Using an external DVD player & Windows 11

I just recently bought a Windows 11 PC . My old windows 10 had the DVD player installed. I work with alot of graphics.
A friend just gave me about 50 DVD's with saved images, and graphics folders on them. Is it possible to use a DVD player (hook it up to my Windows 11) and open these. I do not have much experience in the tech things on computers. Thanks for any help.

Yes, a connected DVD Player (internal or external) should automatically configure when Windows starts, so it should work with your Windows 11. Windows is good at reading data formats, as well as video formats, from a DVD disk, so your friends saved images should be visible, when opened.

My new computer, Dell XPS 8960, and others from Dell, no longer offer any internal DVD player nor anywhere to intall one, but does offer a plug-in player, Dell USB Slim DVD +/- RW Drive - DW316, $39.99. This comes with a disc for Cyberlink's Media Suite 12.

I had some problems getting started, as the so-called setup information that comes with the player has a few illustrations on how to plug it in, and nothing more. A Dell Support agent was about as puzzled as I was. Suffice it to say that once I figured it out and installed Suite, I put a DVD into the player and closed the drawer. I was promptly taken to the part of the Suite which plays DVDs, which even named the disc and started playing it. I stopped and removed the disc as I did not have to watch it, which I intend to do as it is a new one for me.

All of which is a rather lengthy answer to your question, in place of the much shorter and more succinct "Yes."

Thanks for taking the time to answer (lengthy or not) lol.

They haven't been including CD/DVD players in laptops for a few years now. I have a HP laptop without a CD/DVD player. But when I bought it I also bought a LG Ultra Slim Portable DVD Writer. I don't use it constantly, but it works great when I do. I never found a need to reboot. I just plug it in and go.

I carry such a USB ODD when out on calls "just in case" as many new Notebooks and some Desktops no longer include them. The latest I have includes cables for USB 3 and the newer USB-C ports, is an H-L Hitachi-LG Data Storage drive.

If you only want to use the dvd drive rarely, you could dig it out of the old machine and attach it to the new machine using sata data and sata power cable on the motherboard. With no suitable front bay on the new machine the side of the case would need to be open which doesnt matter if you only want to do it once or twice.

@Amarri ,

Welcome to ElevenForum. I have a Dell laptop (no optical drive offered) and a Dell XPS 8930 SE, which I ordered with a BD+ optical drive. The blue laser failed on the 8930 SE. I could not burn BDs, and the drive could read them, and, of course, burn and read DVDs and CDs with the red laser. Rather than replace the internal BD+ drive, I opted for an external Verbatim BD+ drive. It does a great job with both my laptop and my desktop.

Everything should work perfectly. I hope you get the same mileage. Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil