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Drives
User Guide
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Product notice
This user guide describes features that are common to most models. Some features may not be
available on your computer.
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Product notice
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Table of contents
2 Using an optical drive
3 Improving hard drive performance
4 Replacing the hard drive
5 Troubleshooting
The computer does not detect the optical drive ................................................................................. 21
The process of burning a disc does not begin, or it stops before completion .................................... 24
A device driver must be reinstalled .................................................................................................... 26
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1 Handling drives
Drives are fragile computer components that must be handled with care. Refer to the following cautions
before handling drives. Additional cautions are included with the procedures to which they apply.
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of damage to the computer, damage to a drive, or loss of information,
observe these precautions:
Before you move a computer or external hard drive from one location, initiate Sleep, and allow the screen
to clear.
Before handling a drive, discharge static electricity by touching the unpainted metal surface of the drive.
Do not touch the connector pins on a removable drive or on the computer.
Handle a drive carefully; do not drop a drive or place items on it.
Before removing or inserting a drive, shut down the computer. If you are unsure whether the computer
is off, in the Sleep state, or in Hibernation, turn the computer on, and then shut it down through the
operating system.
Do not use excessive force when inserting a drive into a drive bay.
Do not type on the keyboard or move the computer while the optical drive is writing to a disc. The write
process is sensitive to vibration.
When the battery is the only source of power, be sure that the battery is sufficiently charged before
writing to media.
Avoid exposing a drive to temperature or humidity extremes.
Avoid exposing a drive to liquids. Do not spray the drive with cleaning products.
Remove media from a drive before removing the drive from the drive bay, or traveling with, shipping, or
storing a drive.
If a drive must be mailed, place the drive in a bubble-pack mailer or other suitable protective packaging
and label the package “FRAGILE.”
Avoid exposing a drive to magnetic fields. Security devices with magnetic fields include airport walk-
through devices and security wands. The airport security devices that check carry-on luggage, such as
conveyor belts, use X-rays instead of magnetism and will not damage a drive.
1
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2 Using an optical drive
Your computer includes an optical drive that expands the functionality of the computer. Identify what
kind of device is installed in your computer to see its capabilities. The optical drive allows you to read
data discs, play music, and watch movies. If your computer includes a Blu-ray Disc ROM Drive, then
you can also watch high-definition video from disc.
2
Chapter 2 Using an optical drive
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Identifying the installed optical drive
Select Start > Computer.
▲
You will see a list of all the devices installed on your computer, including your optical drive. You may
have one of the following types of drives:
DVD±RW/R and CD-RW Double-Layer Combo Drive with Lightscribe
Blu-ray ROM with Lightscribe DVD±R/RW SuperMulti DL Drive
●
●
NOTE: Some of the drives listed above may not be supported by your computer.
Identifying the installed optical drive
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Using optical discs
An optical drive, such as a DVD-ROM drive, supports optical discs (CDs and DVDs). These discs store
information, such as music, photos, and movies. DVDs have a higher storage capacity than CDs.
Your optical drive can read standard CD and DVD discs. If your optical drive is a Blu-ray Disc ROM
Drive, it can also read Blu-ray discs.
NOTE: Some of the optical drives listed may not be supported by your computer. The listed drives are
not necessarily all of the supported optical drives.
Some optical drives can also write to optical discs as described in the following table.
Optical drive type
Write to CD-RW
Write to DVD±RW/R
Write to DVD+R DL
Write label to
LightScribe CD or
DVD±RW/R
DVD±RW/R and CD-
RW Double-Layer
Combo Drive with
Lightscribe
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Blu-ray ROM with
Lightscribe DVD±R/
RW SuperMulti DL
Drive
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
CAUTION: To prevent possible audio and video degradation, loss of information, or loss of audio or
video playback functionality, do not initiate Sleep or Hibernation while reading or writing to a CD or DVD.
4
Chapter 2 Using an optical drive
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Selecting the right disc
An optical drive supports optical discs (CDs and DVDs). CDs, used to store digital data, are also used
for commercial audio recordings and are convenient for your personal storage needs. DVDs are used
primarily for movies, software, and data backup purposes. DVDs are the same form factor as CDs but
have 6 to 7 times the storage capacity.
NOTE: The optical drive on your computer may not support all the types of optical discs discussed in
this section.
CD-R discs
Use CD-R (write-once) discs to create permanent archives and to share files with virtually anyone.
