Use Ultrabay Devices Externally?

[ulrich.von.lich]

I have a couple of Ultrabay Slim devices that I want to use externally (a DVD DL burner for T6, some Ultrabay HDD adapters).

Which would be the easiest way?

Are there any cables like the one that connects the Ultrabay 2000 Floppy to the ThinkPad but for DVD burners? I also remember seeing some enclosure for Ultrabay 2000 devices but not for Ultrabay Slim or Ultrabay Enhanced devices. And it was expansive.

[rkawakami]

What you are looking for would be a Portable Drive Bay (PDB) for Ultrabay Slim devices. As you stated, and as far as I know, the last such PDB made was for Ultrabay 2000 devices (T2x, A3x, etc.). You CAN modify the Slim drives to a 2000 form-factor using an adapter. So it may be possible to get both the adapter and a PDB 2000 for you Slim drives.

Also, be aware that there is an earlier version of the PDB made for Ultraslimbay drives. Those were made for such systems as the 600/E/X and would not be compatible with any Ultrabay 2000 or Slim adapter.

[ulrich.von.lich]

Thanks Ray! So there isn't any cable available for those devices, right?

If I remember correct, the Ultrabay Slim adapter for Ultrabay 2000 will not convert HDDs. Can you please confirm it? It wasn't mentioned on the IBM's site but I definitely heard it somewhere.

[rkawakami]

Actually, at the link I provided for the Ultrabay Slim adapter, there's another link to the user's guide:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46446

For some reason I can't seem to download it at the moment. I would assume that the answer to your question lays within there.

[ulrich.von.lich]

Yes! It does say:

"You cannot use the ThinkPad 2nd Hard Disk Drive Adapter for Ultrabay Slim with this slim drive adapter."

Thanks again!

[davidspalding]

I have an Ultrabay Slim adapter for Ultrabay 2000 which allows me to put my MultiBurner drive in the bay in the Dock II. I can confirm that the second HDD adapter for Ultrabay Slim will not fit into the Slim -> 2000 adapter.