New Dell
Jul 16, 2020 07:36:24 #
I got my new Dell XPS 8930 desktop, but I haven't set it up yet. I was disappointed to see that it didn't come with a DVD drive - my fault for not reading carefully. I'm also disappointed that I can't add one. The drive has to go into its little cage, but the computer didn't come with a cage because it didn't come with an optical drive. It did come with the wiring for the drive, though. Since it has the wiring, I'm tempted to find a way to attach a drive to the computer. It's one of those very thin drives - 9.5mm. The cage isn't sold separately, either. I have an external DVD drive I'll use when I need one. I have quite a few programs that came on a disk, so I'll need a drive to install them. There is room for two additional hard drives, but no power cables. If I don't find a couple around the house, I'll order some. One thing I'm doing to make life easier is labeling all the cables with a label maker. I don't have to trace a cable back to its source to find out what it operates.
Jul 16, 2020 09:07:39 #
dpfoto
Loc: Cape Coral, FL
I would contact Dell support. If they say you can't add an internal DVD drive, you can always add an external one. I just added an external drive yesterday for my wife's computer. I found it on sale at Staples for $39.99. Works like a charm!
If you can't get satisfaction from Dell support, send an ( very courteous) email to Michael Dell. He's the founder and CEO of Dell. He will bump it up to the highest level of support. I had a problem that they couldn't solve with a Dell laptop. They wound up replacing it with a better model. :)
I'm ver pleased with all of my Dell computers.
If you can't get satisfaction from Dell support, send an ( very courteous) email to Michael Dell. He's the founder and CEO of Dell. He will bump it up to the highest level of support. I had a problem that they couldn't solve with a Dell laptop. They wound up replacing it with a better model. :)
I'm ver pleased with all of my Dell computers.
Jul 16, 2020 11:09:50 #
dpfoto wrote:
I would contact Dell support. If they say you can'... (show quote)
Thanks! I should have noticed that an optical drive wasn't included. I've never bought a computer that didn't have one, and I would always add a second. Of course, they were the "thick" ones, and there were spaces available.
I have what I call a Baby Dell, about a foot high and 3" wide. That has one of those 9.5mm drives. Maybe it has a cage, and I can transplant it into the larger Dell. By the way, that XPS 8930 case comes apart differently from all the Dell cases of the past - a bit more finicky. Inserting the hard drive cages with drives installed was not easy. The cages slid right in when they were empty, but it was tough getting them in with a drive installed. That's part of the fun of having a computer - adding things.
Jul 16, 2020 14:34:55 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I got my new Dell XPS 8930 desktop, but I haven't ... (show quote)
Honestly, the day of optical media, like the day of magnetic media before it, has passed. First of all, you should make sure that the programs on optical media work on your current operating system {I still have some programs on floppy disks, but I'm not sure any of them have worked on anything since Win 3.3}. You may find you have very little future use for a DVD drive. Linux provides for creating a "backup system on a "thumb drive". Programs for my modern version of Linux are generally distributed via the web - which is the future.
Jul 16, 2020 17:43:32 #
Hamltnblue
Loc: Springfield PA
jerryc41 wrote:
I got my new Dell XPS 8930 desktop, but I haven't ... (show quote)
Jerry
Here's a link to your machine. There should be no problem putting a drive in. They take just a few minutes.
A Blue ray writer costs about 80 bucks.
If they didn't include a needed bracket I would call them and have it sent out.
Anything that is machine specific is playing the Apple game. PC parts are plentiful and cheap.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-desktop-computers/new-xps-tower/spd/xps-8930-desktop?gacd=9694607-1007-5761040-0-0&dgc=st&&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9b_4BRCMARIsADMUIyrN_q3AcSE7EMA6b576PohKuCIk5-hSPOA4vT_FGQmS1kpBt4W0XDsaAuUIEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#features_section
Jul 16, 2020 18:01:33 #
You can get optical drives with a USB connection.
Jul 17, 2020 07:17:24 #
Hamltnblue wrote:
Jerry br Here's a link to your machine. There sho... (show quote)
I spent time with two people on Chat. If I had ordered the machine with an optical drive, it would have come with the drive inside a cage. No drive - no need for a cage. Fortunately, it has two cages for hard drives. What I bought (the internal drive) is called a kit, so maybe the cage is included. I think it's arriving tomorrow, so I'll see what's inside the package. They sent me a return label if I don't want it.
Jul 17, 2020 07:18:02 #
DirtFarmer wrote:
You can get optical drives with a USB connection.
Yes, I bought one years ago. I just have to find it.
Jul 17, 2020 07:20:44 #
rehess wrote:
Honestly, the day of optical media, like the day o... (show quote)
Yes and no. It used to be that all programs came on a disk. Now, most of them are downloads. I like the security of having the program on a disk for re-installation. Aside from that, I have a lot of uses for an optical drive - music, video, copying.
Jul 17, 2020 07:36:37 #
Jul 17, 2020 07:59:49 #
My XPS 8930 was scheduled to arrive on the 29th, but the tracking info says it will be here today! I was puzzled as well about the optical drive issue, but I believe that I figured out correctly that you needed to affirmatively include it in the configuration. We’ll see. Looking forward to running Topaz apps without any the wait for processing!
Jul 17, 2020 08:00:43 #
Jerry, you can also use the little plastic clips that come with packages of bread and other things to label wiring.
Jul 17, 2020 08:02:58 #
rehess wrote:
Honestly, the day of optical media, like the day o... (show quote)
So are you implying that it’s time to get rid of my 5.25” floppies from my Apple II? But, I should definitely keep the 3.5” ones just in case.
Jul 17, 2020 08:07:46 #
02Nomad wrote:
Jerry, you can also use the little plastic clips that come with packages of bread and other things to label wiring.
No, I prefer the more high-tech solution. I feel foolish buying several dozen loaves of bread just for those little tabs.
Jul 17, 2020 09:52:44 #
dpfoto
Loc: Cape Coral, FL
jerryc41 wrote:
Yes and no. It used to be that all programs came on a disk. Now, most of them are downloads. I like the security of having the program on a disk for re-installation. Aside from that, I have a lot of uses for an optical drive - music, video, copying.
When I download a program, I then copy it to a CD. I then number the CD and enter it into my Excel "CD Library" file. Problem is, I now have 585 CDs & DVDs in my library.
The spreadsheet also shows the key codes for each program.
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