CD/DVD tray issue

[astral]

new Dell Vostro 1520: first time powered on, find one problem: cd/dvd tray
does not open fully, just half, and can no place disk as there is black
spacer/washer on the center.. Not sure is it by design, or spacer need be
removed?? How? It looks cd/dvd rom may not be fully assembled, inside cd/dvd
flat cable is visible, is it normal??

thanks

 

[Tim Slattery]

"astral" <astral@news.eternal-september.org> wrote:

>new Dell Vostro 1520: first time powered on, find one problem: cd/dvd tray
>does not open fully, just half, and can no place disk as there is black
>spacer/washer on the center.. Not sure is it by design, or spacer need be
>removed?? How? It looks cd/dvd rom may not be fully assembled, inside cd/dvd
>flat cable is visible, is it normal??

Doesn't sound right. Can you pull the tray the rest of the way out
WITHOUT using much force? Could the "black spacer/washer" be a hub
that the disk snaps onto?

--
Tim Slattery
Slattery_T@bls.gov
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

 

[astral]

"Tim Slattery" <Slattery_T@bls.gov> wrote in message
news:8j06669b4prg5uapemcp3j3mo1c3vu52nc@4ax.com...
> "astral" <astral@news.eternal-september.org> wrote:
>
> >new Dell Vostro 1520: first time powered on, find one problem: cd/dvd
tray
> >does not open fully, just half, and can no place disk as there is black
> >spacer/washer on the center.. Not sure is it by design, or spacer need be
> >removed?? How? It looks cd/dvd rom may not be fully assembled, inside
cd/dvd
> >flat cable is visible, is it normal??
>
> Doesn't sound right. Can you pull the tray the rest of the way out
> WITHOUT using much force? Could the "black spacer/washer" be a hub
> that the disk snaps onto?
>
> --
> Tim Slattery
> Slattery_T@bls.gov
> http://members.cox.net/slatteryt
-------------


CD/DVD rom looks exactly like this one I find as example:

http://www.plsenter.com/ebay/dvd-rw/dvd_drive_1.jpg

There is two metal directing sideways from each side, tray slide inside this
sideways.

When I press at cd/dvd button, the tray let out the "click" (i dont think
its normal) and pulls out at one inch only. Yes, I can pull it out by hand
without using much force(easy), but it slides not too smoothly, though.

Yes, the black spacer seems is hub - but it does not fit CD center hole,
which is smaller that this spacer. Or I don't understand something.

 

[Paul]

astral wrote:
> "Tim Slattery" <Slattery_T@bls.gov> wrote in message
> news:8j06669b4prg5uapemcp3j3mo1c3vu52nc@4ax.com...
>> "astral" <astral@news.eternal-september.org> wrote:
>>
>>> new Dell Vostro 1520: first time powered on, find one problem: cd/dvd
> tray
>>> does not open fully, just half, and can no place disk as there is black
>>> spacer/washer on the center.. Not sure is it by design, or spacer need be
>>> removed?? How? It looks cd/dvd rom may not be fully assembled, inside
> cd/dvd
>>> flat cable is visible, is it normal??
>> Doesn't sound right. Can you pull the tray the rest of the way out
>> WITHOUT using much force? Could the "black spacer/washer" be a hub
>> that the disk snaps onto?
>>
>> --
>> Tim Slattery
>> Slattery_T@bls.gov
>> http://members.cox.net/slatteryt
> -------------
>
>
> CD/DVD rom looks exactly like this one I find as example:
>
> http://www.plsenter.com/ebay/dvd-rw/dvd_drive_1.jpg
>
> There is two metal directing sideways from each side, tray slide inside this
> sideways.
>
> When I press at cd/dvd button, the tray let out the "click" (i dont think
> its normal) and pulls out at one inch only. Yes, I can pull it out by hand
> without using much force(easy), but it slides not too smoothly, though.
>
> Yes, the black spacer seems is hub - but it does not fit CD center hole,
> which is smaller that this spacer. Or I don't understand something.
>

Isn't that a "spring loaded tray", common on a "slim" optical drive ?

