http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins8500/en/8500/sm/upgrades.htm#1019383

Thanks for the prompt replies, bacillus and racerboy777.
Perhaps I did not make my question clear.

Do you know how to remove the Panny CD writer from the Dell drive module?
As you know, Dell cautions
"Never disassemble this module"

I need to replace the Panny CD writer with a NEC ND-6500A bare DVD drive -- so the Dell drive module will now contain the NEC drive.

------
Several Inspiron 8500 owners have reported (in NewEgg testimonials) they have successfully installed this NEC drive in their notebooks - and it only took 5-10 minutes.

As you know, you cannot install the NEC drive bare. It must be installed as a Dell drive module -- as the 8500 requires a removable drive.

Are you asking about the drive caddy?  I replaced a fixed CD drive on my wife's old Inspiron 8100 with the NEC.  As I recall there wasn't that much to it and the instructions were on the eBay auction listing. Here is a quick link on replacing the fixed bay drive. Although it's not the specific NEC drive the instructions are pretty much universal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31564&item=6777527380&rd=1

 

Thanks for your help, RoadiJeff.
While there are many similarities, replacing a fixed drive in the 8100 caddy seems an easier challenge than 8500 owners have before them.

1. The 8500 uses a *removable* drive module, not a *fixed* drive module.
2. The 8500 removable drive module **repositions** the IDE connector from the *left
side* to the *right side*.

When I remove the 5 screws holding the original 8500 CDRW drive in the removable drive module, the drive does not slide out of the drive module.

What am I missing?

Thanks for your continued help, RoadiJeff.

I reviewed the 8500 user's manual but did not find any useful info on how to disassemble the optical drive module - and replace the Dell CD writer with a new DVD writer.

Lack of any info on this topic is not surprising, as Dell cautions:
"Never disassemble this module"

Despite the Dell warning, it should not be that hard to upgrade optical drives in the 8500/8600 optical drive modules. As stated before, I removed the 5 screws holding the module together, but the optical drive would not slide out of the Dell caddy/carrier/module. It seems "held in place" in the back - where the ribbon cable redirects the IDE controller from the left side to the right side on the module. And I do not want to force anything.

I wonder if any 8500/8600 owner has successfully replaced their original optical drive with a newer DVD 8x +-RW optical drive?

Message Edited by crystallakegary on 06-19-2005 02:13 PM

Gary,

I just got my NEC 6500 today and am having the exact same problem you described. I took out the 5 screws and can't figure out how to get the original drive out of the caddy. Were you able to get your new drive installed? Any advice would be much appreciated.

FrustratredInSantaCruz,

There is a 6th screw. Remove the cartridge latch assembly and you will see it.
Once removed, the drive slides out.

Hope this helps!

Cool, thanks for the reply! Is there any trick to removing the catridge assembly? Yesterday, when I was screwing around with it I was tugging here and there and was afraid to break something.

edit: Oh, and while I have your ear, did you have to upgrade the firmware? I read a post in another thread that something about that.

Thanks again!

Message Edited by FrustratredInSantaCruz on 07-20-2005 12:15 PM