Replace dvd/cd in Pavillion NB

Hi, I need some advice on replacing the dvd-r on my n5445 pavillion. I contacted HP and they will sell me a replacement drive for about $300 + labor, but they will buy it back from me for $80 if the drive is working. So I would like to order a replacement online and try to replace it myself. Therein lies my problem. i do not know if just any drive will work, or if only a specific drive is needed. i do know I need a slim drive or it won't fit. I found a Dell on NewEgg for $36. Also I'm not sure how to actually remove or replace the drive. The Hp website says to just remove the battery to get to the drive, but those are generic instructions and I don't think that would work with my laptop. Has anyone had experience with replacing the internal DVD/CD on this laptop? Would appreciate any help. It's so old i don't want to spend lots of money, but it works well otherwise so it would be a waste to trash it. Thanks

 

You will probably find that there is one screw that is holding the drive in place, this is normally located on the underside of the laptop roughly 4 inches from the front of the DVD drive. If you have the drive ejected it makes removal much easier.
You should be able to use most laptop CD/DVD drives, but you will probably have to remove the front bezel from your drive to replace on the new one. You may not need to though.
You may also find that you need to remove the special connector from your drive to fit on the back of the new one.
I wasn't able to find a specific service manual for this machine, but I have changed many laptop DVD drives & most are fixed in this way. Having the drawer ejected makes for easy removal once the correct screw is removed.

 

thanks, kestrel 1. i went to Belarc Advisor for an audit and found that the installed drive is a Toshiba sd-r2102. thought I might try to replace it with the same, but have not found it yet. may no longer be available. think i will order one from new egg and give it a try.

 

Most manufacturers use similar drives & just add there own bezel & connector block. The connector only slides over the built in one.
You could also try http://www.ebuyer.com, they are good on price normally.

 

I can find those drives all day long, Google...............


Here
$129

$89.99

Eekbay

 

you can probably get a Service manual free at manufactures Web or here

 

thanks, Asus. just ordered a sony dvd drive before I read your post . If it doesn't work, I'll send it back and order the toshiba.