Since the "slim" drive isn't very tall, there isn't room for a
combination of tray motor and gearing arrangement. You have to
use your hand to open the tray. The tray is not motorized.

The hub in the center, may have compressible plastic "fingers". When
you place a CD or DVD there, you push down on the CD or DVD, until it
compresses the fingers, and the fingers help hold the CD in place.

Paul

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:11:25 +0300, astral wrote:

> "Tim Slattery" <Slattery_T@bls.gov> wrote in message
> news:8j06669b4prg5uapemcp3j3mo1c3vu52nc@4ax.com...
>> "astral" <astral@news.eternal-september.org> wrote:
>>
>>>new Dell Vostro 1520: first time powered on, find one problem: cd/dvd
> tray
>>>does not open fully, just half, and can no place disk as there is black
>>>spacer/washer on the center.. Not sure is it by design, or spacer need be
>>>removed?? How? It looks cd/dvd rom may not be fully assembled, inside
> cd/dvd
>>>flat cable is visible, is it normal??
>>
>> Doesn't sound right. Can you pull the tray the rest of the way out
>> WITHOUT using much force? Could the "black spacer/washer" be a hub
>> that the disk snaps onto?
>>
>> --
>> Tim Slattery
>> Slattery_T@bls.gov
>> http://members.cox.net/slatteryt
> -------------
>
>
> CD/DVD rom looks exactly like this one I find as example:
>
> http://www.plsenter.com/ebay/dvd-rw/dvd_drive_1.jpg
>
> There is two metal directing sideways from each side, tray slide inside this
> sideways.
>
> When I press at cd/dvd button, the tray let out the "click" (i dont think
> its normal) and pulls out at one inch only. Yes, I can pull it out by hand
> without using much force(easy), but it slides not too smoothly, though.
>
> Yes, the black spacer seems is hub - but it does not fit CD center hole,
> which is smaller that this spacer. Or I don't understand something.

Most slide-out trays have a snap-in hub. You place the disc on the hub, and
then press the disc near to the hub to snap the disc over what looks like
three small ball-bearings. This keeps the disc in place during operation.

The need to pull the tray further out and the rough sliding sounds fairly
normal to me...I've had drives that are like that and drives that aren't
like that.

The ribbon cable is the cable that connects the read/write head assembly to
the electronics.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

 

[astral]

"Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message
news:i3v6cm$tie$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> astral wrote:
> > "Tim Slattery" <Slattery_T@bls.gov> wrote in message
> > news:8j06669b4prg5uapemcp3j3mo1c3vu52nc@4ax.com...
> >> "astral" <astral@news.eternal-september.org> wrote:
> >>
> >>> new Dell Vostro 1520: first time powered on, find one problem: cd/dvd
> > tray
> >>> does not open fully, just half, and can no place disk as there is
black
> >>> spacer/washer on the center.. Not sure is it by design, or spacer need
be
> >>> removed?? How? It looks cd/dvd rom may not be fully assembled, inside
> > cd/dvd
> >>> flat cable is visible, is it normal??
> >> Doesn't sound right. Can you pull the tray the rest of the way out
> >> WITHOUT using much force? Could the "black spacer/washer" be a hub
> >> that the disk snaps onto?
> >>
> >> --
> >> Tim Slattery
> >> Slattery_T@bls.gov
> >> http://members.cox.net/slatteryt
> > -------------
> >
> >
> > CD/DVD rom looks exactly like this one I find as example:
> >
> > http://www.plsenter.com/ebay/dvd-rw/dvd_drive_1.jpg
> >
> > There is two metal directing sideways from each side, tray slide inside
this
> > sideways.
> >
> > When I press at cd/dvd button, the tray let out the "click" (i dont
think
> > its normal) and pulls out at one inch only. Yes, I can pull it out by
hand
> > without using much force(easy), but it slides not too smoothly, though.
> >
> > Yes, the black spacer seems is hub - but it does not fit CD center hole,
> > which is smaller that this spacer. Or I don't understand something.
> >
>
> Isn't that a "spring loaded tray", common on a "slim" optical drive ?
>
> Since the "slim" drive isn't very tall, there isn't room for a
> combination of tray motor and gearing arrangement. You have to
> use your hand to open the tray. The tray is not motorized.
>
> The hub in the center, may have compressible plastic "fingers". When
> you place a CD or DVD there, you push down on the CD or DVD, until it
> compresses the fingers, and the fingers help hold the CD in place.
>
> Paul
---------