Typical uses include the following:
Distributing large presentations
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●
●
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Sharing scanned and digital photos, video clips, and written data
Making your own music CDs
Keeping permanent archives of computer files and scanned home records
Offloading files from your hard drive to free up disk space
After data is recorded, it cannot be erased or written over.
CD-RW discs
Use a CD-RW disc (a rewritable version of a CD) to store large projects that must be updated frequently.
Typical uses include the following:
Developing and maintaining large documents and project files
Transporting work files
●
●
●
●
Making weekly backups of hard drive files
Updating photos, video, audio, and data continuously
DVD±R discs
Use blank DVD±R discs to permanently store large amounts of information. After data is recorded, it
cannot be erased or written over.
DVD±RW discs
Use DVD+RW discs if you want to be able to erase or write over data that you saved earlier. This type
of disc is ideal for testing audio or video recordings before you burn them to a CD or DVD that cannot
be changed.
LightScribe DVD+R discs
Use LightScribe DVD+R discs for sharing and storing data, home videos, and photos. These discs are
read-compatible with most DVD-ROM drives and DVD video players. With a LightScribe-enabled drive
and LightScribe software, you can write data to the disc and then add a designer label to the outside of
the disc.
Selecting the right disc
5
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Blu-ray Disc
Also called BD, Blu-ray Disc is a high-density optical disc format for the storage of digital information,
including high-definition video. A single-layer Blu-ray Disc can store 25 GB, over five times the size of
the 4.7-GB single-layer DVD. A dual-layer Blu-ray Disc can store 50 GB, almost 6 times the size of the
8.5-GB dual-layer DVD.
Typical uses include the following:
Storage of large amounts of data
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High-definition video playback and storage
6
Chapter 2 Using an optical drive
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Playing a CD or DVD
1. Turn on the computer.
2. Press the release button (1) on the drive bezel to release the disc tray.
3. Pull out the tray (2).
4. Hold the disc by the edges to avoid touching the flat surfaces and position the disc label-side up
over the tray spindle.
NOTE: If the tray is not fully accessible, tilt the disc carefully to position it over the spindle.
5. Gently press the disc (3) down onto the tray spindle until the disc snaps into place.
6. Close the disc tray.
If you have not yet configured AutoPlay, as described in the following section, an AutoPlay dialog box
opens. It prompts you to select how you want to use the media content.
Playing a CD or DVD
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Configuring AutoPlay
1. Select Start > Control Panel > Play CDs or other media automatically.
2. Confirm that the Use AutoPlay for all media and devices check box at the upper left of the
computer screen is selected.
3. Click Choose a default, and then select one of the available options for each media type listed.
4. Click Save.
NOTE: For more information about AutoPlay, refer to Windows Help.
8
Chapter 2 Using an optical drive
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Changing DVD region settings
Most DVDs that contain copyrighted files also contain region codes. The region codes help protect
copyrights internationally.
You can play a DVD containing a region code only if the region code on the DVD matches the region
setting on your DVD drive.
CAUTION: The region settings on your DVD drive can be changed only 5 times.
The region setting you select the fifth time becomes the permanent region setting on the DVD drive.
The number of region changes remaining is displayed on the DVD Region tab.
To change settings through the operating system:
1. Select Start > Computer > System properties.
2. In the left pane, click Device Manager.
NOTE: Windows includes the User Account Control feature to improve the security of your
computer. You may be prompted for your permission or password for tasks such as installing
software, running utilities, or changing Windows settings. Refer to Windows Help for more
information.
3. Click the plus sign (+) next to DVD/CD-ROM drives.
4. Right-click the DVD drive for which you want to change region settings, and then click
Properties.
5. Click the DVD Region tab, and change settings.
6. Click OK.
Changing DVD region settings
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Observing the copyright warning
It is a criminal offense, under applicable copyright laws, to make unauthorized copies of copyright-
protected material, including computer programs, films, broadcasts, and sound recordings. Do not use
this computer for such purposes.
CAUTION: To prevent loss of information or damage to a disc, observe the following guidelines:
Before writing to a disc, connect the computer to a reliable external power source. Do not write to a disc
while the computer is running on battery power.
Before writing to a disc, close all open programs except the disc software you are using.
Do not copy directly from a source disc to a destination disc or from a network drive to a destination
disc. Save the information to your hard drive, and then burn from your hard drive to the destination disc.
