OEM DVD drive question...

Mark Herrick · Post by **Mark Herrick** » 16 Apr 2002 7:29 pm

If I purchase an OEM DVD drive (advertised as "bare drive, no software") to install in my system, what, if any, software will I need to make it work?

Thanks.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Mark Herrick on 16 April 2002 at 09:18 PM.]</p></FONT>

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 17 Apr 2002 8:02 am

I'm kind of confused. Is this a DVD burner? Or just a DVD/CD ROM player.

If it is just a player, you will need some software to view the media with ie. WinDVD 2000 or something along those lines.

As far as DVD burners...it is all cryptic to me. I know very little about them.

Mark

Mark Herrick · Post by **Mark Herrick** » 17 Apr 2002 8:29 am

Sorry I didn't elaborate.

Not a burner, just a DVD/CD-ROM player.

I'm trying, for the first time, to build a computer from scratch. I can save some money by buying the OEM drive, but I didn't want to get stuck not having correct drivers/software. Is "WinDVD-2000" part of the Windows operating system, or a separate piece of software? (Sorry if this sounds ignorant or naive, but I figure after I get the system built, I won't have to ask again.)

Dave Alfstad · Post by **Dave Alfstad** » 18 Apr 2002 3:50 am

Windows Media player 7 will play DVD's but you may have to go into the settings and tell it to. WinDVD is not part of the O/S. I just did exactly what you're doing and I put WinDVD on my system and it works good for playing DVD's.

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Dave Alfstad
Indianola, Iowa

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 18 Apr 2002 7:53 am

Mark,

Cool! Building your own computer is a great learning experience. I highly recommend it for anyone who would like to know the in's and out's of your PC.

As far as the DVD drive is concerned. If you know the company that manufactures the drive, you can go to their website and download the drivers there.

For software, I know there is a lot out there, but I have found WinDVD to be the easiest.

Just my $.02.

Mark

Doug Seymour · Post by **Doug Seymour** » 18 Apr 2002 8:24 am

My son & I used to talk about building our own (partly for the learning experience!) I
never made it, but he did!

Mark Herrick · Post by **Mark Herrick** » 18 Apr 2002 6:42 pm

Thanks for the input and encouragement!

I just installed the motherboard, cpu, drives and video card, powered it up and was able to get into the BIOS setup. So far so good.

Just need to add the CD-RW, DVD and the OS's. I'm planning a dual boot with Linux and Win2K.

Stand by, I may have more questions...