If you're not sure whether your laptop needs a new optical drive, there are a few ways to diagnose the issue. Older laptops typically have a DVD drive, while newer models don't. This is because manufacturers are finding ways to maximize space, battery life and cooling. To diagnose the optical drive, you may need certain types of optical media, such as a CD-RW, DVD-RW or Blu-Ray disc.
Before beginning the diagnosis process, make sure you have the right tools to fix the problem.If you don't want to replace the internal optical drive, you can install a laptop unit in an external case that you can easily connect and disconnect from your laptop.