I have an old desktop Dell Dimension L866r with the following DVD/CD-ROM drives:
HP CD-Writer+ 8290 USB Device
_NEC DV-5800A
Somehow the CD/DVD tray got broken off of the tower when it was open. I would like an internal DVD burner/CD player to replace this drive. Having trouble finding a combo unit to fit . Dell states I need A PATA type device(whatever that means)I don't know what to look for CD-RW,DVD+RW or minus(-) Which is which? Sorry for my stupidity .....please help

Those things are modular & just about any $30 standard (desktop) internal IDE DVD Burner will work, unless your Dell case is moulded abnormally.

**Having trouble finding a combo unit to fit**
I looked up the PC and i just see the regular CDRom in it.
If I was you, I would buy a DVD writer and that also has cd writing capabilites.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?in...
The one I sent you is black, you can search for a white one, but it shows you what type of price they run.
Inexpensive and just the features that you need.

Some HELP in posting on Cnet plus free progs and instructions Glad to Help!

Internal 16X or 18X double layer +/- DVD/CD/RW IDE or PATA.This is a universal CD or DVD Writer.IDE is also called PATA.This is good for almost all current CD or DVD formats.DVD-R and CD-R are good choices for permanent copy.Double layer is a lot more costly.Rewritable is also useful for temporary jobs you will ersase later on.Try getting one with a DVD copy program or look for those programs over the web.Some can print a DVD or CD title on the other side.They are all good these days.

XpUser4real... With my external CD Burner I can play OR RECORD CD'S but I need another drive to play the CD's in while burning them. The DVD burner you mention will alow this? ALSO In order to burn a DVD movie using this one, I take it that I will need to use the DVD drive to play and save on the hard drive and then burn it from there?

Hi Nettie,
Yes, you can do what you are asking on both counts.

Some HELP in posting on Cnet plus free progs and instructions Glad to Help!

OK, so if I want to copy a DVD movie I will put it in the drive and save on hard drive ..then use same drive to copy. I use the drive to play music CD's to copy from my HP CD-writer USB device. Think I have it down now Thanx so much to all!!

DVD Copy has a free trial, you can copy 5 DVD's for free and then it is only $29.95
http://www.avsmedia.com/DVDCopy/ind...

I've used it and it works great for any DVD to be copied. It copies the DVD to your HD, bear in mind, movies eat up lots of memory.

Some HELP in posting on Cnet plus free progs and instructions Glad to Help!

yes, most people use the same drive to read the disc to hard drive and then same drive to burn the new disc. Exactly how this is done depends on software you are using, eg. If you use Nero express and tell it you want to copy disc,you put original disc in the drive,it then copies it to hard drive, the drawer then opens itself and you get a message on screen saying please insert blank disc,it then burns the disc and when finished, the drawer opens again, you then exit nero and nero automatically removes what it saved on the hard disc.
this is 'safer' than copying straight from one drive to another. If you are copying straight from one drive to another you have more chance of a failed burn if the drive reading the disc falters for moment,and you get a Buffer Under-run error. Some drives mention buffer under-run protection but i still think going via the hard drive gives best chance of good copy (and of course you only need one cd/dvd drive)

You Guys are GREAT. Thanx bunch for the help. I know what to buy now and how to use it!!

Keep in mind guys that my old comp is:
863Mhz
P3CPU
512Megs Ram
Hard Drive C:15.5 Gb
D:65.6 Gb
Win XP Pro SP2

I need a burner with the software bundle that will accomidate with my old comp.
I have checked many specs and they all require 1-2.4 ghz systems.