Thinkpads Forum

I have a 12.7 mm IDE optical drive out of an R61. I would like to buy an external USB housing for it. I have found many for optical drives that have rectangular face plates, but none for Thinkpad drives with the notch in 12.7mm sizing.

Does anyone have such a unit they are not using/needing anymore? Also, if anyone knows of a reputable retailer that offers said enclosures, link(s) would be appreciated.

Thanks for looking.

I know IBM made one for the ultrabay 2000 that your a31 uses. I bought one brand new, it's an external ultrabay housing. (not offering it for sale, just for information). I haven't seen one for the ultrabay slim though.

I do have a Lenovo external optical drive (usb), as well as another (don't recall manufacturer). If your objective is just to have a usb optical drive feel free to message me and we can discuss it

This one would work: http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-7-USB-Extern ... 0973447914

RBS, I think that's the kind he doesn't want. It's the rectangular face plate.

The generic one I have is very similar to that, I don't recall what my lenovo drive is but I'll unpack it and look when I have time.

TuuS, thanks for the reply. I am looking to get some use out of the drive, not to just to have a usb optical drive. Appreciate the offer. And you are correct regarding the link RBS posted.

RBS, that style is all I can find in 12.7mm. I have found manufaturers in China of what I am after, but they only do bulk wholesale, and have not answered inquires regarding retailers they supply. I do appreciate your time and effort.

There is no need to use the included front-plate.
I have an identical case with an old T23 DVD-drive, from which I removed the black surrounds.
It uses the original IBM front-plate that came with the drive (and has of course the 'slit' at the right bottom front, but who cares?).
Works on any laptop I have connected it to.

mklym wrote:I have a 12.7 mm IDE optical drive out of an R61. I would like to buy an external USB housing for it. I have found many for optical drives that have rectangular face plates, but none for Thinkpad drives with the notch in 12.7mm sizing.

Does anyone have such a unit they are not using/needing anymore? Also, if anyone knows of a reputable retailer that offers said enclosures, link(s) would be appreciated.

Thanks for looking.

The R61 has the Ultrabay Enhanced bay, and that uses the same proprietary connector as the Ultrabay Slim. It is NOT the standard JAE 50/ATAPI/IDE kind used in most laptops that have fixed non-swappable drives.

What you need is the same PCB available in the Slim enclosure, but with the bigger case that most eBayers no longer stock. I would start inquiring with the eBayers that stock the thinner enclosure to see if they still have stock on the bigger enclosures.

RealBlackStuff wrote:This one would work: http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-7-USB-Extern ... 0973447914

That's for a drive with a JAE 50/ATAPI/IDE connector.