How to Build Your Own PC - Save A Buck And Learn A Lot  9  Chapter 5: Installing Drives       9  Installing the CD-RW Drive

Installing the CD-RW Drive 1 Removing the CD-RW Drive Bay Cover

The designation “52x24x52” means that the drive can write data at 52x speed, it can rewrite data at 24x speed, and it can read data at 52x speed. 1x speed is some standard set long ago in a time far away. Few remember exactly what that speed is. But, we remember that higher multiples mean a faster drive.

If you purchase CD-R disks that are rated at a slower speed than your maximum CD drive write speed, you can often use your operating system to adjust the speed at which the CD-RW drive will write. For example, in Windows XP, use the control panel to find the CD-RW and look at its properties. It will usually say it’s running its CD-RW write speed at its fastest possible setting, which is usually what you want. Simply find a slower setting, if the CD-R media requires it. This is handy if you have a 52x drive but can get a bunch of CD-R media free that writes only at 48x. Similar speed reductions can occur within your burning software, such as Nero.

Incidentally, if you examine advertisements from Best Buy and other computer stores, you’ll often find CD-R media really cheap, like free, after a mail-in rebate. These offers can be a bonanza for a PC person. You can even find 256 MB RAM chips free, after mail-in rebate. These offers are designed to draw customers into the store in the hope they’ll buy other things. I just head straight to the rebate items. Many times you can also purchase the item online, download the rebate, and skip the trip to the store.

Installing the CD-RW Drive 1 Removing the CD-RW Drive Bay Cover