Member Avatar for Member #171093

Hi All

My first post. I have a Acer 660 laptop which has a duff CD / DVD rom combi drive. I need to replace it but Acer Support is charing 200 pounds for a replacement. The thing is I've seen similar drives on ebay for 20 pounds but what's the difference?

My model number is Quanta Storage Inc SBW242SE, UX16-M.

On ebay and elsewhere I can find a QSI SBS242 (but not SE) and no mention of UX16-M.

Is this a firmware issue? I'm planning on reinstalling my OS on the laptop too, if its a firmware issue is there an easy way to get around this, easy for a noddy!

many thanks
Scotjam

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Dani AI

Generated

Practical notes for anyone swapping a laptop slimline optical drive (follow-up to and the replies from , and ).

Things to confirm before buying

  • Interface: identify whether the existing drive is slimline PATA/IDE (wide multi‑pin connector) or slimline SATA (small keyed connector). Match the interface exactly.
  • Thickness: common slimline heights are 9.5 mm and 12.7 mm — match the new drive or be prepared to transfer the bezel/caddy.
  • Front bezel / retention: many replacements require moving the old front faceplate or retaining bracket to the new unit. Check screw/retainer locations.
  • Returns/warranty: cheap listings are fine if the seller accepts returns; OEM replacements cost more because they include warranty and support.

Safe swap and quick troubleshooting

  • Power off, unplug and remove the battery. Remove the access screw or bezel retainer, slide the tray/drive out, swap the bezel if needed, insert the replacement and secure it. Boot to BIOS first to confirm the drive is detected.
  • In Windows, Device Manager normally auto-installs a generic driver. If a drive is not visible, check BIOS detection, reseat the drive, and in Windows show hidden devices / uninstall any ghost DVD entries then scan for hardware changes.
  • If burning fails or media compatibility is poor, firmware can matter: firmware differences often affect write strategies, not basic read recognition. Firmware updates or cross-flashes are advanced and risky — prefer returning the unit if burning problems appear.

Short clarifications

  • “Master/slave” is a desktop IDE concept and is generally irrelevant for single internal laptop optical drives.
  • Keep the original bezel/retainer and the old drive until the replacement is fully tested, and buy from a seller with a reasonable return window.

Recommended Answers

All 7 Replies

Member Avatar for dcc

In a word...GREED!

I'm in the US so I'm not familiar with what retail stores you have online, but from what I've seen over here you will find as if not a better deal that what you will find on Ebay. You will also have a lot less hassle RMAing your purchase than doing this through a private sale.

Did you ask Acer for instructions for replacing the drive?

Member Avatar for Member #171093

Did you ask Acer for instructions for replacing the drive?

Yes. But not much use. I'm happy to buy the plain SBW242 but I need to know if anyone has any experience in dealing with firmware issues. I believe the firmware is what id different between a 242 and 242SE.

On a seperate website, someone mentioned that you can get a Master and a Slave version for a laptop. This is even more confusing!

Member Avatar for TheNNS

newegg.com has the best deals, ebay is a rippoff sometimes

Member Avatar for Member #171093

I don't see that helping. I checked the website and they do not stock a replacement cdrom dvdrom combi drive for the acer 660.

is there anyone out there who has experience of installing a standard QSI BW242 into an acer laptop? I see different versions of the same drive and I don't know if that's because of firmware issues?

p.s. ebay is selling the QSI SBW242 for 20 pounds which is good value IMHO

thanks!

Member Avatar for jbennet

Get the 20 quid one and if it doesnt work then you havent lost that much cash

Member Avatar for Member #171093

Get the 20 quid one and if it doesnt work then you havent lost that much cash

Just got the SBW242SS from ebay for 21quid. Will be testing it tonight on the Acer 660 to see if it works!

Here's hoping

Member Avatar for Member #171093

GREAT NEWS!!! IT WORKED. I simply rebooted the machine having taken out the old CDROM drive and inserted the new one and XP recognised it and added it in.

Brilliant news. Phew! and stuff Acer for asking nearly 200 quid for a replacement CDROM drive that only cost 20 quid on ebay.

:b

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