Hello

I have a Packard Bell PC imedia S1800 PC with a faulty CD-DVD drive that I have bought a replacement for from Acer.

Here is a photo attached (Photo 1) of the inside of the PC with one side panel removed (I cannot remove the other side panel because there are no OBVIOUS screws and it holds the motherboard).

The CD-DVD drive is held in a metal holder by two tiny screws (Photo2 attached), but when I remove the screws in this photo and disconnect the two cables attaching the CD-DVD drive to the motherboard, I cannot remove it. Is that because there are other screws on the other panel - which I cannot ACCESS?

I don't know why the CD-DVD drive won't budge - it should push out of the front of the PC, shouldn't it? There is what looks like a small press-down lever at the front of the CD-DVD drive inside the tower (Photo3 attached), but when I hold it down and press the CD-DVD drive forwards from the back of it, it still refuses to move.

What am I doing wrong, please?

[attachment deleted by admin to conserve space]There might be a mechanical lever to pull or push. Plastic front panel should be carefully removed to see if the other side is on a track and locked in on the track.Thanks for your reply.

This lever is a plastic one about the size of a nail on a little finger. It does move down but, as I say, nothing happens.

So I should remove the front casing?. I will give it a try but there are no visible screws there so I am not even sure how it is attached to the rest of the tower.

Thanks again.There should be plastic tabs that grab at the steel case. It will REQUIRE moving the tabs in a way that frees them up from grabbing. Some cases have tabs closest to you are the locking type and the ones furthest away deepest in case are a pivoting type. Otherwise it might be all locking type tabs so carefully free them up to get the front panel off without breaking them.Thanks, Dave

I will undo the case again (probably tomorrow) am d try what you suggest and post back.

Thanks againHere's the disassembly manual
Code: [Select]https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0ahUKEwieo8SysoDPAhUKuxQKHVKrC40QFgglMAI&url=ftp%3A%2F%2Fftp.packardbell.com%2Fpub%2Fitemnr%2Frefdocs02400100%2FIMediaDisManual.pdf&usg=AFQjCNHjSSn3WOp2OvxPBDSUw26Us7N9HQ&sig2=E9D_Ih_8mTu8qNYVVr3y_A&bvm=bv.131783435,d.d24&cad=rja
I suspect you have to remove the front of the case because the pictures show the drive sliding forward.

[attachment deleted by admin to conserve space]Hello Plodr

Yes, there is no room in the tower to slide the drive backwards even if the fan were removed.

I have a far better idea now about what to do and the PDF file looks just fine.

Thank you!

90 % of OPTICAL drives exit the front...never the rear.Thanks, Patio!Many thanks to you all.

I managed to remove the old drive and install the new one.

Cheers!Cool ... Hopefully no broken tab that got to the front panel. Sometimes they snap. Losing one isnt critical but losing more than 1 can make the front panel look weird on the case.
The "tab'' in pic 3 is prolly to hold the front plastic on the case. Usually 3. I have SEVERAL cases that I have/had to remove the front in order to remove the drive out the front. Some cases have a 'lever' that front cover removal is required to gain access to. Some have 1 or more screws holding the front to the case.

Even had one that required removing psu to remove drive 'towards the back'.

checkitout

-c-