive that you have, be it a floppy disk drive or a hard drive takes up one of these bays).

If there is no free 5-1/4 inch drive bay, you will have to remove one of your current drives, and replace it with the CD writer. If this is your situation, you could remove the CD drive, since the writer can also read CD's (albeit at a slower speed).

3. Once you have determined which bay you are going to install the drive into, you will have to remove the cover for that particular bay (in front of your computer). In this way, you will then be able to slip the CD drive into the computer from the front.

4. Once you have inserted the CD drive into the computer, in the way I have just described, you will have to screw it down using four short, flat nosed, screws (these should have come with the drive). Look at how your other drives are screwed in, and do the same with the CD writer.

5. You will now have to connect it to your motherboard. To do this you will need to have a free IDE Cable connector (the same as is used to connect your hard drive to the motherboard). However, make sure you don't use the same ribbon cable as is connected to your hard drive, even if there are two connectors (ends) to it. Instead use the one that connects to your CD drive. If you want to keep your CD drive (which you should, if you have enough free bays), and you see that there is only one connector on the ribbon that goes from your motherboard to your CD drive, you will need to buy another IDE Interface Cable, that splits into two, and replace your current cable with that one. You must also make sure that when you connect the ribbon cable, that the striped side of the cable is aligned with pin #1 on the back of your CD writer.

6. After you have connected the IDE cable to your CD writer, you must connect a power cable to it. A power cable has four large holes on the connector (which is normally white) and is usually connected to your power supply (the box with the fan in it) with four red and orange cables. Once again, if you removed your CD rom drive, you can simply use the connector that was connected to that one. Otherwise you will either have to find one inside your computer that isin't being used, or buy a Y cable to split a connector into two (which you can then use to power the CD rom drive and the CD writer).

7. After you have put the CD writer in the computer, screwed it down (so that it doesn't move around), connected both the IDE ribbon cable and the power cable to it, you can close your case and turn on the computer. If all goes well, the light on the CD writer should flash (or turn on for a few seconds), and your computer should boot as it normally does. You can then proceed to installing the driver that came with your writer, or allow windows to install what default drivers it may find.

I am certain that your Compaq Presario 4508 is more than capable of handling a CD writer, and probably has the free IDE cables, power connectors as well as free drive bay I was talking about. It may however be missing one of these things, in which case you would have to follow the steps to deal with that (which I included in each procedure).