Panasonic UJDA760 DVD-ROM / CD-RW Drive

I have a 29N mark 5 with only a CD drive in the caddy will the Panasonic DVD-ROM / CD-RW UJDA760 work in the caddy? I would like to upgrade to a CDRW / DVD-ROM drive. Thanks Scanall

 

It will work, although you may have to "mod" the Toughbook drive caddy per: CF-27, CF-28, CF-29 CD to DVD Swap Tutorial-Lots of Pictures!

 

I was hoping it would work with out all the modifications

 

Mine didn't.

 

"All the modifications"? Its only a 1mm or so drop of solder. Of course you do have to remove and replace 4 screws!
CAP

 

Actually... To do it right... You have to remove 6 screws... But they are all easy.... Including the soldering... This was like the 2nd mod I posted... Now everyone is doing it. It is the 2nd easiest mod behind swapping your hard drive.

 

I have installed some Panasonic DVD-RW into toughbook caddy without having to do the mod but they must be set as master from the factory (most are not).

Does anyone know of DVD-RW model that is always defaulted as master from factory ? That would solve it without doing the mod

 

Sorry Toughbook, there are 7 screws. I should be more specific. There are 7 external screws.

 

And Gork! tells me there are 8! Who is going to actually get one out and look?
CAP

 

Yes there are eight but one doesn't have to be removed to change the drive out. It holds the clamshell together around the external connector. To get down to brass tacks, there are actually 9 screws that have to be undone to replace the drive. 7 external ones. Seperate the connector board from the rear of the drive. Then there is a bracket mounted on the drive with two screws. That bracket has to be transfered to the new drive. So 9 total.

 

Hey Toughbook I was reading some of your post. Am I right that the Panasonic UJ-850 and 851 CD drives will work without any modifications?

 

Well we tried
CAP

 

You make this sound as difficult as a palsy victim attempting brain surgery with a pipe wench! However there is an easy answer!

The drive I use is a Panasonic UJ-825B 4x Slim DVD Super MULTI Drive – Slot Type. It is pre-set as a Master and ergo would require no modification for installation in the CF-29!

Check eBay!

 

:rolleyes2:

And from ebaY™ we find Panasonic UJ-825 B/C Slot in CD DVD RW

From the web: UJ-825C slim slot load DVD±R for notebook

Specs:

Model: UJ-825C

Features
2X Speed DVD-RAM Writing
4X Speed DVD-R Writing
2X Speed DVD-RW Writing
2.4X Speed +R 4.7GB Writing
2.4X Speed +RW 4.7GB Writing
16X Speed CD-R Writing
8X Speed CD-RW Writing
24X Speed CD-ROM Reading
8X Speed DVD-ROM Reading
Buffer Under Run Protection
DVD MULTI Read Write support
DMA66 support

Dimensions 128.0(W)12.7(H)129.0(D)mm (Depth dimension includes Bezel.)

 

Just to clarify for us newbs, these guys still require a caddy, correct?

 

Yes, any cd or dvd drive for a CF 27 cf 28 Cf 29 requires the caddy.

 

Oh yes, I'm aware that they all require a caddy. I just didn't know if these were oem drives that were already residing inside a caddy. I gather from your response that they aren't.

 

Toughbook media bay drives will have a part/model # beginning with "CF-VDR****. Quite often they will not contain a Panasonic drive. Drives beginning with U are Panasonic bare drives. Some sellers on eBay will try to imply they are selling media bay drives and just put the "you need a caddy" part in the fine print.
CAP

 

Actually... There are a total of 10 screws to be precise. (On the OEM version anyway)... 6 on the outer edges (2 small on one side, 2 small on the other and 2 larger screws that go into the plastic.) Now 6 total...

One more screw on the bottom releases the drive to allow it to be separated from the caddy. (Now 7 total) then one more to release the cable and PCB for modding if needed (Now 8 total) then two small screws that secure the side mount that would need to be transferred over to the new drive. (Now 10 total)

The bottom line is... This is the EASIEST of all modifications. I don't count swapping hard drives as a modification as you are swapping... Not modding.

To answer which drives swap in without mods... Someone posted a few years back a few that do not require modification. However... I like to use the Sony Optiarc drive... So I've never felt the need to experiment past that.

 

Toughbook, I've just ordered an Optiarc (AD-5540A) the drive spec states its cable select, I've also stripped my dvd/cdrw drive caddy, there doesn't appear to be any R2 solder joints on the CF30 drive/caddy ribbon cable pcb.

Is the CF30 dvd-rom controlled by c/sel and set as master if not, will l need to alter the toughbook ribbon/wiring if so how?