How to Remove DVD Drive from Dell Desktop? Several Methods and Tips

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Where would we be without computers? Most computers have thousands of features and outputs such as the HDMI input, the USB input, and the disc tray that allow us to insert different media types on our devices. However, even though desktop computers are pretty easy to use, some things can be tricky to do. Therefore, we have to call out for professional help unless we want to ruin our computers. That is why in the following article, we are going to talk about some issues that cause us to panic immediately, but that can be easily solved, such as how to remove DVD drive from Dell desktop. 

How to remove DVD drive from Dell desktop

It is very tedious to insert a DVD or CD on our desktop computer, which gets stuck on it. If your unit is failing because it cannot expel a disc, you should follow the following steps according to your preferred method. The following explanation is specifically for Dell computers, similar to other brands. 

Method 1

You can expel the disc from the system by doing this: 

  1. Press and hold both the Windows key and the E key. This will open the File Explorer.
  2. Click on the option that says My PC.
  3. Now locate the CD/DVD unit icon and click the right button on your mouse.
  4. In the menu, select the option that says Expel. 

If the previous method didn’t work, you could try expelling the disc manually:

  1. Restart the computer.
  2. While it is restarting, press the F2 key.
  3. This will take you to the BIOS system where you have to click on the Expel button.
  4. The tray for the CD/DVD should get out of the device. If that is the case, you have to restart your computer again and use it as normal.

Tip: this second procedure is better when the problem doesn’t come from the computer’s system but the disc itself or something external. 

Method 2

The following method can only be done on computers that have a loading tray, and you will have to use a paperclip: 

  1. Mold your paperclip until it is in straight form.
  2. Turn off your computer.
  3. Look for the loading tray, and locate a little hole that should be next or above to the Expel button.
How to remove DVD drive from dell desktop
  1. Insert the paperclip into the little hole and gently press. You can repeat this step many times until it works, but be careful when doing it. 
  2. Pull the tray slowly, only if it isn’t resisting. 
  3. Once you have taken the disc out, press the Expel button to close back the tray.

Method 3

This final method is a little bit more laborious but manageable with patience. This is in case none of the previous steps worked for you, or you would like to change the drive. You will disarm the DVD drive from your computer doing this procedure: 

  1. First of all, you have to unplug the computer and take it to a big, secured space. 
  2. Remove the side panel by putting the computer upright and pushing the release button.
  3. Underneath the side panel, you will see the drive panel, which is in charge of releasing the disc. Pull the system down to take it off the device.
  4. Now that it is out, you can take it to a repair system or insert a new drive, always making sure the screws of the drive and the device match.

What to do if your computer doesn’t recognize your disc

On some occasions, no matter how many times you put your CD or DVD, it doesn’t appear on any part of your computers, such as the File Explorer or the Desktop, or even though it shows, it doesn’t run. To try to solve the issue, you can follow the following steps: 

  1. Go to the main menu icon of your computer and right-click on your mouse.
  2. In the new menu, select the option that says Device Manager.
  3. you will see a new window where all the devices of your computer are grouped. In this case, you need to click on the DVD/CD-ROM drives to look for resource conflicts. There would be different signs according to what the diagnoses say: 
  • If the device does have a problem it will appear a warning icon along with the words “Problem State”. It will explain the problem by a code, but it will still work even with issues.
  • When the device is completely disabled, a red X icon will appear. This means that the system doesn’t have a driver loaded,  so it won’t work at all.
  • If a blue i icon appears instead, this means that there isn’t a problem itself rather than a manual configuration that may be stopping the driver from working. 

If your device presents a conflict, you can fix it this way:

  1. Right-click on the CD/DVD drive option.
  2. In the new menu, select the option that says Properties.
  3. Go to the General tab to find the issue the device is presenting. 
  4. Click on Device status, this will explain the problem along with a series of steps to solve it depending on the issue.

How to update the CD/DVD driver

Updating the driver can solve, if not all, the problems, most of them, and it is a pretty straightforward process. You have to do the following:

  1. Once again go to the Device Manager by right clicking on the Start menu icon.
  2. Go to your devices.
  3. Now open the DVD/CD-ROM section by double-clicking on the option.
  1. Next, you have to right-click on your desired device.
  2. On the new menu, select the Update driver option, 
  3. You will see a new window where you can install the driver by selecting the option that states Search automatically for updated driver software. Now you just wait a couple of minutes until it is settled.

How to uninstall and reinstall the driver 

The following steps would be your last resource if the updating process didn’t work or solve your problem. Usually, this fixes most issues:

  1. Right-clicking on the Start menu icon to open Device Manager just like you would to update. 
  2. Go to your devices.
  3. Double click on the DVD/CD-ROM section to see your devices. 
  4. Locate the device you would like to uninstall and right-click on it.
  5. this time you have to select the Uninstall device option instead.
  1. Once the device is completely uninstalled you have to reboot the computer.
  2. When it restarts, the driver will automatically install and you can try running your disc again.

Why isn’t my DVD Drive working?

Many things can cause the same issue, in this case, that the DVD Drive of the computer starts failing or simply isn’t working at all. Next, we will talk about the most common reasons for this problem to help you understand your complication and solve it as quickly as possible. 

  1. Damaged disc: this is one of the most popular reasons for this type of issue. Sometimes the disc you are inserting is too old for your computer, or it is scratched. You can take out and look at the disc to see if it is in proper condition, otherwise, it is highly improbable that your computer is the problem.
  2. The software you currently have isn’t updated or available at all: this is a system issue that can be easily solved, you just have to do the previous method to install or update the DVD player as we explained earlier. 
  3. Another app is blocking the DVD player: sometimes, installing new software or apps causes interference to the ones that you already have. To stop this you need to uninstall the app you believe is causing the problem to check this is the source of it. 
  4. The driver is corrupted: if this is the case for your driver, it is very hard for Windows to load the device for the hardware. if the driver is completely damaged or physically bad, you have to completely replace it 

Final Lines on How to remove DVD drive from Dell desktop

A stuck disc or a drive that doesn’t work correctly are common problems among Dell computers. Fortunately, many ways and methods could solve our particular problem.

However, suppose you are struggling with a similar situation. In that case, we recommend you try the easiest procedures first, such as expelling the disc manually or from the system or looking for issues using the Device manager option. 

Also, if your specific problem needs other measures, we suggest having help from someone while dismantling your computer to avoid damage to your device. Either way, we hope this article was helpful, and your computer is running correctly.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Philip Urlanck
With a passion to anything tech, Philip has set himself apart from most by combining his love for gadgets and his love for writing. We are thrilled to have him as a member of our writing team and to learn many things about tech.