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69244
October 23rd, 2014 20:00
What is a plastic scribe (for ? unscrewing optical drive latch lock.)
Hello - Thank you very much for any help. I saw instructions for how to change the DVD drive in my Dell Latitude D630. It said, under tools needed: small Phillips Head Screw Drive, plastic scribe The guy in the video only used a PH. I tried a small PH but it didn't work, whether I turned to the L or R. When I look into the hole on the computer for the screwdriver and/or plastic scribe, I just see a recessed circular area, no place I can tell for a PH to hook into. So I thought I'd try the plastic scribe, whatever that is.. But when I looked on Amazon I saw no plastic scribes.
Are they all the same size? Do you think that is what I need?
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Loricalady
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October 25th, 2014 05:00
You are so kind to answer my request. Thank you very much.
Loricalady
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October 25th, 2014 05:00
You're an angel! Thank you so much for your help. I just popped the disc drive right out. What a relief!
May good things happen to you and yours. :)
osprey4
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October 26th, 2014 05:00
It's not necessary to replace the screw.
I generally do not recommend Memorex media at all. They use a variety of non-name manufacturers and cannot be trusted. Yes, I know the brand is ubiquitous in retailers, but with a bit more effort, it's not difficult to find better brands, such as HP and Taiyo Yuden.
It sounds like you are using CDs for routinely backing up your artwork files. You might consider using a flash drive instead. They have more capacity and are much faster. For long term archive, I suggest "archive quality" recordable DVDs, such as Verbatim.
osprey4
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October 28th, 2014 16:00
"Someone on the net said..."
You'll learn never to take advice from random people on the internet. :emotion-2: I've had dozens of optical drives go bad and not a single one was ever fixed by blowing compressed gas into it.
I'm not exactly sure what's wrong with your D630 but if was caused simply by trying to blow compressed gas into the CD drive, then it's got to be a very simple problem. My recommendation would be to bring it to work and see if one of your IT guys can take a look. It may be as simple as a loose hard drive connection.
osprey4
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October 24th, 2014 17:00
Hi Loricalady,
There's a hole near the pull-out latch that should contain a screw. It sounds like the screw that holds your drive is missing. So all you need to do is push the latch in so it pops out, then pull on that to remove the drive.
I've removed and inserted a million of these (D610, D620, D630) and I know of nothing needed except for the screwdriver. But I've also seen many of them missing a screw.
Loricalady
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October 25th, 2014 20:00
Since you were so kind as to offer As to other Qs, I do have some please.
First, should I replace the screw that is missing, and if so, where should I go to buy it? I tried to see if other screws on the back of the laptop would fit there, in case the missing screw was part of my optical drive problem. None of them would fit.
My laptop is for art only. I do art work on the computer, save it, then may download it again later. When I try to play a DVD, just to test it out, it works okay. But when I put in a CD of my art work to download, it makes funny, grinding, noises and does not work. It is used, got it about 9 months ago, and it used to work fine with some generic, no name on them, type CDs. Ever since I bought some Memorex CD-Rs, it seems I have a problem, though maybe that's a coincidence.
As it seems CD replacement drives are cheaper and I don't need a DVD player feature really, should I just get a CD optical drive replacement?
Thanks much again for your help! :-) (I really feel dumb about not realizing the screw was missing but all these mechanical things seem so alien to my brain.)
Loricalady
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October 26th, 2014 06:00
Thank you very much once more. I will never trust Memorex CDs etc. again! I do have some Verbatim CD-Rs.
In the past when I tried to download art work onto a disc, it would only do that with a CD, not with a DVD.
In the meantime, I have art work on a Memorex CD-R that I really need to get downloaded, or the work will be lost. So I guess I'll have to buy a new DVD drive to see if the art work will show up on the PC. I am also researching the flash drive which I never heard of before.
Have a lovely day!
Loricalady
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October 26th, 2014 15:00
P.S. to Osprey4
Someone on the net said my problem might be a dirty optical drive and recommended that I clean it out with compressed, canned, air. I followed directions and the result was that now there is a black screen when I turn on the laptop. I have given up on it and am looking for a different computer.
But thanks so much for your help, just the same. (You look like a nice guy.)
Loricalady
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October 29th, 2014 07:00
Thank you. Another computer is on the way. However, due to your advice I will not toss the Dell 630 but hang onto it and some day probably get someone to look at it. All my art work had already been downloaded onto a CD so I didn't lose much.
osprey4
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October 29th, 2014 16:00
Ok. Good luck with the new PC!
Loricalady
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November 1st, 2014 08:00
Thank you. So far so good.