laptop disc drive on PC?

flogen

Probably a stupid question, but is there a way to use a laptop DVD drive on a desktop PC?

I have an old laptop that's not working, but it has a DVD burner I'd like to lift from it (rather than buying a new one)... is there any kind of enclosure or adaptor to do this?

McPedro

hummm. I imagine the power connector for the laptop drive is not the standard four-pin block.
Apart from lookin fugly sitting beside your desktop you can pick em up for next to nothing.
The IDE cable might be same, butt you'll need to power it:

SouperComputer

its easy enough to do once you have the backplane board that connects onto your laptop drive.

Couldnt find one on ebay, but heres one: http://mini-itx.com/store/?c=5#p2112

McPedro

SouperComputer wrote:

its easy enough to do once you have the backplane board that connects onto your laptop drive.

Couldnt find one on ebay, but heres one: http://mini-itx.com/store/?c=5#p2112

messey though, unless cash is a problem.

flogen

SouperComputer wrote:

its easy enough to do once you have the backplane board that connects onto your laptop drive.

Couldnt find one on ebay, but heres one: http://mini-itx.com/store/?c=5#p2112

That seems like just the job - so that board will connect to the cable currently going into the back of my existing DVD player drive, and will let me put the laptop drive onto that?
It says something about the audio cable not being included - what's that about?

I suppose it'll just sit there a bit loose too if it's sitting in the slot made for a traditional sized drive?

8T8

Yes the adapter will work with the laptop DVDRW however...

* Check the back of the drive to make sure it is using the universal mini IDE connection there are still alternative interfaces out their in some laptop drives.

* Laptop DVDRW drives are slow, easy to wear out and often poorly supported in terms of firmware.

* The cost of a new DVDRW drive is so small and is definitely a better solution to a laptop DVDRW if you have the choice.

* The audio cable reference is about the analogue audio cable found on PC DVDRW drives not needed as audio is transferred over IDE bus on modern drives.

* Some specialist shops sell enclosures for such drives though the amount of money put in would easily cover a proper PC DVDRW drive so not worth it.

flogen

8T8 wrote:

Yes the adapter will work with the laptop DVDRW however...

* Check the back of the drive to make sure it is using the universal mini IDE connection there are still alternative interfaces out their in some laptop drives.

* Laptop DVDRW drives are slow, easy to wear out and often poorly supported in terms of firmware.

* The cost of a new DVDRW drive is so small and is definitely a better solution to a laptop DVDRW if you have the choice.

* The audio cable reference is about the analogue audio cable found on PC DVDRW drives not needed as audio is transferred over IDE bus on modern drives.

* Some specialist shops sell enclosures for such drives though the amount of money put in would easily cover a proper PC DVDRW drive so not worth it.

Thanks for that - I had a look on Komplett for DVDRW internal drives and there were two in the €30 range, but they seemed to be getting some lukewarm reviews - what kind of price would you be paying for a decent, reliable and not-so-noisy drive new?

8T8

€30-40 bucks is normal just get yourself a NEC drive like this one which is SATA so you can do away with the IDE cables altogether.

Lots of firmware mods for NEC drives and good burners in general.

gamer

Peats have a samsung dvdrw drive for 40euros.I think its ide standard.IF you want less noise write dvds at 8x speed .I got a drive in peats its very qiet unless ,im writing a dvd at full speed.I dont think its worth buying a low cost drive online.Put the laptop for sale on adverts .ie ,some1 will buy it 4 the parts ,or give it to pc recycling center.