[2024 Review] Feasible External CD Drive For Windows and Mac

Brittany Garcia

February 2, 2024 09:45Posted by to Rip DVD

In today’s technology, you can stream all popular movies on your laptop without too much work. There are streaming services that provide amazing content with features to boost the playback experience. However, some of us still have collections of CDs, and probably, the time will come to watch them again. But how can you watch a video on a CD without an optical drive on your computer? This guide gives the best external DVD drive and CD drive with detailed reviews. But first, let’s learn the importance of having an external drive.

Best External CD DVD Drive

Part 1. What is an External CD and DVD Drive

Any laptop nowadays lacks the built-in optical drive that supports running videos from a CD or DVD. But this inconvenience can be solved with an external CD drive. The compact drive allows you to access a disc that can be run on a computer. Usually, USB is used on external DVD drives, which you only need to plug into the computer for streaming. Most modern external drives support other discs, such as Blu-rays and DVDs.

Part 2. Best 5 External CD and DVD Drive

Even with the rising digital streaming services, know that there are a lot of external drives available today that you can purchase anywhere. If you are new and don’t know which one is the best, see the following reviewed drives to try on your computer.

Rioddas

Features: Windows, MacBook, Linux, etc.

Features: $19.99

Rioddas External DVD Drive

Rioddas external CD drive driver is a straightforward device with a USB port for computer connection. It is confident about its simplicity as the user only needs to plug in the USB port, and it will be detected by the computer automatically.

Pros

  • The cable is attached by default to prevent losing it.
  • Stable performance with high-speed strong fault tolerance.
  • Excellent and stylish external design.

Cons

  • Errors in verification of the written disk.

Gotega

Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

Price: $19.99

Gotega External DVD Drive

Gotega external DVD drive for laptops maximizes its features as a portable CD player, DVD player, DVD burner, CD burner, and more. It has 8x DVDR write speed and 24x CD write speed with no data loss. The USB of the external DVD drive provides high transfer speed, as well as excellent recording and installing process. Then you can play your DVDs or Blu-rays on your computer with the drive.

Pros

  • Not complicated to set up.
  • It does not require additional software.
  • Built-in eject button to unstick a disc.

Cons

  • Reports of heating and ejecting issues.
  • Randomly will not work for up to 20 to 30 minutes.

Roofull

Supported Platforms: Windows, MacBook, Linux, etc.

Price: $22.99

Roofull External DVD Drive

Roofull external DVD drive is considered an excellent tool for movie playback. It is equipped with internal CD and DVD drives that can read and write discs at an astounding speed. One of its notable features is it is mostly compatible with media players and allows you to copy or rip movies.

Pros

  • Enable to read and write CD+R, CD-ROM, DVD+R/RW, etc.
  • Multifunctional tool with a ripper, burner, and recorder functions.
  • Guarantee strong error-correcting system and low impedance.

Cons

  • Incompatible with other systems like Chrome.

Amicool

Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, Apple, Desktop, Linux

Price: $29.99

Amicool is an external CD and DVD drive that can casually play any disc on Windows, Mac, and other devices. It has a lightweight body, designed with embedded cable that can’t get disconnected or lost when you are traveling. Amicool is compatible with USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and USB 1.0 for maximum reading speed.

Amicool External CD DVD Drive

Pros

  • Special offer as a DVD/CD burner and portable player.
  • Faster data transmission speed for up to 5Gbps.
  • Plugs are versatile for connecting other devices.

Cons

  • Skip some content from the disc.

Asus ZenDrive

Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac

Price: $34.99

Asus External DVD Drive

For Asus external external DVD drive, this option supports a lifetime of data backup for Windows and Mac. One thing to look forward to is disc encryption, which can guarantee high-security standards, password control, and encoded file names.

Pros

  • Slim and light to carry around.
  • Quickly drag and burn CDs and DVDs.
  • Support Type-C and Type-A for Windows and MacOS.
  • Use M-DISC to protect and store digital content.

Cons

  • Have trouble copying files from the CDs.

Part 3. How to Use External CD and DVD Drive on Computer

Once you have an external DVD drive for a laptop, how do you use it for media playback? Although most drives tell you they are easy to connect to your device, some things must be considered for seamless streaming. Here are the simple steps to follow:

Step 1.Prepare the external CD drive for the Macbook Air or PC and the cable. Use the USB cable to plug in the driver to the computer. Make sure to check the specs of both devices to see if they are compatible.

How to Use External DVD Drive Windows Mac

Step 2.Insert a disc in the optical drive. The default media player will automatically detect it. Follow the onscreen prompts for further configuration. Enjoy the media playback.

What if you wish to transfer the disc’s content to your computer while you still have the external DVD drive? The recommended tool is DVD Ripper by Blu-ray Master. It lets you save your DVD files as a digital format without a drive for playback.

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Part 4. External CD and DVD Drive Not Working

Everyone is familiar with device malfunction. Even if you bought a Best Buy CD drive external, it might not be able to read the disc. So, the following solutions will help you recognize the causes and the best way for troubleshooting.

Solution 1

Verify if the LG external DVD drive is detected in the Device Manager. Just press the Windows key and R at the same time on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Enter devmgmt.msc to see the DVD/CD-ROM drive list. Check for your optical drive by playing the DVDs on your computer to see if the problem has been solved.

Solution 2

Set the Auto-play feature on your computer to easily detect discs that are in the optical drive. This also helps to launch the correct app to play the content without overloading your device. What you only need to do is access the Run dialog box and enter the word ‘Control.’ Double-click the Autoplay button and tick the checkbox for Use AutoPlay for All Media and Devices. Then, save the changes.

Solution 3

Try to disable the DMA mode from the external CD drive for the laptop. From the Run dialog box, enter devmgmt.msc to open the Device Manager window. When you find the optical drive, right-click on it and select Properties. Navigate to the Advanced Settings tab and turn off the Enable DMD option. Try to open the disc again.

Part 5. FAQs about Best External CD and DVD Drive

Wrapping up

At last, you have learned the best external CD drive for a laptop in this article. You also learn how to use it with troubleshooting solutions when it acts up. DVD Ripper is an excellent tool for when you need to copy or convert videos from CDs or DVDs, so you should try it on Windows or Mac.

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Rating: 4.9 / 5 (based on 438 votes)

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