View Full Version : Replacement DVD drive for a Sony laptop.
We have a Sony VGN-N38E laptop (Model: PCG-7Y1M)
http://vaio.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProduct.action?product=VGN-N38E%2FW&productFilters=retired&site=voe_en_GB_cons&pageType=Overview&category=VN+N+Series
(bought in September 2007) with a faulty DVD drive (DVD drive model: UJ-850). We are looking for a replacement DVD drive for it. The laptop is out of warranty.
I looked around on the Internet for UJ-850 and got a quote from a company asking for £130 + postage and packing + VAT = £166.75
The manufacturer Sony won't supply me with a replacement drive, apparently the laptop would have to go for a repair, they haven't told me yet how much that would cost, but I don't expect it to be cheap.
If this was a desktop pc (rather than a laptop), I would just buy a generic DVD drive and install it. Does anyone know if there are generic laptop optical drives, which would be compatible, at a much more reasonable price than the price quoted?
We have a Sony VGN-N38E laptop (Model: PCG-7Y1M)
http://vaio.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProduct.action?product=VGN-N38E%2FW&productFilters=retired&site=voe_en_GB_cons&pageType=Overview&category=VN+N+Series
(bought in September 2007) with a faulty DVD drive (DVD drive model: UJ-850). We are looking for a replacement DVD drive for it. The laptop is out of warranty.
I looked around on the Internet for UJ-850 and got a quote from a company asking for £130 + postage and packing + VAT = £166.75
The manufacturer Sony won't supply me with a replacement drive, apparently the laptop would have to go for a repair, they haven't told me yet how much that would cost, but I don't expect it to be cheap.
If this was a desktop pc (rather than a laptop), I would just buy a generic DVD drive and install it. Does anyone know if there are generic laptop optical drives, which would be compatible, at a much more reasonable price than the price quoted?
Does it have to be internal (ie. do you not want to carry it about with the laptop)?
Have you thought about an external USB drive? Probably be about £40ish (haven't checked and the last one I bought about 3 years ago was a fancy one and was £90 so I'm basing it on that).
The user uses the laptop on trains, outside, to give presentations etc, so for ease of use, the drive must be internal.
Sapphire2803
17-Dec-08, 17:16
You can buy replacement slimline drives. You need to check though because some laptops have weird drives and a standard slimline won't fit. How easy it would be to replace also depends on the individual laptop, some are fairly straightforward, others you have to completely disassemble.
You can buy replacement slimline drives. You need to check though because some laptops have weird drives and a standard slimline won't fit. How easy it would be to replace also depends on the individual laptop, some are fairly straightforward, others you have to completely disassemble.
From experience I would say that it's likely to be a Sony proprietary part. If it's not it must be the only thing that is on the Vaio's that's not. Sony have a very bad habit of making everything on the Vaio's just that little bit smaller / bigger / have different connections or something else that makes using a common part difficult and gives them the excuse to charge you an arm and a leg for parts. It's the primary reason I dislike Vaio's so much.
I've lodged a query with a supplier to see if the part is available and how much it would cost. I'll come back to you when I find out.
Bobinovich
18-Dec-08, 00:06
Have you thought about Ebay (http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__UJ-850_W0QQ_nkwZUJQ2d850QQBrand3d75b67ZSony276947QQ_d mptZUKQ5fComputingQ5fLaptopAccessoriesQ5fLaptopDri vesQQ_flnZ1QQ_ssovZ1QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em282)? Widening the search (http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=UJ-850&_sacat=See-All-Categories) gives more possibilities :D!
Have you thought about Ebay? Widening the search gives more possibilities !
I am aware that there is a huge range of stuff on eBay, but I also hear stories of rif-offs. But, I doubt that the organisation that I work for (the owner of the laptop) would buy stuff via eBay.
I suppose if I could be sure that DVD drive model: UJ-850, was unique then I could try and widen my search, as suggested.
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