Do not use the computer keyboard or move the computer while the computer is writing to a disc. The
write process is sensitive to vibration.
NOTE: For details about using software included with the computer, refer to the software
manufacturer’s instructions, which may be provided on disc, in the software Help, or on the
manufacturer's Web site.
10 Chapter 2 Using an optical drive
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Copying a CD or DVD
1. Select Start > All Programs > CyberLink DVD Suites > Power2Go.
2. Insert the disc you want to copy into the optical drive.
3. Click Copy at the bottom right of the screen.
4. When prompted, remove the source disc from the optical drive and insert a blank disc into the drive.
After the information is copied, the disc you created ejects automatically.
Copying a CD or DVD 11
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Creating or “burning” a CD or DVD
If your computer includes a CD-RW, DVD-RW, or DVD±RW optical drive, you can use software such
as Windows Media Player or CyberLink Power2Go to burn data and audio files, including MP3 and WAV
music files. To burn video files to a CD or DVD, use MyDVD.
Observe the following guidelines when burning a CD or DVD:
Before burning a disc, save and close any open files and close all programs.
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●
A CD-R or DVD-R is usually best for burning audio files because after the information is copied, it
cannot be changed.
NOTE: You cannot create an audio DVD with CyberLink Power2Go.
Because some home and car stereos will not play CD-RWs, use CD-Rs to burn music CDs.
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●
A CD-RW or DVD-RW is generally best for burning data files or for testing audio or video recordings
before you burn them to a CD or DVD that cannot be changed.
DVD players used in home systems usually do not support all DVD formats. Refer to the user guide
that came with your DVD player for a list of supported formats.
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●
An MP3 file uses less space than other music file formats, and the process for creating an MP3
disc is the same as the process for creating a data file. MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players
or on computers with MP3 software installed.
To burn a CD or DVD, follow these steps:
1. Download or copy the source files into a folder on your hard drive.
2. Insert a blank CD or DVD into the optical drive.
3. Select Start > All Programs, and then select the name of the software you want to use.
NOTE: Some programs may be located in subfolders.
4. Select the kind of CD or DVD you want to create—data, audio, or video.
5. Right-click Start, click Explore, and navigate to the folder where the source files are stored.
6. Open the folder, and then drag the files to the drive that contains the blank optical disc.
7. Initiate the burning process as directed by the program you have selected.
For specific instructions, refer to the software manufacturer's instructions, which may be provided with
the software, on disc, or on the manufacturer's Web site.
CAUTION: Observe the copyright warning. It is a criminal offense, under applicable copyright laws,
to make unauthorized copies of copyright-protected material, including computer programs, films,
broadcasts, and sound recordings. Do not use this computer for such purposes.
12 Chapter 2 Using an optical drive
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Removing an optical disc (CD or DVD)
1. Press the release button (1) on the drive bezel to release the disc tray, and then gently pull out the
tray (2) until it stops.
2. Remove the disc (3) from the tray by gently pressing down on the spindle while lifting the outer
edges of the disc. Hold the disc by the edges and avoid touching the flat surfaces.
NOTE: If the tray is not fully accessible, tilt the disc carefully as you remove it.
3. Close the disc tray and place the disc in a protective case.
Removing an optical disc (CD or DVD) 13
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3 Improving hard drive performance
Using Disk Defragmenter
As you use the computer, files on the hard drive become fragmented. Disk Defragmenter consolidates
the fragmented files and folders on the hard drive so that the system can run more efficiently.
After you start Disk Defragmenter, it works without supervision. Depending on the size of your hard drive
and the number of fragmented files, Disk Defragmenter may take more than an hour to complete. You
may want to set it to run during the night or another time when you do not need access to your computer.
HP recommends defragmenting your hard drive at least once a month. You may set Disk Defragmenter
to run on a monthly schedule, but you can defragment your computer manually at any time.
To run Disk Defragmenter:
1. Select Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter.
2. Click Defragment now.
NOTE: Windows® includes the User Account Control feature to improve the security of your
computer. You may be prompted for your permission or password for tasks such as installing
software, running utilities, or changing Windows settings. Refer to Windows Help for more
information.
For additional information, access the Disk Defragmenter software Help.
Using Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup searches the hard drive for unnecessary files that you can safely delete to free up disk
space and help the computer to run more efficiently.
