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This illustrated guide explains how you can replace the optical drive (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-RW) on a Toshiba Satellite A50 or A55 laptop. Both models are the same, so disassembly steps will be the same too.
UPDATE: The page I was linking to is gone. You can use a guide for Tecra A2 posted at www.irisvista.com/tech/ it’s similar to Satellite M55. I posted drive removal and replacement instructions in the comment 12.
The author says:
Make sure that front panel of new DVD-ROM / DVD-RW (next will be mentioned as DVD-ROM) is approximately similar to old one.
I would say it has to be exactly the same, not just approximately similar. Even though all front panels look the same, they might be different mounting point, so make sure the new drive comes with the front panel.
The author says:
Insert paper clip to emergency hole (F) in order to eject DVD-ROM. Carefully remove DVD-ROM from the notebook.
Yes, you can open the optical drive with a paper clip and then carefully pull if from the laptop, but I don’t think it’s necessary. After you lift up the keyboard, as it shown on the step 5, and remove the screw E securing the optical drive, as it shown on the step 6, you can push the optical drive from the laptop with a screwdriver without opening it with a paper clip.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, take a look at this disassembly guide (step 13). I wrote this guide for a Tecra A2 laptop and it’s similar to Satellite A50/A55.
The best way to find a new replacement optical drive for you laptop is searching by the part number. Usually you can find the part number on the old defective optical drive and it looks something like that: P000417120
If you install a wrong optical drive, you can get IDE error message after the replacement.
Find the part number and google for it. If you have a Toshiba laptop purchased in the United States and cannot locate the part number for your optical drive, leave a comment with the laptop model and laptop part number and I’ll help you to find the part number for you optical drive.
July 17th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
@ hassan,
The following DVD drives listed for your laptop: V000121910, V000123260, V000121920, V000126880, V000121930.
July 17th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
i
I have a Toshiba laptop purchased in the United States and cannot locate the part number for my optical drive. please help me to find it.
Toshiba satellite l305-S5919
Mdel no:PSL B8U-0JG037
i would like to replace my optical drive : cddvdw tsstcorp st-l633a ATA device (doesn t work)
February 27th, 2011 at 8:18 am
John,
It’s hard to tell without looking at both drives. I think you can. I believe both laptops have IDE optical drive installed.
But you’ll have to transfer the front plate. These optical drives have different front plates.
February 26th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
I have an old Toshiba Satellite A85-S107 that has a broken CD/DVD drive. I saw the part numbers listed for this model earlier (very helpful.) I am wondering if other datellite models have compatible drives. Specifically, I am looking at a A215-S7433 listed on Craigslist. Could I swap the drive from this into my machine?
Thanks,
John
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:11 am
Thanks!! It’s a Toshiba A205-S5843. The UJ-850 drive came installed in this model.
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Gene,
If your laptop was purchased in the USA and you can give me the laptop model number, I can look up Toshiba part number for the replacement CD/DVD drive. After that you just google the part number or search it on eBay.
March 1st, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Checking connections should be a part of the trouble-shooting flowchart when possible. The bad connection meant this Matshita UJ850S would show up on the BIOS bootscreen,the drive would work for a time in Windows then mysteriously drop off the Explorer and Device Manager until reboot. Now after two days this drive functions normally reading and writing DVDs and CDs.
If I ever have to replace this drive,do you have any suggestions over what I’m using now?
February 27th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Gene,
Apparently the drive had bad contact with the motherboard. Yep, sometimes reseating connections does fix the problem.
February 27th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
I had a problem with the DVD drive icon vanishing off Windows Explorer on my Toshiba A205. I did all the recommended software fixes,but still had the problem. So Google brought me here.
Your quick and easy guide to removing the drive really did help. I simply reseated the drive a few times and replaced the retaining screw. (Sometime connections go bad and re-seating helps) Acts fine now. If this problem returns,I’ll know replacing a dvd drive is as easy as replacing a light bulb.
Thanks!!
January 4th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Tiffany,
It would be helpful to know which part you are looking for.
If you are talking about the CD/DVD drive you can use one of the following: V000120910, V000120920, V000120930, V000121710. They all are double layer DVD super multi drives. You can use either one.