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Question

Are laptop Blu-Ray drives universal fitting?

Jul 5, 2017 5:19AM PDT

What it says, really Confused

I have a spare laptop, an HP DV6, which I‘ve hooked up to my TV to watch films etc. The only thing I can’t manage is Blu-Ray disks, as the machine only has a DVD drive.

Now, eBay is full of used BR drives for laptops, but they’re for Acer, Lenovo etc. When I used to take laptops apart regularly years ago, I found that the optical drives were pretty much universal – you might have to change a little bracket at the back, and certainly the bezel at the front… then you were good to go.

So… if I buy an “Acer/Samsung/Fujitsu/etc” BR drive, will it definitely fit in my DV6 do you think?

Thanks Cool

Discussion is locked

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Answer
In this case, yes.
Jul 5, 2017 5:25AM PDT

You may not find a bezel to make it look like the original lines but here, the DV6 and 7's look like they take a standard drive.

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Answer
Second answer.
Jul 5, 2017 5:27AM PDT

To avoid this and prepare for the future I bought an USB BDRW drive. It was on sale for 55ish dollars.

I did this because I wanted to avoid the pain and cost of the BluRay player software.

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Answer
Thanks guys
Jul 5, 2017 9:16AM PDT

Think I was a little naive - I assumed, if the drive did fit, that I could take the bezel off my DVD drive and snap it on... no?

Thought about an external drive, but they seem to be a lot more expensive in the UK.

Not sure what you mean about software...? What do you think I need?

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BluRay player software is not free.
Jul 5, 2017 9:21AM PDT

So if you did get a cheap drive, today there is only one known free BR video app. I noted it at https://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/cnet-cheapskate-delivers-free-dvd-and-bluray-player-apps/

Good thing there is now one since so many folk rushed out to get a BluRay drive then went mad over the cost of video player software.

The USB external I picked up on sale for 57.24USD to my mail stop was https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008CNXXM4/ and included the player and burning software. Which meant I got the BDRW drive for free or the software (you pick.)

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Ah.
Jul 5, 2017 9:39AM PDT

God, I'd forgotten all this stuff... so long since I played a DVD on my laptop (I use the Blu-Ray player connected to my telly)!

I assumed VLC would just play it - thanks for reminding me BR's are protected Cry

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Neurons restored.
Jul 5, 2017 10:11AM PDT

I think you have all your facts now. The bezels are rarely interchangeable and the software to play BR Video is an issue.

The BR video player is the only FREE one I've found so far. I'm hoping someday someone will prove me wrong.

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Answer
Not universal
Jul 6, 2017 10:25AM PDT

While it may actually fit and plug-in that's not a given. many laptops have a design that conforms the physical cover or bezel to conform. Also, as already stated to you, it maybe better to just get an ext. BD-drive which *may* have s/w as well. Further, depending on your TV it may allow the ext. BD drive to be accepted but that's a guess but possible. On the same note, buying a BD TV player could if thats your main pleasure be fully capable of playing BD and DVDs but also have internet features to further expand your viewing. In other worlds dont count on a laptop BD player to be mountable in laptop case. If yours didnt come so equipped or as a option, forget about it. Of course, you can play around and come back with results, your choice.

tada -----Willy Happy