Installing a Blu-ray drive

Blu-ray is the successor to DVD, offering more storage space and better-quality videos. The extra storage space makes backups easier because fewer discs are required to copy all the information from a computer, or can be useful when sharing files with other people.

Playing high-definition video is a demanding task for a computer, so we recommend downloading the Cyberlink Blu-ray Disc Advisor. This utility will scan the hardware and software on a computer, and report on whether it is enough to play high-definition movies.

There are two kinds of Blu-ray drive and these connect to the computer in different ways – either with a serial ATA (Sata) cable or the older parallel ATA (Pata) connection. This video uses the Sata connection, and we recommend using this if available because it is faster and easier to fit. You will also need a screwdriver to fit the drive.

Remove the blanking plate at the front of the computer. If there are two drives fitted to the computer, you may need to remove one.

Slide the drive into place, aligning the screwholes on the drive with the holes on the case. Screw the drive in place, or use the case's equivalent – the computer in this video has special mounts that don't require any screws.

There are two cables connecting the drive to the motherboard, data and power. Plug the data cable into a free socket and into the drive. The cable has a key lip so that it is not possible to plug it in the wrong way round. The same is true for the power connector. Modern power supplies should have a Sata power cable, but there are adapters available if it does not.

The drive can be used without any extra software to read discs, but this may be required to watch high-definition movies, or to write information to the disc. This software should be supplied with the new drive. Put the CD into a drive and follow the instructions.