Drives User Guide
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Table of contents 1 Handling drives 2 Using an optical drive Identifying the installed optical drive ..................................................................................................... 3 Using optical discs ................................................................................................................................ 4 Selecting the right disc .........................................................................................................................
Index ...................................................................................................................................................................
1 Handling drives Drives are fragile computer components that must be handled with care. Refer to the following cautions before handling drives. Additional cautions are included with the procedures to which they apply. CAUTION: To reduce the risk of damage to the computer, damage to a drive, or loss of information, observe these precautions: Before you move a computer that is connected to an external hard drive, initiate Sleep and allow the screen to clear, or properly disconnect the external hard drive.
2 Using an optical drive Your computer includes an optical drive that allows you to read data discs, play music, and watch movies. If your computer includes a Blu-ray Disc drive, also know as a BD drive, you can also watch high-definition video from disc. Identify the kind of device installed in your computer to see its capabilities.
Identifying the installed optical drive ▲ Select Start > Computer. You will see a list of all the devices installed on your computer, including your optical drive. You may have one of the following types of drives: ● DVD-ROM Drive ● DVD±RW/R and CD-RW Combo Drive ● DVD±RW/R and CD-RW Combo Drive with Double-Layer (DL) support NOTE: Double-layer discs can store more data than single-layer discs.
Using optical discs Optical discs (CDs, DVDs, and BDs) store information such as music, photos, and movies. DVDs and BDs have a higher storage capacity than CDs. Your optical drive can read standard CD and DVD discs. If your optical drive is a BD drive, it can also read Blu-ray discs. NOTE: Some of the optical drives listed may not be supported by your computer. The listed drives are not necessarily all of the supported optical drives.
Selecting the right disc An optical drive supports optical discs (CDs, DVDs, and BDs). CDs, used to store digital data, are also used for commercial audio recordings and are convenient for your personal storage needs. DVDs and BDs are used primarily for movies, software, and data backup purposes. DVDs and BDs are the same size as CDs but have a much higher storage capacity. NOTE: The optical drive on your computer may not support all the types of optical discs discussed in this section.
Blu-ray Disc (BD) BD is a high-density optical disc format for the storage of digital information, including high-definition video. A single-layer BD can store 25 GB, over five times more than a single-layer DVD at 4.7 GB. A dual-layer BD can store 50 GB, almost 6 times more than a dual-layer DVD at 8.5 GB.
Playing an optical disc 1. Turn on the computer. 2. Press the release button (1) on the drive bezel to release the disc tray. 3. Pull out the tray (2). 4. Hold the disc by the edges to avoid touching the flat surfaces and position the disc label-side up over the tray spindle. NOTE: If the tray is not fully accessible, tilt the disc carefully to position it over the spindle. 5. Gently press the disc (3) down onto the tray spindle until the disc snaps into place. 6. Close the disc tray.
Configuring AutoPlay 1. Select Start > Control Panel > Play CDs or other media automatically. 2. Confirm that the Use AutoPlay for all media and devices check box is selected. 3. Click Choose a default, and then select one of the available options for each media type listed. 4. Click Save. NOTE: 8 For more information about AutoPlay, refer to Help and Support.
Changing DVD region settings Most DVDs that contain copyrighted files also contain region codes. The region codes help protect copyrights internationally. You can play a DVD containing a region code only if the region code on the DVD matches the region setting on your DVD drive. CAUTION: The region settings on your DVD drive can be changed only 5 times. The region setting you select the fifth time becomes the permanent region setting on the DVD drive.
Observing the copyright warning It is a criminal offense, under applicable copyright laws, to make unauthorized copies of copyrightprotected material, including computer programs, films, broadcasts, and sound recordings. Do not use this computer for such purposes. CAUTION: To prevent loss of information or damage to a disc, observe the following guidelines: Before writing to a disc, connect the computer to a reliable external power source.
Copying a CD or DVD 1. Select Start > All Programs > CyberLink DVD Suite > Power2Go. 2. Insert the disc you want to copy into the optical drive. 3. Click Copy at the bottom right of the screen. 4. When prompted, remove the source disc from the optical drive and insert a blank disc into the drive. After the information is copied, the disc you created is ejected automatically.
Creating (burning) a CD or DVD If the computer includes an optical drive that supports CD-RW, DVD-RW, or DVD+RW discs, you can burn data, video, and audio files, including MP3 and WAV music files, using software such as CyberLink Power2Go. Observe the following guidelines when burning a CD or DVD: ● Before burning a disc, save and close any open files and close all programs. ● A CD-R or DVD-R is usually best for burning audio files because after the information is copied, it cannot be changed.
Removing an optical disc 1. Press the release button (1) on the drive bezel to release the disc tray, and then gently pull out the tray (2) until it stops. 2. Remove the disc (3) from the tray by gently pressing down on the spindle while lifting the outer edges of the disc. Hold the disc by the edges to avoid touching the flat surfaces. NOTE: 3. If the tray is not fully accessible, tilt the disc carefully as you remove it. Close the disc tray and place the disc in a protective case.
