Z60m: DVD Drive Questions

What is the difference between these two options:

ThinkPad 8x Max DVD Recordable Dual Layer Ultrabay Enhanced
ThinkPad 8x Max DVD Recordable Ultrabay Enhanced Drive

The first one is dual layer, the 2nd one is not from what I guess. However, the 2nd option is $127.50 more. Why?

 

I guess to anger those of us who got it early on.

 

Dude, forget the stuffed up stuff. Get the cheapest option (I would go for a DVD player only) and buy an NEC DVD DL RW drive for 80 bucks from Newegg.com which blows EVERYTHING out there away and be happy about myself.

PS: there is a little heck saw involved to "fit that thing in", but it is nothing to be worried about, takes 2 minutes.

 

Goga, would you like to elaborate that one?

I've got an R52, and if I can replace that piece of **** DVD burner with another one, then I will. I though the ultrabay was pretty much restricted to IBM hardware only though.

 

Well, what exactly you'd like to know? How to "fit" the new drive in? How to use the ultrabay? How to swap connecting brackets on drives to connect them inside the bay? My Thinkpad has original DVD in one and NEC 6650 in the other bay.

 

Well, what exactly you'd like to know? How to "fit" the new drive in? How to use the ultrabay? How to swap connecting brackets on drives to connect them inside the bay? My Thinkpad has original DVD in one and NEC 6650 in
the other bay.


I've got the R52 and I'd assume that the bay looks pretty much the same as on the Z60.

So yeah, it's mainly about how to "fit" the new drive in.
What do you mean by swapping connecting brackets? The drive I was looking at was the NEC 6750 btw. I don't really know what the difference is beteeen 6650 and 6750 tho. Hmm, The back connector does indeed look a little different from this panasonic drive... On the NEC (from the images at newegg) there seems to be nothing inside the black connector at the back. Whereas on the Matsh!ta there's a flat plastic connector there.

Lousy description i know ^^;

From what I can see, there's a need to saw off a small piece of the front bracket.

 

There is no difference between the two but DL speed increase.
When you pull the IBM drive out on the back you will see a "frame" fitting screwed to it. That frame is a connector which "rewires" the pins from standard to IBM specific plug. Just take it off and put onto a different drive.

Use a little saw and file to make an IBM specific |""""" shaped curve. Saw it off carefully, smooth it out with a file and you are set. Stick it in and enjoy.

PS: It has a flat lid, so it is going to sit a little deeper all around than IBM drives which have step shaped lid on the top, so the top is flat with case. If you can live with that, the drive is going to make you happy.

 

Yo! thanks for the info.

I grabbed a couple of images to show the connector on my Matsu + the NEX 6750. Aren't the two connectors slightly different? Mines's a Matsh!ita UJ-830Sx btw




EDIT: Found this over that the thinkpads forum
"As far as transplanting another drive, its not as easy as with earlier thinkpads (T20-T30 etc) that use the more common female connector. R50 and later use an integrated male connector (uncommon) and most drives wont swap over without major surgery......soldering correct connector. "

Not that I don't have a problem with the soldering gun, but in worst case I'll end up with two defunked drives. Guess I'll drop the whole thing and buy a USB slimcase and run it externally instead.

 

Can I see the real back side of the drive which came with laptop? Just pull it out as it is and make a picture, because it seams to me that there is something missing in the back (I did not take new models apart yet).

 

""Whereas on the Matsh!ta there's a flat plastic connector there. "

That's the one I was talking about to swap over, but since they are different in the newer drives, forget about that connector. Hold on a bit, I'll let you know what to do, there is nothing needs to be "soldered"

But I still need to see the rear side with the connector.

 

That was the real "as is/directly taken out from the laptop" backside. It would appear that our drives are quite different

I've taken an image of the back of the Matsu, as well as from the inside of the ultrabay, where you can see a protruding female connector.

 

By looking at this page
http://www.costcentral.com/proddetail/Lenovo_ThinkPad_Ultrabay_Slim_Drive/73P3270/C45995/
it is shown that the same drive is compatible with ALL the models, which means there is an attachment out there that can "transfer" drives from bay to bay (Ultra2000 or whatever R52 has). Can you unscrew back pannel off of the drive to see if that plug can be transferred?

 

I unscrewed it. It's nothing but a cover plate it seems. It's not possible to just replace it.

From what I can see this drive works with mainly the T4X, R5X series. According to what I dug up at the thinkpads forum they seem to have a different connector. All in the name of making it easier to swapp for something elese.

 

I have to do some research but at this time I have none. I would talk to NEC support as ask them what can be done in there. I am sure there is some kind of adapter out there, just have to find it. I have two bays (keeping A series just for that) and the other one is an UltraBay 2000 which is easiest thing unda da sun for drive swapping. I did not know they've changed plug on new Rs. I thought R has two bays as well. Sorry for the confusion on my part. Again, I will find the solution if there is one, just need some time to spend. But if there is no solution, I would get an NEC drive with enclosure and use it for "big jobs" and keep the original for "just in case" ones .

 

All I remember is, one of them was $190+, and the other was $0.90. So naturally, I got the one at $0.90. My custom-built z60m (second one) is finally shipping tomorrow, so we shall see. The first z60m I purchased (return for dead pixel) was via the phone, and the best option for me was the CDRW/DVD-ROM ($130+), since I already have an external DVD burner. I was shock to see the 90 cent price.