Question 1

Is the plug into the player unit an HDMI Mini, an HDMI Micro, or something else entirely?

Accepted Answer

It's a DVD writer not a standalone portable DVD player.  A computer will be required for any functionality to happen so that means it's a USB connection.  It simply reads and writes to discs!

Question 2

Is it compatible with Windows 7?

Accepted Answer

Compatibility-Windows 2000 / XP / Vista / 7 / 8 & Linux, MAC OS

Question 3

how do you get discs in and out? slide tray or open top?

Accepted Answer

First it must be attached to a computer by the usb cord. There is a small button on the front that opens the tray. Also when I am telling my program to write to the disc, the program opens the tray automatically. Hope this helps.

Question 4

Does this play blu-ray?  Item is listed in Home > Components > CD / DVD / Blu-Ray Burners, but description doesn't mention blu-ray capability.

Accepted Answer

No sadly, this one does not.  I imagine it's listed just due to it having 2/3 of the ability perhaps.  Anyway, you may look into the Pioneer BDR-XD05 if it's still available, I picked up one of those around the same time as this and I go to it more often... perhaps there's an even newer version available.  It plays and burns BR if you require that part.

Question 5

Does this unit come with a USB cable ?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  One end of the cable has Mini-B connector to plug into the drive and the other end of the cable is a Type-A connector.

Question 6

Does it work with windows 7?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I've used mine extensively with both Windows 7 and Ubuntu Linux, and it is fine with both.

Question 7

Can I also use this for my CD disks?

Accepted Answer

I wouldn't see a reason why you couldn't use it for your CD disks. It will write those type of disks, so it should read them as well.

Question 8

Can I use this drive to download software from CDs to laptop?

Accepted Answer

I have used this drive to install programs into my laptop with no problems, once the drive is plugged to the USB port, it is seen as a regular CD/DVD drive by windows.
If it is used to install an operating system, like windows or linux, it is important to check that the laptop is capable to boot from a USB device, this can be configured from the BIOS menu. Most recent-model laptops will be configured to detect USB devices like this DVD drive and allow boot from it, in older laptops, it may be necessary to configure BIOS manually to allow boot from USB.

Question 9

Can this be used to install stuff, like Windows, games, and watch movies?

Accepted Answer

I have been able to install windows and Linux OS and many programs using this drive. it is recognized by all PCs I have tested it on for far (as long as the PC has native USB support, but most relatively recent computers have it).
Can playback DVDs (on Windows 8 and 8.1 a separate software is needed to playback DVD video because Windows Media is not included, but it will read CD-ROM and Audio-CDs, windows 7 and earlier will play DVD on this drive using Windows Media)

Question 10

So I am building a new pc and my case doesn't have the 5.25 optical drive slot. I have seen that this works to be able to install Win10 on a new build. My question is, In the Bios, would I have to set the USB to 1st boot priority, or would I set an optical drive to 1st boot priority?

Accepted Answer

Hi, the answer should be set USB as 1st priority. Since this is a NEW build, the motherboard is likely to be UEFI [versus the old MBR} and you may not be able to set a Boot priority {depends on the motherboard design}. If your hard drive is less than 2.2TB, setting the motherboard to MBR would be more to your liking.

Questions & Answers