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    Can I use a desktop optical drive on a laptop with SATA -> USB?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by LooieENG, Aug 19, 2013.

  1. LooieENG

    LooieENG Notebook Consultant

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    Without using an enclosure or anything, can I just plug in a USB -> SATA cable and then plug the opitcal drive in and it will work?

    It's a Lite-on iHAS524 and has SATA power/data connectors on the back

    Thanks

    Edit: I mean externally of course, not putting the drive in the laptop :)
     
    LooieENG, Aug 19, 2013
    #1
  2. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    It won't work unless you provide extra power: It needs more than USB will provide.

    An enclosure will normally include a power supply.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Aug 19, 2013
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  3. LooieENG

    LooieENG Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks,

    Do you know where I can get an enclosure to fit a 4.2cm drive in the UK?
     
    LooieENG, Aug 19, 2013
    #3
  4. jotm

    jotm Notebook Evangelist

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    No, it needs a 12V power supply.

    An easier way is to buy a laptop DVD reader/writer and a cheap USB enclosure for it...
     
    jotm, Aug 19, 2013
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  5. Tmets

    Tmets De-evolving to Amoeba

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    Or just a portable external USB drive. They're only £20 or so.
     
    Tmets, Aug 19, 2013
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  6. LooieENG

    LooieENG Notebook Consultant

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    We have an old desktop but it doesn't have SATA connectors. The existing drive has a molex connector and a ribbon connector for data (forgot the name)

    can I get a converter for these cables? I would like to use the drive I have, a laptop version isn't really an option

    Thanks
     
    LooieENG, Aug 19, 2013
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  7. LooieENG

    LooieENG Notebook Consultant

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    LooieENG, Aug 19, 2013
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  8. Tmets

    Tmets De-evolving to Amoeba

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    USB isn't 12v. It doesn't matter if there are 2 connectors.
     
    Tmets, Aug 19, 2013
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  9. LooieENG

    LooieENG Notebook Consultant

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    LooieENG, Aug 19, 2013
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  10. Tmets

    Tmets De-evolving to Amoeba

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    Should do. I've got something like that to extract data from older drives. It's a bit of a messy solution as you will have a bare drive and cables lying around.
     
    Tmets, Aug 19, 2013
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  11. LooieENG

    LooieENG Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks, I'll order it then.

    I won't be using it much, only because my laptop sometimes fails burning dual layer discs.

    I'm not sure why it doesn't go mains -> SATA, but mains -> molex -> SATA though

    Oh well, we'll see.

    Thanks again everyone
     
    LooieENG, Aug 19, 2013
    #11
  12. J.R. Nelson

    J.R. Nelson Minister of Awesome

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    As Tmets said, that should work just fine; I've used a similar device before to similar effect.
     
    J.R. Nelson, Aug 19, 2013
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  13. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    HTWingNut, Aug 20, 2013
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