# I have a DVD RW drive, but which existing drive should I replace?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dvd-rw-drive-but-which-existing-drive-should-i-replace/271057>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 25, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dvd-rw-drive-but-which-existing-drive-should-i-replace/271057 "2004-10-25T15:36:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dvd-rw-drive-but-which-existing-drive-should-i-replace/271057/1 "2004-10-25T15:36:05Z")

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I’ve just splashed out on an all-format DVD writer, but I don’t have any vacant bays in which to fit it; my home PC currently has a CDRW drive and a DVD ROM drive - one of which will have to go, but… which one?

I suppose a lot is going to depend on what I intend to do with the machine. The new drive encompasses the entire functionality of both of the exisitng drives.

I’m leaning towards removing the CDRW drive - I can’t burn a CD and DVD simultaneously anyway, but there might be a situation where I want to copy\* a DVD from one drive to the other.

\*(completely legally, of course - I’m talking about stuff I will have authored myself)

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**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dvd-rw-drive-but-which-existing-drive-should-i-replace/271057/2 "2004-10-25T15:40:00Z")

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I had the exact situation you did and ended up removing the CD-RW for the same reason you mentioned (completely legal copying only, natch). Besides, the DVD-RW has a much faster burner on it than the old CD-R did, plus the DVD-rom can read CDs just fine. I figured this way I have all my base covered.

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**Author:** ![Tower\_Dweller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tower\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tower_Dweller)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-dvd-rw-drive-but-which-existing-drive-should-i-replace/271057/3 "2004-10-25T17:55:24Z")

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I completely agree. I can’t think of any situation where you would need two drives capable of burning media installed at the same time. Even if you want to copy a music CD (for archival purposes, of course), the DVD-ROM and DVD writer combo could do that.

The only exception I can think of is if your DVD writer burns regular CDs slower than your old CDRW drive, but I doubt that is the case. But if you want to copy your home-made DVDs, that pretty much overides everything.