Thinkpads Forum

Hello folks!
If I were to use a second battery instead of the optical drive, what about putting that drive into an small external box and connecting it to an USB/FireWire-port? I've digged through the options listed on IBM's site but to no avail so far. Does such a thing exist?

Here you go. They also make a combo drive.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 157&depa=0

I have their 2.5" enclosure for my hard drive and built quality is excellent.

Thanks a bunch johnson! Looks great and mapower enclosures seem to be of good quality, AFAICT from description&pics.

Hello coolsilicon,

why don't You look for a external Ultrabay 2000 Drivebay (IBM option, discontinued, on ebay from time to time), this part, combined with an adapter for enhanced drives in an ultrabay 2000 (IBM part), should allow to use the external drive via usb/via pcmcia with Your TP, while Your second battery is in the enhanced bay.

As there are drivers for Windows 2000, it should be no problem with windows 2000. As far as I know, those drivers do work with Windows XP, too.

This way You might also use an 2,5" hdd in an enhanced second bay case (IBM Part) with the external enclosure.

friedrich-eugen, I've ordered the mapower enclosure right after reading jiohnson's posting Anyway, sounds interesting what you suggest. Do you know if the external Ultrabay 2000 can be powered by USB only or would it need an external power source?

Is it possible that the Ultrabay 2000 Drivebay is a bit big and supports only usb 1.1 ?

Hello all,

Coolsilicon,

Yes, it would need external ac-power, as it comes with ac-adapter. Using it with an cd/dvd-writer should imply a powerconsumption, that demands external supply.

Dr.B.

Yes, as ultrabay 2000 drivebay it would have a larger opening than a enhanced bay. That is why You will find an adapter with IBM.
Yes, it is an USB 1.1-device as it was designed before USB 2 becoming an implemented standard.


Nevertheless it would mean having a slim and portable supplementary device, one can carry along, while having enough battery power to use the notebook longer than just 1,5 hours... You could possibly use it via pcmcia even without powersupply (You 'ld have to test it).

I doubt, whether an ultrabay-enhanced drive will fit simply into an standard 3,5" external case without having to use mechanical skills usually not provided by inhabitants of offices....

Whats the difference between an enhanced drive and a ultrabay 2000 drive?

Hello Johnson,

its the consequence of slimmer devices (hddrives & cd/dvd-drives) for notebooks: the devicebays now can be made smaller, slimmer. And so they have obviously been made slimmer with the latest TP's.

In order to use those new devices with an ultrabay 2000 You need an adapter, that helps to fit in the device by filling the gap, that would otherwise remain...

It has happened before (changes from ultrabay to ultrabay 2000).

Thanks for the reply.

friedrich-eugen,
you said about the Ultrabay2000:

Yes, it would need external ac-power, as it comes with ac-adapter.

In this case there's no disadvantage for me in getting the mopower enclosure, which also comes with an external power adapter. I was hoping a dual-USB-setup (two cables connected to the device/the computer) would deliver sufficient power even for a CD/DVD-burner. I think Freecom has such a USB-powered DVD-burner.

Coolsilicon,

You would (will) be right,

if the external mapower case is fit to take your device without "plumbing" to do. As far as I remember You said, it were an 3,5" inch enclosure. In that case I doubt that it will work without.

If freecom has such a usb-only external drive, You are right. It will probably be USB 2, too.

With my TP31P such a drive would use all (!) usb connectors, so on route it should be fine, on my desk I should not like it. The ultrabay 2000 can be used both via usb or via pcmcia. I am not sure (the ultrabay did so) whether via pcmcia also means without ac-adapter, but I could be possible.

happy trails

friedrich,

The enclosure that coolsilicon got is a slim 5.25", not a 3.5" enclosure.

are there any audio ports on the Manpower enclosure (or for that matter, a built in cooling fan?)

friedrich-eugen,
"guest" is right, it's a 5.25" case for a slimline optical drive and, provided it could be powered by two USB-ports, this way it would use all USB-ports (on the road). At home I still can use a hub.

guest,
the enclosure is still on its way to me. I have no idea about its exact features. I phoned the shop yesterday and the guy said he was on a three-days-trip... (seems it's a one-man-show there). I'll post news ASAP.

strange....
i took a closer look at the picutre off the link Johnson provided - there are some pics on the left side. seems it has an audio port.

Well Coolsilicon,

let's wait and see, I hope You're right.

As far as my experience takes me, You 'll have some difficulties, fixing and connecting an ultrabay2000/enhancedbay drive in an enclosure that is not built for it. It should make no difference whether it is an 3,5" or 5,25" inch one ! ...

Guest,
as far as I know external cases ((5,25") I do have several of different makes, alass) they tend to have seperate audio-connectors.

The enclosure has arrived and yes, it has an audio port. The quality seems fine but I have yet to disassemble the drive which is more difficult than expected since one of the screws refuses to come loose, it's very tight. Seems I have to get a better srewdriver first... Ok, that's all for now, I'll post some news later on.

Can you take some pictures for us?

Some pics can be found here:

http://www.kuvdo.de/mapower_ultra.htm

The enclosure comes in a nice box along with a CD, USB-cabel, adaptor and a manual (well, kind of at least, ver tiny letters but that's normal I think). Built quality seems fine, nothing to complain so far.

Coolsilicon,

Did you have any trouble electrically connecting the Thinkpad optical drive to the USB wiring in the enclosure? Is this something that can be done reversibly, so at a future time one could still use the drive in a Thinkpad?

Thanks,
Ozmann

I recently added a second 60 Gb hard drive in my UltraBay for my T41p. I intended to continue using my existing UltraBay Slim DVD / CD-RW combo drive.

I just received the Mapower enclosure (ordered from NewEgg) today. I discovered that the interface on the inside of the enclosure is different than what is on my UltraBay Slim DVD / CD-RW combo drive.

Is there something else I need to order? I was hoping to avoid the expense of buying another optical drive. I wanted something light enough that it could travel with me.