is this type a "slim" optical drive? Find no any notes, instructions or
directions about this type of hardware.
Is it normal when I push the release button it pulls out at 1 inch only?
And when drag it manually it slides not too smoothly.
The whole construction looks very unsafe: is it safe to use much force to
compress the fingers by pushing down CD?

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:29:46 +0300, astral wrote:

> "Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message
> news:i3v6cm$tie$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>> astral wrote:
>>> "Tim Slattery" <Slattery_T@bls.gov> wrote in message
>>> news:8j06669b4prg5uapemcp3j3mo1c3vu52nc@4ax.com...
>>>> "astral" <astral@news.eternal-september.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> new Dell Vostro 1520: first time powered on, find one problem: cd/dvd
>>> tray
>>>>> does not open fully, just half, and can no place disk as there is
> black
>>>>> spacer/washer on the center.. Not sure is it by design, or spacer need
> be
>>>>> removed?? How? It looks cd/dvd rom may not be fully assembled, inside
>>> cd/dvd
>>>>> flat cable is visible, is it normal??
>>>> Doesn't sound right. Can you pull the tray the rest of the way out
>>>> WITHOUT using much force? Could the "black spacer/washer" be a hub
>>>> that the disk snaps onto?
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Tim Slattery
>>>> Slattery_T@bls.gov
>>>> http://members.cox.net/slatteryt
>>> -------------
>>>
>>>
>>> CD/DVD rom looks exactly like this one I find as example:
>>>
>>> http://www.plsenter.com/ebay/dvd-rw/dvd_drive_1.jpg
>>>
>>> There is two metal directing sideways from each side, tray slide inside
> this
>>> sideways.
>>>
>>> When I press at cd/dvd button, the tray let out the "click" (i dont
> think
>>> its normal) and pulls out at one inch only. Yes, I can pull it out by
> hand
>>> without using much force(easy), but it slides not too smoothly, though.
>>>
>>> Yes, the black spacer seems is hub - but it does not fit CD center hole,
>>> which is smaller that this spacer. Or I don't understand something.
>>>
>>
>> Isn't that a "spring loaded tray", common on a "slim" optical drive ?
>>
>> Since the "slim" drive isn't very tall, there isn't room for a
>> combination of tray motor and gearing arrangement. You have to
>> use your hand to open the tray. The tray is not motorized.
>>
>> The hub in the center, may have compressible plastic "fingers". When
>> you place a CD or DVD there, you push down on the CD or DVD, until it
>> compresses the fingers, and the fingers help hold the CD in place.
>>
>> Paul
> ---------
>
> is this type a "slim" optical drive? Find no any notes, instructions or
> directions about this type of hardware.
> Is it normal when I push the release button it pulls out at 1 inch only?
> And when drag it manually it slides not too smoothly.
> The whole construction looks very unsafe: is it safe to use much force to
> compress the fingers by pushing down CD?

It's a laptop. Laptops have slimline drives. There's no room for anything
else.

And the behavior you describe is normal. *Normal*.

