Hello all - please excuse length.
I have a Samsung Q320 laptop barely a year old. The TSST T633a DVD writer (x8) seems to have packed in after only just about working until then. Fool that I am, I didnt use the warranty before it expired.
I’ve come to the conclusion it’s bricked after it started making terrible noises, refused to read various discs, refused to burn on decent blanks (Verbatim), and in some cases refused to eject (slot loading, so that was quite tricky).
Now to the point: Samsung wanted £90+vat for a replacement, so I bought the same model drive from an eBay seller, but it’s marked as coming from a Dell machine. At least, I ORDERED the same model, they’ve sent the 633c. It fits, is recognised by the BIOS, but neither Linux (my primary OS) or Windows will boot. I’m writing this from Win safe mode.
Is there any reason why a “Dell” OEM TSST drive with Dell firmware that is in all other ways identical to a generic - or “even more generic” - TSST drive should cause problems in a non-Dell machine? I mean, if the model, make, drive is the same, it IS the same, right? I could send the drive back and get a 633A as I ordered, but will it make any difference anyway? Or could I crossflash this drive with non-Dell firmware?
Secondly, if it won’t play ball can I just buy ANY, newer, better, less flakey drive? I’m long used to tearing PCs apart and adding new components, but with laptops I always have this sneaking suspicion that they’ve… DONE SOMETHING to it
Any suggestions gratefully received…