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    Older CF-28 CD-ROM doesn't work in other laptops

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by cib3k, May 8, 2011.

  1. cib3k

    cib3k Notebook Enthusiast

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    I tried to install a Teac CD-ROM taken from a CF-28 into an older IBM T23 laptop. The problem is that the BIOS doesn't see it, so I can't boot from it. The same happens on a Fujitsu Lifebook laptop - boot from CD-ROM doesn't work. However, once Windows starts, it bypasses the BIOS, the CD-ROM is detected and I can use it just fine. Can someone explain why this happens, and is there anything I can do about it? I'm trying to sell it and can't seem to find a compatible laptop. I know the trick to install a different optical drive in a Toughbook, but I thought that the removed drive would work fine in another laptop.
     
    cib3k, May 8, 2011
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  2. db04p71

    db04p71 Notebook Deity

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    The CD-rom is set as a master drive. Those laptops are probably looking for a cable select drive or a slave drive.
     
    db04p71, May 8, 2011
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  3. cib3k

    cib3k Notebook Enthusiast

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    Is there any way to change it to slave or CS? I mean actually modifying the drive, not the laptop?
     
    cib3k, May 8, 2011
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  4. cib3k

    cib3k Notebook Enthusiast

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    Teac says that the setting to Master or Slave is determined by the CSEL signal on pin-47 in the interface connector. If the CSEL signal is at low level, the drive is set to Slave. If the CSEL signal is at high level, the drive is set to Master.

    I found here and in various other places that I can bridge 2 pins in order to make it work, so I'm gonna try that.

    For Liteon drives, there's also an utility called IDE Location Changer.
     
    cib3k, May 9, 2011
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