To understand how to connect the drive to a computer or laptop, you need to look at the drive connection type: SATA or IDE. The surest way to find out what type of computer connector is is to open it.
How to connect a DVD drive
Open the computer case, and examine the cables that go from the motherboard to the drive. If the drive cable is small, then your computer uses a SATA connector. If you see a wide, flat cable, then your computer uses an IDE connector.
Identify the power cables that move from the computer's power source - this is a massive box in the corner that sprouts all the wires - to your drive. Your drive either uses a SATA power cable or uses a Molex power cable. SATA power connectors are almost always black, Molex connectors are almost always white.
Remove the old drive by unplugging its power and data cables, unscrewing the screws, and sliding it out of the front of the computer case. If you replaced an IDE drive, set its jumper to match the settings of your old drive, either Master or Slave. If you want to add a second IDE drive, install its Slave jumpers.
If you are installing a drive with a SATA connector, proceed to the next step. Insert the new drive into the front of the computer and tighten the screw if it does not use rails. You may have to break off the rectangular plastic cover from the front of the computer before installing the drive.
Connect the connectors and power cables. Close the computer lid and turn it on. When Windows OS boots, you need to see how the system works. If the computer asks you to install drivers, install them. Drivers are included with the drive.
How to connect a drive to a laptop
If you have a drive with a SATA connector, you need to buy a USB-IDE/SATA adapter to connect to your laptop. You can also connect via an adapter hard drives and other equipment.
Connect the USB-IDE/SATA adapter to the laptop's USB port. Connect your drive to the USB-IDE/SATA adapter. An additional power supply is included with the adapters. Connect the drive to the power supply and plug in the adapter. You can also connect a detachable dvd drive to a laptop via USB, if you don’t have one.
Installing the DVD-ROM device is very simple. You just need to decide on the device connection standard: “IDE” or “SATA”? Depending on this, the connecting cables (data and power cables) will be different.
This is what our “IDE” device looks like from the back (where the connection takes place).
We install the DVD-ROM in the space allocated for it in system unit(usually this is the front upper part of the body). We connect the power and the “data loop”. Please note! On the “cable” there is a “key” in the mounting socket for its correct orientation. For “IDE” drives, the connection should look like this.
Now all we have to do is securely fix our device on both sides with four bolts and connect the second end of the “cable” directly to motherboard.
For “SATA” drives, this process is completely identical to that described, and the cable DVD data devices of the old standard must be connected to one of the “IDE” channels of the controller on the board.
In the figure above, under the numbers, we show:
- 1 - the first “IDE” controller (two devices can be installed on it: “master” and “slave”)
- 2 - second “IDE” controller (you can also connect two devices: in master mode and slave mode)
- 3 - drive controller (FDC controller)
So, it is to controller number 3 that we will connect our disk drive. It is also called a “floppy disk” or “3.5-inch disk” (based on the size of the floppy disks with which it works).
The drive looks like this:
And here are its connection connectors from the back side:
The large oval is the data cable connector, the white one with four pins is the power connector. The drive data cable is slightly narrower than the “IDE cable” hard drive, so you simply cannot confuse and connect incorrectly :)
This is what it looks like:
The cable is also equipped with a special “key” to prevent it from being installed incorrectly. The corresponding “key” is also available on the motherboard controller.
The power cable to the floppy disk comes directly from the computer's power supply. It has a specific connector and is connected as follows:
Pay attention to which side the connector is connected to the device (this is the only correct position). Otherwise the floppy disk will not work.
At the end of the article, I want to give a little advice: if you need to open a CD-DVD-ROM without turning on the computer (for example, you forgot a disk in it), then pay attention to the small hole specially provided for this purpose on its front panel.
Straighten the paperclip (or use a needle), insert it into the hole and press firmly. The device tray will open slightly. Pull it out completely by hand, remove the disc and push it back in. Don't worry, it won't break. Just don't do this while the disk is spinning inside the device! :)
Anyone who has not yet tried the trick with an old CD-ROM from a computer will be interested in this article. This means that you take a CD drive from a computer, with or without a headphone output, and connect it to the on-board power supply of the car, the audio output is fed to the speakers through an amplifier, and off you go with your music on a long journey.
Anyone who has amplification equipment, but is temporarily missing a head unit in their car, will definitely need information about a homemade CD player. All computer CD drives are high-speed, so, as practice shows, such devices play music perfectly, even with severe shaking on the road. They read better than many CD car stereos, and their RAM buffer helps with lag.
On the back of any computer CD-ROM there are four connectors of different types:
- Analog audio outputs: R - plus to the right speakers; G and G (closed to each other) - minus for the right and left speakers; L - plus on the left speakers.
- Addressing selection: CSEL, SLAVE, MASTER. We leave the jumper in the extreme right position, the device will be in the main priority of MASTER.
- The IDE interface is an outdated parallel data bus.
- Power socket DC: 5 V, G or GND - ground, 12 V.
Some computer CD-ROMs have a digital audio output connector.
There are also computer drives with a headphone output (Audio jack 3.5) on the front panel.
Well, if there is a volume control, two control buttons on the front panel: “Play/Next” “Eject/Stop”, then such a CD drive itself asks to become a car radio. All that remains is to connect the power and take the signal from the Audio jack 3.5 to the car amplifier.
Don't be discouraged if you have a CD-ROM with only one button on hand! Music playback will begin as soon as the CD is loaded. And the outputs of the “Play/Next” button can be found inside the device, labeled as Play 2, solder to these contacts and place the button somewhere on the front panel.
To power a computer drive, you will need to assemble a very simple circuit with a cheap 7805 compensation stabilizer. Stabilized 5 volts will be needed to power the control circuits. For operation of linear and stepper motor Inside the device, the vehicle's on-board power supply from a 12 V battery will do.