To run Disk Cleanup:
1. Select Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions.
14 Chapter 3 Improving hard drive performance
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4 Replacing the hard drive
CAUTION: To prevent information loss or an unresponsive system:
Shut down the computer before removing the hard drive from the hard drive bay. Do not remove the
hard drive while the computer is on, in the Sleep state, or in Hibernation.
If you are not sure whether the computer is off or in Hibernation, turn the computer on by pressing the
power button. Then shut down the computer through the operating system.
To remove the hard drive:
1. Save your work.
2. Shut down the computer and close the display.
3. Disconnect all external devices connected to the computer.
4. Unplug the power cord from the AC outlet.
5. Turn the computer upside down on a flat surface.
6. Remove the battery from the computer.
7. With the hard drive bay toward you, loosen the 2 hard drive cover screws (1).
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8. Lift the hard drive cover away from the computer (2).
9. Remove the 3 hard drive screws.
16 Chapter 4 Replacing the hard drive
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10. Pull the hard drive tab to the left (1), and then lift the hard drive away from the computer (2).
To install a hard drive:
1. Insert the hard drive into the hard drive bay (1).
2. Slide the hard drive to the right until it snaps into place (2).
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3. Replace the 3 hard drive screws.
4. Align the tabs (1) on the hard drive cover with the notches on the computer.
5. Close the cover (2).
6. Tighten the hard drive cover screws (3).
18 Chapter 4 Replacing the hard drive
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The optical disc tray does not open for removal of a CD or
DVD
1. Insert the end of a paper clip (1) into the release access in the front bezel of the drive.
2. Press in gently on the paper clip until the disc tray is released, and then pull out the tray (2) until it
stops.
3. Remove the disc (3) from the tray by gently pressing down on the spindle while lifting the outer
edges of the disc. Hold the disc by the edges and avoid touching the flat surfaces.
NOTE: If the tray is not fully accessible, tilt the disc carefully as you remove it.
4. Close the disc tray and place the disc in a protective case.
20 Chapter 5 Troubleshooting
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The computer does not detect the optical drive
If Windows does not detect an installed device, the device driver software may be missing or corrupted.
If you suspect that the DVD/CD-ROM drive is not being detected, verify that the optical drive is listed in
the Device Manager utility.
1. Remove any discs from the optical drive.
2. Click Start and type device managerin the Start Search box.
As you type, search results are listed in the pane above the box.
3. In the results pane, click Device Manager. If prompted by User Account Control, click Continue.
4. In the Device Manager window, click the plus sign (+) next to DVD/CD-ROM drives, unless a minus
sign (-) is already showing. Look for an optical drive listing.
If the drive is not listed, install (or reinstall) the device driver as instructed in “A device driver must
be reinstalled” found later in this section.
The computer does not detect the optical drive 21
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A disc does not play
Save your work and close all open programs before playing a CD or a DVD.
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Log off the Internet before playing a CD or a DVD.
Be sure that you insert the disc properly.
Be sure that the disc is clean. If necessary, clean the disc with filtered water and a lint-free cloth.
Wipe from the center of the disc to the outer edge.
Check the disc for scratches. If you find scratches, treat the disc with an optical disc repair kit
available at many electronics stores.
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Disable Sleep mode before playing the disc.
Do not initiate Hibernation or Sleep while playing a disc. Otherwise, you may see a warning
message asking if you want to continue. If this message is displayed, click No. After you click No,
the computer may behave in either of the following ways:
Playback may resume.
– or –
The playback window in the multimedia program may close. To return to playing the disc, click
◦
◦
the Play button in your multimedia program to restart the disc. In rare cases, you may need
to exit the program and then restart it.
Increase system resources:
●
Turn off printers and scanners, and unplug cameras and portable handheld devices.
Disconnecting these Plug and Play devices frees up valuable system resources and results
in better playback performance.
◦
Change desktop color properties. Because the human eye cannot easily tell the difference
between colors beyond 16 bits, you should not notice any loss of color while watching a movie
if you lower system color properties to 16-bit color, as follows:
◦
1. Right-click on a blank area of the computer desktop, and select Personalize > Display
Settings.
2. Set Colors to Medium (16 bit), if this setting is not already selected.
22 Chapter 5 Troubleshooting
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A disc does not play automatically
1. Click Start and type autoplayin the Start Search box.
As you type, search results are listed in the pane above the box.
