Will a CD work sideways

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I dont have room to put my computer with the top up, so I have it on
it's side under the desk. I know the computer itself is fine this way
as well as floppy disks, but can a CD be used this way? Somehow I
dont think so, but I thought I'd ask. I guess my only option would be
to put the cd drive in one of those external USB cases, unless I add
on to the house, and thats not going to happen.......
 
I dont have room to put my computer with the top up, so I have
it on it's side under the desk. I know the computer itself is fine
this way as well as floppy disks, but can a CD be used this way?
Click to expand...

Yes, most drives work fine like that.
Somehow I dont think so, but I thought I'd ask.
Click to expand...

Easy to try. You'll find most trays have little things
that stop the CD falling out when the tray is open.
 
Rod Speed said:
Yes, most drives work fine like that.


Easy to try. You'll find most trays have little things
that stop the CD falling out when the tray is open.
Click to expand...
The answer varies by brand and model of CD drive.

Some CD drive drawers have adjustable slide locks that can be adjusted to
hold a CD when the drive is used in a vertical mode rather than horizontal.
One of my HP 9100 series old beasts has locks that can be moved to use the
drive in a vertical mode.

Others just have universal locks that work with the drive in either
position. One drive I saw used gravity to adjust the slide locks
automatically based on the drive's position.

The cheaper drives tend to only work when they are horizontal as the
manufacturer was too cheap to add the little locks to hold a CD while the
drawer is not in the horizontal position. For them an external USB chassis
is the best alternative.
 
GlowingBlueMist said:
The answer varies by brand and model of CD drive.

Some CD drive drawers have adjustable slide locks that can be
adjusted to hold a CD when the drive is used in a vertical mode
rather than horizontal. One of my HP 9100 series old beasts has locks
that can be moved to use the drive in a vertical mode.

Others just have universal locks that work with the drive in either
position. One drive I saw used gravity to adjust the slide locks
automatically based on the drive's position.
Click to expand...
The cheaper drives tend to only work when they are horizontal as the manufacturer was too cheap to
add the little locks to hold a CD while the drawer is not in the horizontal position.
Click to expand...

I havent seen any that dont have at least fixed things
that stop the CD falling out when the drive is vertical.
For them an external USB chassis is the best alternative.
Click to expand...

Or with DVD burners now so cheap, just get one that works fine vertical.
 
I dont have room to put my computer with the top up, so I have it on
it's side under the desk. I know the computer itself is fine this way
as well as floppy disks, but can a CD be used this way? Somehow I
dont think so, but I thought I'd ask. I guess my only option would be
to put the cd drive in one of those external USB cases, unless I add
on to the house, and thats not going to happen.......
Click to expand...

yes, they can, but they're tricky to load. Some models have little
clips that you can slide inward to facilitate the loading. Slot load
cds DO work sideways.
 
I dont have room to put my computer with the top up, so I have it on
it's side under the desk. I know the computer itself is fine this way
as well as floppy disks, but can a CD be used this way? Somehow I
dont think so, but I thought I'd ask. I guess my only option would be
to put the cd drive in one of those external USB cases, unless I add
on to the house, and thats not going to happen.......
Click to expand...

It will work fine as long as the drive is capable of holding the CD in
place as you insert it. However, it puts a greater strain on the CD
as it spins.

As an alternative, you may consider a desktop computer case rather
than a tower (if it is available).
 
Raymond Martineau said:
It will work fine as long as the drive is capable of holding the CD in
place as you insert it. However, it puts a greater strain on the CD
as it spins.

As an alternative, you may consider a desktop computer case rather
than a tower (if it is available).
Click to expand...

I never done myself and probably never will. But I can't image how much
fun to see the disc spins sideway
 
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