Replacemnt "Master" IDE Slimline Optical drive for Toshiba Laptop

[DanGent]

Hi there,
I am looking for a replacement CD drive for a Toshiba Satellite Pro A120 (laptop). Been reading up on this for a while as every replacement IDE slimline drive I've tried doesn't work. From my research it requires a slimline IDE optical drive that is "jumpered" for master. As its slimline there are no jumpers so as far as I'm aware they are manufactured as either master or cable select. They can only be changed by flashing the BIOS or they can be bought like this. As I require a new one anyway I'd rather purchase one that was guaranteed to be compatible. Does anyone have any idea how to tell whether slimline IDE optical drivers come as master or cable select?

Much thanks,
Dan Gent

[rushholme]

You can mod most (all?) cable select IDE laptop drives with a drop of solder or a bit of conducting ink.

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/tips/Pion...aster_mod.html

I have done this myself on a laptop drive.

[DanGent]

That looks pretty awesome. I've done DC jack replacements on laptops before and i think it looks less fiddly than that. I've got a spare old drive anyway so its not the worst if it breaks. Its a lite-on one. I ordered an adaptor so it will plug into my PC and I just got it today, I *think* I can flash it to change the setting, but not with official software.
You had a similar problem then and just thought that was the best thing to do? modify rather than buy a compatible part?

[rushholme]

It was dead easy!

I opened the laptop drive up and soldered together 2 wires internally.

So I purely modded the drive, not the mainboard connecter.

[DanGent]

modding the mainboard connector would mean putting solder onto the laptop? that does sound a lot more risky! I'm going to have a bit more of a read up on flashing drives to see if i can change it that way, but you explain your way as being so easy. I'll get a soldering iron out later and at least see if it looks easy!
by the way, you called rusholme because you live in rusholme in manchester? i lived there last year

[rushholme]

My user id's linked to my IRL surname, but I have been to Rushholme! I Live in Liverpool now...

As soon as you unscrew the laptop drive it will become apparent which "wires" to join - just work back from the pictures I linked to before.

I used this: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...33837&T=Module

instead of solder.

You could also try this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/circuitworks-C...d=p3286.c0.m14


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