CD drive is fubared
 

Should it be a simple matter to get it replaced? Are there choices I should be aware of?

Y'all are sooo helpful on these questions!

Simple and cheap. What model of PC?

Dell.

With a replacement drive, do you want to play DVDs? Do you want to burn CDs? Do you want to burn DVDs? Do you want "lightscribe", a technology that uses the laser to "burn" the label side of the CD with a reasonable label?

burn cds would be nice--don't need the other stuff.

OOOOH. What a useful idea.

Which Dell is it? Dimension..?

Dimension 8400.

I can't install it myself, so I will have to take it in to a computer doc. Does the drive need to be ordered?

for a Dimension 8400
 

Hello,

You'll really want to get the $30 one from Newegg (Dual Layer IDE burner) like below. It will work fine and match your case.

Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106226

While you're at it, if you have less than 1GB RAM, get 4 512MB DDR RAM chips. You'll be much better off for it. They are here for:

http://www.18004memory.com/focuscfg....26925&mfgID=31

$25.00 each for the name brand (which is well worth it considering Dells don't like the non-name brand stuff).

Considering that a total bill of approx. $130 + Shipping + 20 minutes for a PC Tech to put all this in is still less than the store, you'll be much happier!

Mitch

Mitch is right, but if you don't want DVD this item is $9 less.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106084

This is a pretty simple procedure and I bet we could walk you through it, if you wanted. It only requires one phillips head screwdriver.

I fixed your thread title.

Fuba Red would be a great name for a Crayola color.

How do you know its the drive and not driver software? This is why Dell provides hardware diagnostics. Diagnostics boot from the hard drive in a selection before Windows boots. I believe the option appears when pressing (repeatedly) F5 or F8 or F12 before that Windows splash screen appears (can't remember which key so I usually press each repeatedly).

Of course, you probably want the burner anyway. But best is to perform the diagnostics once before anything fails - to see how to get them and see how all hardware gets confirmed.