Just use it.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 156:50 -0700, Gene E. Bloch wrote:

> On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:29:46 +0300, astral wrote:
>
>> "Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message
>> news:i3v6cm$tie$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> astral wrote:
>>>> "Tim Slattery" <Slattery_T@bls.gov> wrote in message
>>>> news:8j06669b4prg5uapemcp3j3mo1c3vu52nc@4ax.com...
>>>>> "astral" <astral@news.eternal-september.org> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> new Dell Vostro 1520: first time powered on, find one problem: cd/dvd
>>>> tray
>>>>>> does not open fully, just half, and can no place disk as there is
>> black
>>>>>> spacer/washer on the center.. Not sure is it by design, or spacer need
>> be
>>>>>> removed?? How? It looks cd/dvd rom may not be fully assembled, inside
>>>> cd/dvd
>>>>>> flat cable is visible, is it normal??
>>>>> Doesn't sound right. Can you pull the tray the rest of the way out
>>>>> WITHOUT using much force? Could the "black spacer/washer" be a hub
>>>>> that the disk snaps onto?
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Tim Slattery
>>>>> Slattery_T@bls.gov
>>>>> http://members.cox.net/slatteryt
>>>> -------------
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> CD/DVD rom looks exactly like this one I find as example:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.plsenter.com/ebay/dvd-rw/dvd_drive_1.jpg
>>>>
>>>> There is two metal directing sideways from each side, tray slide inside
>> this
>>>> sideways.
>>>>
>>>> When I press at cd/dvd button, the tray let out the "click" (i dont
>> think
>>>> its normal) and pulls out at one inch only. Yes, I can pull it out by
>> hand
>>>> without using much force(easy), but it slides not too smoothly, though.
>>>>
>>>> Yes, the black spacer seems is hub - but it does not fit CD center hole,
>>>> which is smaller that this spacer. Or I don't understand something.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Isn't that a "spring loaded tray", common on a "slim" optical drive ?
>>>
>>> Since the "slim" drive isn't very tall, there isn't room for a
>>> combination of tray motor and gearing arrangement. You have to
>>> use your hand to open the tray. The tray is not motorized.
>>>
>>> The hub in the center, may have compressible plastic "fingers". When
>>> you place a CD or DVD there, you push down on the CD or DVD, until it
>>> compresses the fingers, and the fingers help hold the CD in place.
>>>
>>> Paul
>> ---------
>>
>> is this type a "slim" optical drive? Find no any notes, instructions or
>> directions about this type of hardware.
>> Is it normal when I push the release button it pulls out at 1 inch only?
>> And when drag it manually it slides not too smoothly.
>> The whole construction looks very unsafe: is it safe to use much force to
>> compress the fingers by pushing down CD?
>
> It's a laptop. Laptops have slimline drives. There's no room for anything
> else.
>
> And the behavior you describe is normal. *Normal*.
>
> Just use it.

BTW, I have seen and used slimline drives where the drawer doesn't come out
very far, even when pulled, and the inner edge of the hub reamins covered
by the computer's case. They worked fine.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

 

[Dave]

"astral" <astral@news.eternal-september.org> wrote in message
news:i3v83i$oev$1@news.eternal-september.org...
snip
>>
>> Paul
> ---------
>
> is this type a "slim" optical drive? Find no any notes, instructions or
> directions about this type of hardware.
> Is it normal when I push the release button it pulls out at 1 inch only?
> And when drag it manually it slides not too smoothly.
> The whole construction looks very unsafe: is it safe to use much force to
> compress the fingers by pushing down CD?
>

It may be normal for it to only pop out for one inch and you have to pull it
out the rest of the way. When you drag it fully open though, it should drag
smoothly or at least have very little resistance.
If/when you push down a CD on the center spindle, just to be safe I would
support under the platform of the spindle with my other hand so as not to
break the drive.
You didn't ask, but I'll give you advice anyway, if I had any suspicion the
drive isn't working as it should I'd call Dell. It's a new computer and
should work correctly and if not I think Dell will be helpful in fixing it.
Dave