Will old Z optical drive fit in new Z bay?

May think about swapping the Blue Ray drive out - I assume the two are compatible and interchangeable?

Thanks,
UL

 

It will fit in as it is a 9.5mm drive the old one is a UJ232A and the new one is a UJ242A. The problem you will have is with the bezels they are not really compatible. The emergency pinhole out do not line up in the same place.
It was discussed some in this thread.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=468911

 

I have a Z117GG(HK version), and did tried with the old UJ232, the bezel is not fit, and the eject button on the keyboard didn't work.
Finially I purchased a UJ242 from e-bay(USD$499.9 international shipping free):
http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-Mata-...C_Drives_Storage_Internal&hash=item1c11b07909

This one is working perfectly on new Z, the only thing I did upset with Sony HK was the new Z didn't came with a blu-ray drive, that make the FHD screen pointless, but now my Z is completed(I connect to internet via iPhone so I don't need WWAN model).

 

Thanks Everyone for the response!

Rachel, is there anything about the TT or Z that you do not know....

qqkyo, good to get the direct feedback! I'm in China right now but can't find any HD version. Not even anything over 256Gb SSD.

Thanks,
UL

 

Hi,

I am thinking of doing the same like you. Does the bezel from the dvd drive fit perfectly on the UJ242? Thanks!

 

I'm interested in this too...maybe you can post a few pictures?

 

Hi ota-con,

Don't worry, the bezel is perfectly fit with the Z117GG's DVD-RW, and it's not hard to change, all you have to do is unscrew all screws at the bottom, than the keyboard can simply take off(becareful the cable between the keyboard and the motherboard).

Than you have 2 ways to change the BD drive.

(1) Just follow your original DVD-RW, remove the BD drive cover, swap the bezel, than put it on your Z(Just one screw can't fit, but it's all right).
That is the simple way to swap the drive.

(2) You can notice the original DVD-RW have a lot of holes to reduce the weight, actually you can swap the BD drive into the original DVD-RW's case. But that will a little bit harder than the first way. I did this way because I like to keep my Z as light as possible, after swap the BD my Z currently weight 1,415g(original 1,390g, BD has one more lazer head).

If you try the second way just make sure don't break you original drive, you may need it for your warrenty.


Hi Ultralight,

Don't try to buy the BD drive in TaoBao(China), because the BD region in China only support single layer(25GB), I did asked the official Panasonic's guy in China, even you get one of that, most of the BD disc we can purchase on worldwide is dual layer(50GB, except China), just becareful.

 

Thanks for the help!

 

Yup, thanks!

UL