Can't switch DVD drive

If it is USB CD_Drive you can plug it in a USB port of the computer. You may have to install drivers, but usually Windows Update can download them from the Internet.

PUT IN THE SMALL HOLE WITH NIDDLE OR PIN ON THE DVD/CD ROM DRIVE NEARLY EJECT BUTTON ,THAT 'S EASILY TO OPEN CD TRAY

Hi rodger744, to have the "DVD Burner" recognize!
Do the following:

• On the "Desktop Screen, {right click} to open the Computer."
• Select the Properties, in the 'shortcut window.'
• If you do not have a Computer Icon on the [Desktop]?
• Click on the "Start Button."
• In the (right pane), select to open the Computer 'shortcut menu.
• Choose the "Properties" from the 'list.'
• Check to see: if there's a DVD ROM Drive letter?
• ie. (D:) in the "Device with Removable Storage area."
• If the area is (Blank)?
• Go to, and select All Programs, after clicking on the Start Button.
• Scroll to find: the Media Disk Player.

*Note: "You made need to (Setup) the "Player!"

• [2x] click open the Player, and select to "Setup / Install"
• Follow all the instructions!
• Click on the Apply and OK buttons when finished!
• "Restart the Computer."

Now, go back to: {Start Button -> Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> "Device Manager" -> DVD / CD-ROM drives}

• Open the [DVD-ROM].
• "Update the Drivers"
• Click on the [Driver] button.
• Select; {Update Driver...}.
• "Restart the Computer, again!"

!Attention: "Manually "Update Drivers"

1. Click on the [Update Driver] button.
2. Select, "Browse for driver software..."
3. Choose: "Let me pick from a list of device..."
4. Click on the DVD-ROM Drive.
5. Click, ["Next"]
6. "Restart the Computer!"

!Important: "Take a 'moment to rate the help', so I can get 'credit' for the work.

Thank you!" - paul7of9

click start control panel,administrive tools,computer management,device manager scroll to cd/dvd rom drives right click properties then properties again then tick enable cd digital cd audio for this cd rom device or scroll to dvd regions select the no _ for your specific area

hope this helps

Sounds like the power lead at the rear of the dvd drive has come loose or is faulty.
You will need to open the pc and check that the power lead is fitted correctly, you may need to try another plug, you may have a spare you can swap it with.

To use "Burn DVD video files" in Nero, you have to switch on Advanced mode instead of standard.

In my version, this is what the bottom right corner of Nero StartSmart Essentials looks like in the two modes.

1.The laser optical eye of the CD-ROM drive may be dirty, and needs cleaning.
If the optical eye is dirty, it won't read the information on the disk you install.

A) Computer on, Windows loaded, open the tray of the DVD-ROM drive. (Or DVD burner drive. Whichever drive you are referring to. DVD-R/RW)
Shut the computer down normally. (Start>Turn Off Computer>Shut Down)

Unplug the computer from power.
Use a can of compressed air fror computers, and spray air into the DVD-ROM drive.

The optical eye, is located on the bottom of the DVD-ROM drive. (Or burner drive)
The opening in the bottom of the tray, that comes out for your disk, is where you spray the air.

You won't be able to see the optical eye, so how will you know you are spraying the air at the correct place?

If you start at the front of the bottom of the DVD-ROM drive, and work your way towards the back, you will clean the optical eye. Spray across from side to side, and in rows, as you proceed towards the rear.

(Air will make it's way through, and reach the optical eye. The optical eye is not visible, as it can be harmful to the human eye when operating.
Laser.
When the tray is closed the optical eye is exposed. It is not exposed to where it can harm the computer user.

More information that may be helpful, in understanding where the optical eye is located,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-ROM_drive

Scroll down to the heading - CD-ROM drives. Also view the photos down on the right, and the animated GIF.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cd4.htm

How a CD Player Works. Same principle for your DVD-ROM and DVD burner drives )


2.Make Windows reinstall the drivers.
This solution requires physically removing the flat ribbon cable from the back of the DVD-ROM/DVD burner drive, then reattaching it.

Software advice of Updating the drivers, Rollback the drivers, or downloading, and installing the drivers, doesn't always work, or doesn't work.

If the physical solutions I am providing here does not work, we will proceed to the software solutions if you wish. (Comment)

1.Computer off, and unplugged from power. Open the computer case,

Dell Support - Dell Inspiron 531 Desktop PC - Manuals - Documentation - Removing and Installing Parts,

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/inspd531/en/OM/parts.htm#wp1595069

(Removing the computer cover)

CAUTION!
BEFORE you reach inside you need to relieve your body of Static electricity!

Not trying to freak you out, just needed to catch your attention.
Static electricity, can fry out the delicate computer hardware components, inside your computer.

Touch the metal frame of the computer case.

Computer unplugged from power you are safe.
Touch the metal frame of the computer case, (AFTER you unplug the computer), the computer is safe.

In the above Manual documentation - Removing and Replacing Parts, click on - Drives

Scroll down to the heading - CD or DVD Drive
(Towards the bottom of the page)

Unplug the DATA cable from the CD-ROM drive.
(No.2 in the illustration)

[The two optical drives you have are SATA drives. Dell indicates you have a DVD-ROM drive, (Plays CD's and DVD's), and a DVD burner drive.
(Plays CD's and DVD's, and records)

DVD-R/RW is a 'Burner drive'.

If the information above is correct, you have a SATA power cable, and a SATA Data cable.
(The Data cable transfers information from the optical drive, to the computer, and vice-versa)

The SATA power cable connector, is longer than the Data cable connector.
The power cable connector has 15 pins.
The Data cable connector has 7 pins.

Information,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SATA

Scroll down to the heading,
Data

Look to the right at the photo. This is a SATA Data cable, and it's connector.
Yours may not be a bent 90 degree elbow, but it will have the L shape in the connector, and 7 pins.

Scroll down to the heading Power Supply. Look down to the right at the photo of the 15 pin SATA power cable connector.
This is Not the cable/connector you want to unplug.

Unplug the SATA Data cable from the optical drive you're referencing to.
Press the Power On button in, and hold it in for a count of Five seconds.
Let go of the Power On button.
Do this two more times.

Plug the SATA Data cable back in.
Close the computer case.
Plug the computer back into power.
WAIT 1 minute.
Turn the computer on. Try the drive.

No. Unfortunately. Different manufacturers use different interfaces internally for their drives. Even different drives from the same manufacturer cannot be "swapped" in this manner.

I hope this helps.

change the drive it may have a viris

Can you try installing the new burner as a slave and the zip as the master?

Had a pc once that refused to boot at all with a new DVD burner in it, alongside a DVD-ROM. The burner was replacing a CDRW drive, swapped the drives master and slave settings over and it worked.