Remove the DVD from your laptop and replace it with a second hard drive or SSD

See how to replace the DVD drive from your laptop by replacing it with a second hard drive or a second SSD.

dvd laptop 2

DVDs are becoming more and more useless. With the advent of flash usb drives that can now reach several hundred GB in capacity, DVDs have fallen into disuse.

Unless maybe you want to keep your backups on dvd and so the dvd drive is still useful to you. But if its existence is of no interest to you and you don't even remember when you put a DVD to play on your laptop, then here's how to replace your laptop's DVD drive σας με ένα κατάλληλο SSD ή HDD, το οποίο θα λειτουργήσει ως ένα δεύτερος .

In fact, the newer laptops no longer have DVD drives as the manufacturers saw the lack of demand and took care to use the space of a dvd for other needs. After all, space on laptops is valuable! But the older ones are all equipped with this gadget.

So see a guide that explains how to replace your laptop DVD drive with a 2,5-inch SSD or HDD.

The following procedure is very cheap in money as you will need a special frame (caddy) that will be placed in place of the DVD drive and of course a disc. The frame costs only from 3,00 to 15,00 euros and the drive depends on its capacity and whether it is SSD or HDD (hard).

Step 1: Order a Hard Disk Caddy

The DVD drive is a single thin box that slides into the laptop and is secured with a screw. This drive is considered upgradeable and thus has a standard shape and dimensions (such as RAM, hard drives, etc.)

The frame that will replace the unit has exactly the same shape and the same fastening.

Do a search on the internet for the words "hard drive boxes" or "laptop drive caddy" and you will see various e-commerce pages. Indicatively we mention this page.

sata dvd laptop caddy

But you will see they are extremely cheap as they start at around 2,76 euros and go up.

The frames are equipped with a SATA socket both to the new drive and to the chassis connection to the laptop.

dvd slim sata

There is a small case, if your laptop is extremely old the DVD connection to laptop is IDE. In this case, we think that it is not even worth dealing with such a laptop.

dvd pata ide

You will find out what you have in step 3 when you unplug the dvd drive and take it out of the of the laptop.

Also note that there are available disc caddy variations, to fit disks. With height 9,5 mm and height 12,7 mm. The difference is noticeable, in step 3 again you will see what height you need, when you take out the dvd drive and measure it.

Step 2: Select SSD or HDD to replace the optical drive

As the idea is to expand the available storage, you'll need a new drive to attach to the chassis. This could be one 2,5” or a faster SSD.

dvd, laptop, caddy, ssd, disk

Obviously, the capacity of the unit will depend on your requirements. However, we recommend that you install as large a drive as possible, as most users will use it for Backup.

Here's the most expensive part of the story, as the records are generally very expensive.

Step 3: How to remove the DVD drive from your laptop

With your new sub-drive ready for installation, it's time to remove the DVD drive.

Removing a DVD drive is usually simple, although this will depend on the manufacturer of the laptop (the photos are from an old acer we have in our hands).

The typical method of removal is:

  1. Place a towel on your table
  2. Place the laptop on its towel with the lid down
  3. Find the screw του DVD. Αυτή συνήθως υποδεικνύεται από ένα μικρό DVD and is located approximately in the middle of the DVD and at a depth of approximately 14 cm dvd laptop 1
  4. Remove the screw
  5. Pull out the optical drive dvd laptop 2
  6. Remove the DVD drive from the laptopdvd laptop 3

Some laptops have a button system for removing various components. Others may have the dvd retaining screw under the cover of the main hard drive (as in our photos). Ή the retaining screw from the cover to hold the dvd drive.

Anyway, search the internet and watch a related video with your own laptop. When you unscrew the retaining screw logically the unit is now held only by the sata plug. Push lightly out to remove it. You should have the same sense of resistance as when removing a laptop battery.

In rare cases, you may need to use a sharp plastic object, such as a credit card or plastic knife, to remove the drive. However, we repeat the resistance should be minimal.

Watch a related video:

Once completely removed, use a screwdriver or plastic knife to gently remove the DVD drive cover.

dvd laptop mask

If your laptop does not have a spare, blank mask for the DVD drive case, then you will need it later. Either way the DVD cover of your laptop matches the colors and design of your computer better.

You may also need to remove the retaining plate (including the screw) from the DVD drive. This is attached to two (or one) small screws and can be easily attached to the frame you purchased to secure in place.

Step 4: Insert the hard drive or SSD into the Caddy

This must be the easy part! When the hard drive or SSD is not packed with its own case, it should be easy to put the drive in the box.

Depending on the disc and its manufacturer, you may have received a small screwdriver and screws with the disc. These will need to be tightened to secure the hard drive or SSD to the chassis.

Make sure these screws are level with the frame when you tighten them, otherwise the unit will not slip sweetly on your laptop.

Step 5: Install Caddy on your laptop

Next, find the mask of the dvd drive that you removed in step 3 and put it in the box. Because the eject button must be in a specific position for accessibility, the mask attachments hold the clips in the same position.

Simply attach the mask by pushing the handles into the slots. Hot glue may be needed here, especially if you break a handle.

With the laptop back upside down on the towel, slide the hard drive or SSD into the CD drive bay and use the captive screw to secure the box in place. Your laptop has a new storage device, ready to use with any that you have installed.

Reuse your old DVD drive

So you have replaced the DVD drive of your laptop with SSD or HDD. But what about the discarded DVD drive? Well, you can still use it.

It is possible to install the dvd drive in an external casing that you can easily connect and disconnect to your laptop via a USB port. All you need is a laptop DVD case and a pair of USB cables for data and power.

An external DVD drive can be used in , ultrabook or any other device that does not have an optical drive. To find prices search with the words: External Optical Drive Case.

Can you replace the laptop DVD drive with USB ports (or whatever)?

Your laptop's removable DVD / CD drive can theoretically be replaced with other things, such as additional USB ports.

However, few manufacturers have followed through on this. While you may find a USB 3.0 hub in the shape of a DVD drive for some Dell laptops (since 2015 or so), such they are rare and hard to find, even on eBay.

This is a pity, as such a hub could include things like a card reader, new audio, or even an HDMI port.

Replace a laptop CD or DVD drive with an SSD or hard drive: It's that easy!

If your laptop has a DVD or CD drive unnecessary for you, using this space for extra storage is a good idea.

With the huge file sizes that photography and video require (για να μην αναφέρουμε τα παιχνίδια) η επιπλέον χωρητικότητα θα μπορούσε να αποδειχθεί εξαιρετικά πολύτιμη.

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dvd, laptop, caddy, ssd, disk

Written by Dimitris

Dimitris hates on Mondays .....

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