CD Drive, I think this belongs here.

[Gibbzilla]

Before I begin, I sincerely apologize if this sort of topic doesn't belong in this part of the forum.

Okay, my mother's computer has had a broken CD Drive for nearly 1 1/2 years, and she recently told me about it. :rolleyes:

I'm typing this on her computer, and I've been fiddling around with the drive today, with different discs. When you put in a disc, it sounds a little clunky inside the machine, and it never reads it. She told me that a CD "exploded" in the tower, and she thinks there may be parts of the CD inside the tower. It worked for a short period after the incident, but it's been unusable for 1 1/2 years.

Any advice would be highly appreciated.

[sassie05]

Being that CD drives are so inexpensive I would replace it with a DVD/CD RW drive.

[PrntRhd]

I agree, I saw a CD-R at a Fry's Electronics on sale for $14 US, a CD-RW for $18.
The pieces of CD-ROM that exploded will be contained in the housing for the drive itself, pieces are unlikely to be in the tower itself.

[Gibbzilla]

How do I remove the current CD-drive? The computer model is a Dimension 3000 Dell.

[jlreich]

Here is the service manua (http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim3000/en/SM/index.htm)l for the 3000. Click on "removing and installing parts", then click on "CD/DVD" drive.

[sassie05]

You should read through the "Before You Begin" section first.
Particularly this notice:
"NOTICE: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components".