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Resolved Question

Lightscribe burner for Dell XPS 420?

Nov 18, 2011 11:14AM PST

I wish to swap out one of my 2 DVD burners for a Lightscribe-capable DVD burner. The Dell store tells me that there is no DVD Lightscribe burner for my machine. True?

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dratner has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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He/she probably misunderstood the question.
Nov 18, 2011 1:41PM PST

Lightscribe burner can be install in any computer but you have to be sure the burner comes with the necessary supported software.

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Drive Panel Faceplate a problem?
Nov 18, 2011 8:56PM PST

I am wondering if the plastic drive panel faceplate that drops down as the tray ejects is a problem?
Thanks for answering.

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All drives are made to a standard . . .
Nov 18, 2011 10:56PM PST

The only difference may be the faceplate color.

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Most don't
Nov 18, 2011 10:57PM PST

Unless, the OEM maker supplies a drive tray panel that replaces the one currently installed, then *any* other drive will work. The part that flips down as it were is intended to give way and the std. drive tray panel is still attached to the drive you just installed. In other words the cases is separate from the drives. The drives don't have any special panel that attaches to "themselves". This should be an obvious feature you can check on. However, some PC drives did have tray panels that were part of the case and tray and NOT case alone.

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2 Bays
Nov 19, 2011 1:53AM PST

That computer has 2 bays for CD/DVD.
So like Willly said just put the new Lightscribe unit in the unused bay. The power is already there, unused and the new unit will come with a SATA cable to plug into the motherboard.
Dell support site gives a step by step in their service manual.
Also be sure to go to Lightscribe.com and get the latest udates for the Lightscribe software.
Lightscribe is great, but painfully slow.

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thank you all
Nov 19, 2011 3:18AM PST

Dell did inform me that any SATA Lightscribe DVD burner should work, although they have none in stock.
Thanks for helping!!!