How to Build A PC: Installing the CD and DVD Read/Write Drives

Since we're now going to install the CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives, look to the top front area of your PC case. It should have a "face plate" that you can remove on the front of the case, allowing you to then slide in your CD and DVD drive directly through the front of the case, guided by metallic rails. Assuming that your computer case is open, you can then locate and align the screw holes of the drives and their respective areas with the bays, and fasten them in place.

This is such an incredibly easy install, that there's not much more than can be said about it! Later on, we'll simply connect the IDE or SATA cables from the CD/DVD drives to the motherboard, and they're done.

A side note: I always like to install the speedy CD read-only drive in the top bay, and the DVD-writer drive underneath it.

In this tutorial, I'm going to advocate what I always do when I build PCs: worry about all of the power and cable connections all the way at the end. Just note that if both of your CD or DVD-ROM drives have IDE cable connections, you'll have to make sure that the drives are located close enough for the cable to "piggyback" both drives on the same IDE cable.

(Right: An IDE cable.)

As explained in a previous step of this tutorial, "piggybacking" is when the top drive has the "Master" end of the IDE cable plugged into the back of it, and the "Slave" end is plugged into the 2nd CD or DVD-ROM drive underneath it. Finally, the end of the cable is plugged directly into the motherboard.

When it comes to IDE connections, note that the Master and Slave CD or DVD drives will need specific jumper settings. A jumper is a little plastic square-shaped piece that is pushed into the pins in the back of a CD or DVD drive that has an IDE connection. The Master drive needs to have that piece placed in a certain position, and the Slave drive also needs that piece in a certain position. You'll have to check the manuals to see what exactly those positions are. The jumper can be taken out of the back of a drive with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Simply place the jumper according to whatever position the drive's direction booklet tells you.

On to the next step, Install the Hard Drives >>
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