2. In the results pane, click Autoplay. If prompted by User Account Control, click Continue.
3. Select the check box for Use AutoPlay for all media and devices, and then click Save.
A CD or DVD should now start automatically when it is inserted into the optical drive.
A disc does not play automatically 23
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The process of burning a disc does not begin, or it stops
before completion
Be sure that all other programs are closed.
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Turn off Sleep mode and Hibernation.
Be sure that you are using the right kind of disc for your drive. See your user guides for more
information about disc types.
Be sure that the disc is inserted properly.
Select a slower write speed and try again.
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If you are copying a disc, save the information on the source disc to your hard drive before trying
to burn the contents to a new disc, and then burn from your hard drive.
Reinstall the disc-burning device driver located in the DVD/CD-ROM drives category in Device
Manager.
●
24 Chapter 5 Troubleshooting
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A DVD playing in Windows Media Player produces no
sound or display
Use DVD Play to play a DVD. DVD Play is installed on the computer, and it is also available from the
A DVD playing in Windows Media Player produces no sound or display 25
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A device driver must be reinstalled
1. Remove any discs from the optical drive.
2. Click Start and type device managerin the Start Search box.
As you type, search results are listed in the pane above the box.
3. In the results pane, click Device Manager. If prompted by User Account Control, click Continue.
4. In Device Manager, click the plus sign (+) next to the type of driver you want to uninstall and reinstall
(for example, DVD/CD-ROMs, Modems, and so on) unless the minus sign (-) is already showing.
5. Click a listed driver, and press the delete key. When prompted, confirm that you want to delete the
driver, but do not restart the computer.
Repeat for any other drivers you want to delete.
6. In the Device Manager window, click the Scan for hardware changes icon in the toolbar. Windows
scans your system for installed hardware and installs default drivers for any devices requiring
drivers.
NOTE: If you are prompted to restart the computer, save all open files, and then continue with
the restart.
7. Reopen Device Manager, if necessary, and then verify that the drivers are once again listed.
8. Try running your program again.
If uninstalling and reinstalling the default device drivers does not correct the problem, you may need to
update your drivers using the procedures in the following sections.
Obtaining the latest HP device drivers
You can obtain the latest HP device drivers in either of the following ways:
Using the HP Update Utility
Using the HP Web site
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●
To use the HP Update Utility:
1. Select Start > All Programs > HP > HP Update.
2. On the HP Welcome screen, click Settings and select a time when the utility should check for
software updates on the Web.
3. Click Next to immediately check for HP software updates.
To use the HP Web site:
2. Click the option for software and driver downloads, type your computer model number in the search
box, and then press enter.
– or –
If you want a specific SoftPaq, enter the SoftPaq number in the Search box, press enter, and follow
the instructions provided. Proceed to step 6.
26 Chapter 5 Troubleshooting
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3. Click your specific product from the models listed.
4. Click the Windows Vista® operating system.
5. When the list of drivers is displayed, click an updated driver to open a window containing additional
information.
6. Click Install now to install the updated driver without downloading the file.
– or –
Click Download only to save the file to your computer. When prompted, click Save and then select
a storage location on your hard drive.
After the file is downloaded, navigate to the folder where the file was stored, and double-click the
file to install.
7. If prompted to do so, restart your computer after the installation is complete, and then verify the
operation of the device.
Obtaining the latest Windows device drivers
You can obtain the latest Windows device drivers by using Microsoft® Update. This Windows feature
can be set to automatically check for and install updates for the Windows operating system and other
Microsoft products.
To use Microsoft Update:
2. Click Security & Updates.
3. Click Microsoft Update to get the latest updates for your computer operating system, programs,
and hardware.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Microsoft Update. If prompted by User Account Control,
click Continue.
5. Click Change settings and select a time for Microsoft Update to check for updates to the Windows
operating system and other Microsoft products.
6. If prompted to do so, restart your computer.
A device driver must be reinstalled 27
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Index
A
hard drive
installing 17
airport security devices
AutoPlay
removing 15
replacing 15
C
CD
M
copying 11
maintenance
playing
removing 13
O
optical disc
removing 13
D
optical discs, using
device drivers
drives
R
region codes, DVD
S
software
caring for
optical
See also hard drive; optical drive
T
troubleshooting
drives, optical drive
DVD
changing region setting
copying 11
playing
removing 13
DVD region settings
H
hard disk drive
installing 17
removing 15
replacing 15
28 Index
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