I need to seek the help of computer experts again (Dell)..

[vi5]

I have a dimension 4600. It's got 2 disc drives on the top, a cd and then on top of that a dvd drive.

I just bout a dvd writer drive and I want to take out my old one and install my new one. But I'll be damned if I can get to the thing. Many of the screws and such seem to be hidden under parts of the panel.

Anyone familiar with the machine and how I would go about doing this?

[democracyindanger]

1. Don't own one but

I'd expect that all the plastic should be able to be removed from the metal frame, so look for the fasteners that hold the plastic on.

[Ian David]

2. You need to rent one of these

[okieinpain]

6. uh, should you have that out in public. jesus you du'ers are

exhibitionist.

[okieinpain]

3. try this

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4600/en/4600i/sm/parts.htm#1152058

[vi5]

11. Thank you...idiot me couldn't find that page.

[Worst Username Ever]

4. Have you done this before?

It can get pretty tricky, they often aren't something you can just swap out...

[vi5]

5. Well, I just installed a new internal hard drive...

..and set it up as a secondary slave drive.

It looks like most of the same connections, just in a different location.

[BlueJazz]

8. Don't forget about the jumpers..

.. Master/Slave

[okieinpain]

9. hey, don't forget to make the dvd burner the master, or first on

the data chain.

[vi5]

10. How come?

Right now a cd burner is the first on the IDE cable and the DVD drive is second.

[sendero]

7. I've done this umpteen times..

... but I've never had a Dell.

Most of the time if you will patiently examine everything you'll find the answer. It usually is not a huge production, because after all, many of these computers will be serviced by Dell themselves they don't want to waste an hour of labor to replace a drive.

What the earlier post said about removable plastic panels is a step in the right direction.