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I've done a few computer upgrades myself in my getting-older-everyday Dell desktop, most recently being swapping in a 500 MB SATA internal hard drive, so I feel pretty good about removing screws and plugging in wires. I am looking at swapping out my old CD burner with a DVD burner (the Samsung 203N), but it looks like it only comes in OEM form. I understand that means it doesn't come w software, documentation, etc. I'm okay with that in principle. I know I can re-use the mounting screws from removing the CD burner and I can pick up software on my own, but can someone advise on what I need for SATA connectors? Can I just pick up the small cord or do I need to get one that's longer and includes the power strip (e.g. this) as well? Is there anything else I'd be missing out on by going w OEM?

Does your motherboard support SATA? You say that its getting old but that really does not tell us any thing. If it does not support SATA then you will have to go IDE. Or if you do want to go SATA the you will need this. Also the D&S Cable.

Sorry, it's a Dell 4600. I am using an SATA hard drive right now and there's one other SATA slot open on the motherboard, so no problem there as far as I know.

Ok sounds great also check the PSU in the case, while the PC is off. See if the HDD is using the white MOLEX connector or a back SATA for the power. If there is a black on connected to it follow it up and see if there is another one if so then you will not the D&S Cable.

You will need this how ever OEM does not come with one Rosewill RCW-204 20" /SATA external data Cable 7Pin Female to 7Pin Female /Red - Retail some OEM will come with software as well. Depends on the company.

 

 

Thanks that basically confirms what I thought. I'm currently on vacation, but when I get back, I'll let you know how it turned out.

Sounds good let me know

Okay, have the new drive and it works well except on booting up at the BIOS I'm getting an error that says "Secondary Drive 1 not found." My old set up was DVD Drive (1) and CD-RW drive (2) - both with the old type of connectors. Now I have DVD Drive (1) and DVD-RW on SATA.  I imagine this error has to do with pulling the IDE from the old CD burner. I'll have to play around with switching the plugs on the old DVD burner to see if that helps.

 So this is what I purchased.

1. SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM 

2. KINGWIN 15.74" SATA Data & Power combo cable Model SAC-04 - Retail 

 The cables were exactly what I needed. SATA to connect to the motherboard as well as power converter to connect to old MOLEX plugs. Used the old mounting screws from the previous drive and it was good to go.

 

could be a master/slave situation. i revived this lol.

You are using a sata hard disk, and there are still some free sata slots on your mainboard ,

so you can use the sata DVD-rom .

But you should contact the Dell customer service to have more information. They can give

you suggestions on the item you can use.

Call Dell Customer service? 'Cha Right. I just played with the BIOS. As noted above, it was a master/slave issue in the BIOS, the secondary IDE drive or something** was a slave on the BIOS set up and I simply unchecked that and the error stopped.

 

 

** I don't really remember what the exact wording was but it was something to this effect. I just played around enough with different settings and trial and error to know that one thing finally worked.