During voltage suppression from 12 V to 5 V, the integrated stabilizer will heat up, so it is strongly recommended to screw it onto the radiator. It will be optimal if you fix it using thermal paste like KPT-8.
The radiator together with the 7805 stabilizer in the TO-220 housing can be placed directly on the metal surface of the CD drive. All the same, the heat sink of the stabilizer 7805, its middle terminal, is electrically connected to the mass of the car, just like the body of the installed CD-ROM. Cooling will improve and there will be no looseness!
We put a socket from an old car radio on the front part of the CD drive and secure it homemade device in the center console of the car.
You can receive an audio signal either from the Audio jack 3.5 on the front panel or from the analog audio outputs of the pin connector on the rear. The amplitude of the output stereo signal does not exceed 1 V, so you will have to listen to music either with headphones, or it is better to use an amplifier for output to external speakers.
You must connect via a three-wire shielded cable with appropriate connectors at the ends.
Of course, you shouldn’t expect the same quality of sound from a computer CD-ROM as from a Flash radio; besides, it doesn’t read MP3, but you won’t find a cheaper replacement for a car radio.
Homemade podiums for car speakers Homemade car thermos
full-screen video than CD-ROM drives, bringing games to new level realism. In addition, it becomes possible to burn more entertainment or educational software onto fewer CDs. For example, the electronic version of Complete National Geographic magazine comes on either 30 CD-ROMs or 4 DVD-ROMs.
Third generation DVD-ROM sets, such as the Creative Labs PC-DVD Encore 6X Dxr3 (shown in pictures), have the most modern characteristics and allow you to read ordinary CD-ROMs. And with devices that include a PCI MPEG-2 decoder (for example, the Encore kit), you can also watch DVD movies both on your PC monitor and on your TV screen. Here's how to connect a third-generation DVD-ROM kit that includes a drive with the widely used IDE interface.
1 Prepare your system for upgrading. Connecting a DVD drive, MPEG decoder board and all the necessary software will significantly change the configuration of your PC. Therefore, even before starting work, to protect yourself, check whether the PC is working properly and whether the equipment does not conflict. Click the Start button and select Settings?Control Panel, double-click the System icon, or check right click Click on the “My Computer” icon and select the “Properties” menu item, and then go to the “Device Manager” tab. If you see exclamation mark next to any device, click the Start button again, point to Help, and look for the hardware troubleshooting section. In addition, conduct a complete backup information from the PC hard drive.
2 Install the MPEG decoder board. Turn off your PC and unplug the power cord from the outlet. Ground yourself - best done with a metal bracelet connected to a grounded metal object. Remove the PC case cover and find a free PCI slot. Remove the metal plate located behind it on the back wall of the PC case. Carefully insert the decoder board into the connector and, making sure that it is firmly seated, secure it with screws.
3 Connect the DVD drive. Modern motherboards have a primary and secondary IDE channel, each with its own connector (A). One cable connects hard drive to the primary channel, and another, usually a CD-ROM drive, to the secondary channel. Each of them can support two devices, and if possible, connect the DVD drive to the same cable as the CD-ROM drive. If this connector is occupied by another device, such as a tape drive or Zip drive, connect the DVD drive to the cable that connects system board and hard drive. Of course, this is only possible if one of the IDE cables has three connectors. Otherwise, use the cable that came with your DVD drive. Make sure the jumper located on the back of the DVD drive is set to the “slave” (B) position. If you need a carrier to fit the drive into your PC (for example, if you are installing a 3.5-inch drive in a 5.25-inch bay), install it. Insert the DVD drive into the bay (C) and connect the IDE and power cables (D) to the drive. Check to see if the colored wire (usually red) of the IDE cable is connected to the first pin of the DVD drive connector (note that it is labeled).
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4
Connect audio and video cables. From now on, you will have to master the profession of an electrician, that is, connect a lot of cables. 
The connection process itself depends on the manufacturer of the kit (in this article we're talking about about Creative Labs PC-DVD Encore 6X with Dxr3 decoder). Carefully read the User's Manual included in the kit and begin work in accordance with the given procedure:
connect the DVD drive and the MPEG card with an audio cable (to the Audio 1 In connector);
if the audio cable goes from the CD-ROM drive to sound card, then disconnect it from it and connect it to the Audio 2 In connector (second audio input connector) of the MPEG board;
connect the Audio out (audio output) connectors of the MPEG card and the Audio in (audio input) connectors of the sound card with an audio cable;
disconnect the cable going to the monitor from the graphics card and connect it to the lower connector of the MPEG card, intended for an external monitor;
connect with the included DVD-ROM video cable feedback MPEG and graphics cards;
If you want to watch DVD movies on your TV, connect one video cable from the upgrade kit (either an RCA or S-video connector depending on the characteristics of your TV) to the video output of the MPEG card and the video input connector of your TV;
if you have a stereo receiver or speaker system For a PC that can decode Dolby Digital Surround audio, use a cable that is not usually included with the DVD-ROM to connect the MPEG card and stereo device.
5
Install DVD drive drivers and software.
Connect your PC to the network and turn it on. Windows systems 9x should be detected new drive and board and prompt you to install drivers. Insert the driver disc (floppy or CD) and follow the instructions that appear on the monitor screen. Then install the software included in the DVD Drive Upgrade Kit following the instructions in the User's Guide. You may need to restart your PC after this. Finally, check whether the new drive will read regular CDs and DVD-ROMs. If there are problems, such as the PC not being able to detect the drive or read the disc, turn off the computer and double-check all connections. (With so many cables, it is easy to make a mistake and connect one incorrectly.) If the problem cannot be resolved, contact service technical support developer of the upgrade kit. At correct operation of all equipment, turn off the PC and put on the case cover.
