How to Make Your DVD Player a DVD Burner
- 1). Open your computer's "Start" menu and choose "Control Panel." Click "System and Maintenance" and choose "Device Manager." Click "Continue" if you are using Windows Vista.
- 2). Click the plus symbol next to the "DVD/CD-ROM Devices" entry. Right-click the entry for your existing DVD player and choose "Uninstall." Choose "Delete the driver software for this device" and click "OK."
- 3). Turn off your computer and unplug the power cable from the back of the computer's case. Remove each of the other cables attached to the computer.
- 4). Set the computer's case onto its side, on a flat work area, with the access panel pointing toward you. Check to see if your computer's access panel is locked into place through Phillips screws, a locking button or a plastic thumbscrew.
- 5). Unlock the access panel through the appropriate method, such as removing the Phillips screws, twisting the thumbscrew counterclockwise or pushing in the locking button. Push down the panel slightly and slide it off your computer.
- 6). Locate your existing DVD player in the metal drive bays at the right hand end of the computer case. Check to see if the flat ribbon cable connected to the back of the player is also connected to another device or if it is the only drive using the cable.
- 7). Unplug the flat ribbon cable and the smaller plastic power cable from the back of the drive. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws holding the DVD player to the metal drive bay. Grip the end of the drive and slide it out of the bay.
- 8). Slide the DVD burner into the empty drive bay. Ensure that the end with the cable ports is facing into the computer. Plug both of the cables you disconnected earlier into the ports on the back end of the DVD burner.
- 9). Locate the metal jumper pins, which are positioned next to the cable ports. Position the pins into the "master" setting if the flat ribbon cable is only connected to the DVD burner. Set it to the "slave" setting if the cable is also connected to another drive. Check the DVD burner's manual to see which setting is "master" and which is "slave."
- 10
Insert and tighten the Phillips screws to hold the DVD burner to the drive bay. Put the access panel back on your computer's case and lock it by reconnecting the screws or tightening the thumbscrew. - 11
Plug in each of your computer's cables and turn on the computer. Wait for the "Found New Hardware" wizard to appear and go through the on-screen prompts to install the DVD burner's driver software.