3 Improving hard drive performance Using Disk Defragmenter As you use the computer, files on the hard drive become fragmented. Disk Defragmenter consolidates the fragmented files and folders on the hard drive so that the system can run more efficiently. After you start Disk Defragmenter, it works without supervision. Depending on the size of your hard drive and the number of fragmented files, Disk Defragmenter may take more than an hour to complete.
4 Replacing the hard drive CAUTION: To prevent information loss or an unresponsive system: Shut down the computer before removing the hard drive from the hard drive bay. Do not remove the hard drive while the computer is on, in the Sleep state, or in Hibernation. If you are not sure whether the computer is off or in Hibernation, turn the computer on by sliding the power switch. Then shut down the computer through the operating system. To remove the hard drive: 1. Save your work. 2.
9. Grasp the hard drive tab, and lift the hard drive away from the computer. To install a hard drive: 16 1. Insert the hard drive into the hard drive bay. 2. Gently press the hard drive down until it snaps into place. 3. Align the tabs (1) on the hard drive cover with the notches on the computer. 4. Close the cover (2). 5. Tighten the hard drive cover screws (3).
5 Troubleshooting The following sections describe several common issues and resolutions.
The optical disc tray does not open 1. Insert the end of a paper clip (1) into the release access in the front bezel of the drive. 2. Press in gently on the paper clip until the disc tray is released, and then pull out the tray (2) until it stops. 3. Remove the disc (3) from the tray by gently pressing down on the spindle while lifting the outer edges of the disc. Hold the disc by the edges and avoid touching the flat surfaces.
The computer does not detect the optical drive If the computer does not detect the optical drive, use Device Manager to troubleshoot the device and then update, uninstall, or disable the device driver: 1. Remove any discs from the optical drive. 2. Select Start > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Device Manager. If prompted by User Account Control, click Continue. 3. In the Device Manager window, click the plus sign (+) next to DVD/CD-ROM drives, unless a minus sign (-) is already showing.
A disc does not play ● Save your work and close all open programs before playing a disc. ● Log off the Internet before playing a CD or a DVD. ● Be sure that you insert the disc properly. ● Be sure that the disc is clean. If necessary, clean the disc with filtered water and a lint-free cloth. Wipe from the center of the disc to the outer edge. ● Check the disc for scratches. If you find scratches, treat the disc with an optical disc repair kit available at many electronics stores.
A disc does not play automatically 1. Select Start > Control Panel > Play CDs or other media automatically. 2. Confirm that the Use AutoPlay for all media and devices check box is selected. 3. Click Save. A disc should now start automatically when it is inserted into the optical drive.
A DVD movie stops, skips, or plays erratically ● Clean the disc. ● Conserve system resources by trying the following suggestions: ◦ Log off the Internet. ◦ Change the color properties of the desktop: 1. Right-click anywhere on the desktop except on an icon, and then select Personalize > Display Settings. 2. Set Colors to Medium (16 bit). ◦ 22 Disconnect external devices, such as a printer, scanner, camera, or handheld device.
A DVD movie is not visible on an external display 1. If both the computer display and an external display are turned on, press fn+f4 one or more times to switch between the 2 displays. 2. Configure the monitor settings to make the external display primary: a. Right-click on a blank area of the computer desktop, and select Personalize > Display Settings. b. Specify a primary display and a secondary display.
The process of burning a disc does not begin, or it stops before completion 24 ● Be sure that all other programs are closed. ● Turn off Sleep mode and Hibernation. ● Be sure that you are using the right kind of disc for your drive. See your user guides for more information about disc types. ● Be sure that the disc is inserted properly. ● Select a slower write speed and try again.
A DVD playing in Windows Media Player produces no sound or display Use MediaSmart to play a DVD. MediaSmart is installed on the computer and is also available from the HP Web site at http://www.hp.com. A device driver must be reinstalled To reinstall a device driver, follow these steps: 1. Remove any discs from the optical drive. 2. Select Start > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Device Manager. If prompted by User Account Control, click Continue. 3.
Obtaining HP device drivers Use either of the following procedures to obtain HP device drivers. To use the HP Update Utility: 1. Select Start > All Programs > HP > HP Update. 2. On the HP Welcome screen, click Settings, and then select a time when the utility should check for software updates on the Web. 3. Click Next to immediately check for HP software updates. To use the HP Web site: 26 1. Open your Internet browser, and go to http://www.hp.com/support. 2. Select your country or region. 3.
Index A airport security devices 1 AutoPlay 8 C CD burning 12, 24 copying 11 playing 7 removing 13 CD drive 2, 4 copyright warning 10 D device drivers HP drivers 26 Microsoft drivers 25 Disk Cleanup software 14 Disk Defragmenter software 14 disk performance 14 drives caring for 1 hard 15, 16 optical 2 See also hard drive; optical drive drives, optical drive 4 DVD burning 12, 24 changing region setting 9 copying 11 playing 7 removing 13 DVD drive 2, 4 DVD region settings 9 H hard disk drive installing 16 re
