Need to replace a cosmetic part on an acer aspire 1961

How to Remove Replace Install your Acer Aspire 5738Z Laptop CD/DVD Optical Drive

1. Check to see if your laptop requires a screws to be removed for the optical drive.

2. Find the CD/DVD Optical Drive release button.

3. Pull out your Acer Aspire CD/DVD Optical Drive.

4. Get your new replacement Acer Aspire CD/DVD Optical Drive and place it securely into the drive slot.

- Link:

http://www.laptopinventory.com/LaptopInventory.php/Acer/Aspire/5738Z/CD%20RW

Have you tried the tiny little hole very near the slot of your CD drive? A small straightened paperclip stuck into the hole and pressed in might push the drive open for you. Many people don't know that little hole is for that purpose.

I also have an Acer Aspire AM-3470G & just swapped DVD drives trying to troubleshoot a problem. Remove the one side panel with the finger tab that gives you access to the system board/HD's, etc. No need to remove the opposite side panel. With the panel off, there are 3 black plastic tabs holding the front cover on. Release them so that the front panel pivots to the opposite side which also has 3 black tabs. Those tabs will release themselves as you pivot the front cover. You may need a bit of force to pivot the cover so be careful not damage the plastic tabs. You'll now have complete access to the DVD tray area. The DVD is held in by 2 exposed screws, there are none on the opposite side of the drive. Unscrew them, disconnect the power & SATA connectors & slide out the drive. If you replace the DVD drive, test the new one before you reassemble all the covers to verify everything works.

I found this online, so hopefully it helps. It's to a page selling a second hard drive caddy for the 3623WXCi, but at the bottom is has directions on replacing the hard drive for that model as well.

http://www.batterystyle.com/acer-aspire-3623wxci-caddy-p-413622.html

Looking at the image of the machine; the DVD drive is a vertically loaded slot.
replacing the DVD reader/writer with a Blue Ray one... not entirely sure if it's possible without advice from the manufacturer (contact them to be 100% sure).
because of the physical dimentions of the screen; the DVD drive will be a laptop dvd drive not a normal desktop one.... so you could hunt online for a slot loaded Blue ray drive for a laptop... but again no guarantee without manufacturers confirmation.
most machines past 2005 have SATA connections inside for the optical drives; but also confirm this before spending money.

This method should work for you.

http://liliputing.com/2008/04/install-windows-xp-on-mini-note-usb.html

At this point, I am thinking "hardware" -- the laser that shines onto the surface of the disks has stopped working. Replace the CD/DVD drive.

The mechanism is bad and it is rejecting the cd or dvd. Need to replace the cd/dvd drive.

remove your cabinet cover and remove you DVD drive power cable and check it still your facing the same problem there is a problem in your drive you need to change it

Has it definately broken or is a configuration issue as described here:-

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060/

If it is definately broken you will need something like this -

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/128258 (UK website)

Its a slimeline slot loading DVD drive.