Would a standard notebook DVD drive fit the Z-series?

Just curious if a standard notebook DVD drive would fit the Z-series? I'm guessing not because the pics I've seen show a notched faceplate on the optical drive - not a standard rectangular faceplate like in standard notebook drives.

Thanks!

 

I think you answered your own question. Sometimes you can cut the bezel.

 

I've the cut the bezel on a NEC DVD/RW to fit my T23... but from the pictures doesn't the Z series use the Ultrabay Slim?

In that case, it won't fit, cut bezel or not, since it's a even thinner drive.

 

I believe the Z61t uses the slim drive. I know the Z61m uses the regular drive cause it has the same drive as my R60 and I wrote the review for the Z61m.

 

From the thinkpads I have seen, the answer would be no. The connector is a higher duty connector, different from the "generic standard" slim optical bay connector. If you have a digital camera, take a picture of the backend of your z6x optical drive, and I can show you the differences.

The only models that would accept one of the cheaper units like what you might find one ebay and such would be the Lenovo 3000 series models. Those are standard connectors, nothing fancy.

 

Ah, you are correct... I was looking at the t photos.

 

The drives are the same thickness and size, but take a look at the connector itself.

Picture of "generic" notebook drive. Notice the pins are on the perimeter facing inwards

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/27-248-004-04.JPG

Now look at the ultrabay enhanced drive. Notice the pins are now on the flat inner strip, facing outwards at the perimeter.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b163/bogielives/DVD drives/DSC00211.jpg

 

Interesting dietcokefiend (great screen name btw, i'm also a big fan but not quite a "fiend"). Anyway, thanks for the pics.

I ordered my z61m with a DVD burner, but I was thinking of selling the original drive and replacing it with one of those cool Pioneer trayless DVD drives. They just suck in the disc like on a car stereo CD player. Here's a pic:




Anyway, I guess this isn't possible due to both the bezel and the connector. Oh well.

Thanks again guys.

 

The connector on non UltraBay Slim drives, if it's like on previous Thinkpads and just about any other brand, uses plastic rails and a proprietary adapter to convert the standard connector to one that fits your Z.

You'd have to do the following:
1. Cut the bezel notch out with a Dremel.
2. Remove the plastic rails and the connection adapter on the rear of the original drive. Move those over to the new Pioneer drive, the screw holes are industry standard.
3. Sell the original drive as a "bare" drive without the rails and adapter.

 

If you do what whoshi suggests and it works, you are my hero.

 

Does this include a precision soldering iron to remove the connector from the circuit board? Its not a little slide over adapter or anything, its soldered the the board.

 

Again, I'm referring to the standard thickness drives, the UltraBay Slim *is* proprietary. Now, if Lenovo has changed things up by soldering connectors onto standard thickness drives, this must have been a recent change.

Can you take a photo of the drive and post it here? If you can see screws holding the adapter and rails on, then you should be able to remove them.

If you take a look at the photo below, you can see the rear "block" of plastic with the adapter connection and the plastic rail on the left. The plastic rail on the right is underneath the drive in this photo and can't be seen. These unscrew with a small philips screwdriver. This example is with an UltraBay 2000 drive that fits the T2x series.

 

Look at my post above comparing the backend of the standard drives, to the Ultrabay Enhanced drives. There is no plastic blade on the drives anymore like the older 2000's had.

 

I stand corrected then. Thanks for clarifying.

 

No problem. they just updated the way the drive connected to make things a bit more compact.