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What type of cable do I need for this external DVD-ROM? PICS
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:58 am
by stalepie
Hello again,
I just bought this external DVD drive for my X31.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=017
It does not have the USB cable. Does anyone know what kind I'm supposed to get? I thought I had it (because I have an external USB CD-ROM), but it's a different type. The female (?) slot is flat and thin rather than square. I can take a photo if anyone needs.
On the back it says USB 2.0 Portable Multi-Burner, serial no. 2011404, manufactured Feb 2004, FRU number 22p9165. Ehh, that's probably too much information, but yeah. Just wanted to know what to search for at Ebay or Radio Shack.
Thanks
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:14 pm
by ryengineer
I had one of these original IBM burners with my X31, it came with many sorts of cables including an AC adapter and 2 USB connectors.
I don't remember now what kind of cables they were but one thing is for sure they had some special type of USB connectors, the burner powered up through 1 USB connector but only burned media when provided with additional power via the second USB cable or there was a combination of AC adapter + USB cable that worked also to both read and write media.
Following is the guide for your burner, it mentions the cables you need:
IBM USB 2.0 Portable Multi-Burner.
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:57 pm
by stalepie
Hmm, thank you. I'mnot seeing it on Ebay. Maybe I'll get a USB to IDE converter and use an internal CD/DVD drive externally. It's annoying how much external optical drives cost. Wait, can you do that?
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:31 am
by frankiepankie
Please make a picture, so we can help you better.
Is it maybe this one:
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5016 ... dp1vb0.jpg
that is mini usb
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:49 pm
by stalepie
here you go
Moderator note: Thanks for keeping the image sizes down! I've also added a "PIC" note to your original subject line.
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:58 am
by stalepie
Yeah, I guess it must be mini USB. Some have more pins than others (4 pin, 5 pin, etc). Does anyone know which to get? Or is it better to contact IBM / Lenovo tech support (and if so, which address)?
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:01 am
by frankiepankie
That is no Mini USB connection
I believe that is the same connector as the one which you can use to connect an external floppydrive to your dockingstation.
I don't know the name of the cable.
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:35 pm
by ryengineer
I think there was a reason you got an authentic external IBM DVD burner for only $18, although you should be able to find an AC adapter somewhere online but finding a compatible cable to connect it to your PC won't be easy, unless you contact IBM parts and order the FRU parts (numbers mentioned in the guide) from them.
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:40 pm
by stalepie
Yeah, I guess I'll just get another one. Something that isn't IBM.
[update]: a friend replied to my post here with information about this drive:
http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardwar ... ost1404813
