UJ-852 DVDRW and T42 - HELP !! *PICS*

[fje]

Hi, I got a Panasonic UJ-852 for my T42 and I have a problem.

I asked for an UJ-852 because I read it is "UJ-842 with higher writting speed" and looking at the T42 hardware manual, UJ-842 is one of the options for the T-42.

BUT

The one I got has:

1.- Flat faceplate
2.- The rear connector totally different of the one of the currect DVD/CDRW Combo I have for my T42.

I was already aware of the first problem and in fact I also ordered the T42 faceplate that I'm still waiting to get.

First Question: Edited: I finally found how to take off the faceplate....

The biggest problem is the second one. The rear connector is much longer than the one my combo has. I discovered that it is really an "adapter". Using an screwdriver I took it out and now the connector I can see is much more similar to the one of my combo BUT it seems to be the opposite as if the one of my combo were the "male" and the one of the new one were a "female". It seems much more like the one inside the ultrabay slot of my T42 than the one in the combo.

Second and most important question is: Do you know if there is any "adapter" or how to do it compatible with the ultra bay of my laptop T42?

Admin note: Added *PICS* warning for tiny thumbnails. Thanks for keeping the size small!

[FTC]

Hi,

Have you looked in the back of your existing CDRW unit ? maybe it has an adapter also which you can acommodate to your new drive.. I would look it myself but right now I am missink the allen tool to take off mine's security screw.

I am also interested to know if barebone back connectors of 9.5" units are standard because there are a few sony and nec 9.5 units cheap floating in ebay and other places and probaby easily adaptable these days...

[fje]

FTC:

yes, I did. I unscrewed the black rear faceplate to look if the connector seems to be an adapter, but it is inside the body of the metal box and it looks as being the "actual" connector.
I tried with an small screwdriver if it was possible to "detach" it, but it is very tight and, again, it seems to be the "actual" connector.

Has anyone fully opened such device (or a similar one) that could tell us if it is the connector or an adapter? It will be my last try... but if anyone did it before, better.

[sjthinkpader]

T4x uses a different connector than other standard drives. This design allows better insertion and eliminated the interposer and a second connector used in Ultrabay2000. Ultrabay Enhanced uses this same connector.

Although Panasonic is a large supplier to T4x, they make both types.

[Johan]

While I cannot offer any specific help, I can just share your confusion that the UJ852 is so different? The reason(s) why I am also surprised are:

1. It is an established fact that the 2nd Harddisk UltraBay Slim Adapters for T6x's/R6x's (Lenovo P/N 40Y8725 or P/N 26R9247, FRU 26R9247), these being for SATA HDD adapters, can very easily be modified for use in T4x's by simply cutting off an extra plastic tab - see e.g. the second part of this post. I have right here in my left hand one of these SATA HDD adapters, and I have in my right hand (you get all the details!) the original 2nd Harddisk UltraBay Slim Adapters for T4x's/R5x's (IBM P/N 62P4552 or P/N 62P4554 and FRU 62P4553); this is for PATA HDD's. Now - I put these two on top of each other, I then align them precisely, I take my magnifying glass and... taa-daah! I inspect the two connector real careful... and, yes, these two connectors are absolutely identical. So the UJ852, which is intended for T6x's/R6's (see e.g. this post) also should be usable in a T4x.. because the connectors of the SATA "2nd Harddisk UltraBay Slim Adapters" and the connector of the PATA "2nd Harddisk UltraBay Slim Adapters" are the same! That's not new.

2. As mentioned in this post UJ842's can be modified for use in a T43 while a UJ852 was reported used in by forum member bass1175 in the thread DVD burner upgrade - so your UJ-852 surely ought to be possible to use in a T42! Also in the thread Super Multi-Burner Ultrabay Slim Drive forum member pjk report using a UJ-852 in a T43. Something surely is strange!

The most probable explanation seems that given by what:

Although Panasonic is a large supplier to T4x, they make both types.

Yes, I know that the above does not solve anything, but you may perhaps have become confused at a more advanced, higher level...

Johan

[fje]

HI,

I was doing further investigation and it seems that the UJ-852 I got was coming prepared for Ultrabay 2000 (looking at

http://www.kawakami-ca.com/images/ub2k_vs_ubs.jpg

(bottom one, but not exactly, let me do a couple of pictures and include in a later post)

and then, if I take off the adapter, it goes to:

http://www.kawakami-ca.com/images/drive_connectors.jpg

(bottom one again).

So, the question finally is: Is there any possibility of finding an adapter to put this drive in my T42 Ultrabay Slim ?

Thanks !

[fje]

I was able to do some pictures using the camera of my phone, but I don't know how to insert in this post.

Edit:**** It seems that include images/attachments in this forum is not allowed... so, if anyone can help I'll email them to him/her. Thanks

If someone can help me I'll do it, in the meantime,I'll try to email to some of the ones that I found in another threads dealing with similar problems.

Thanks !

[fje]

Additional info:

I found the part number: G8CC00034120

Looking in Google I found that it seems to be intended for a Toshiba laptop !!!

Again, question is: Do any one know if there is any Ultrabay Slim adapter?

[sjthinkpader]

Click IMG above the edit windows and insert image url between the two brackets. Make sure image is less than the allowable size (about 50KB) and add ""PICS" warning in the thread title.

There is not enough space for an adapter. You have to find the correct drive.

[fje]

Click IMG above the edit windows and insert image url between the two brackets. Make sure image is less than the allowable size (about 50KB) and add ""PICS" warning in the thread title.

There is not enough space for an adapter. You have to find the correct drive.

I don't have a public URL where to leave the images and refer to, sorry. And yes, they are really small ones.

[yak]

I don't have a public URL where to leave the images and refer to, sorry. And yes, they are really small ones.

Use a service like imageshack. It will even give you a nice code to insert into a post that will create a clickable thumbnail.

[fje]

Yak, thanks, here are the pictures:

The rear side of the drive as I got it:



The rear side with the adapter unscrewed:



Finally the adapter circuit board and connectors itself:




Thanks!

[sjthinkpader]

This connector is the one used in Ultrabay2000 behind the interposer and caddy plastic. The connector used on Ultrabay Slim, Ultrabay Enhanced has a thin center. It is made for direct insertion into the system.

I have also purchased UJ8x2 drives with the wrong connector. I have given up looking for non-IBM/Lenovo drives for use in T4x/R5x much like what I was able to do Ultrabay2000. Unless the seller has a picture of the connector, most of them are for the older style of connector.

[fje]

Thanks to all of you.

Yes, UltraBat Slim T4x T6x is somehow special and we have to ask for either a "IBM/Lenovo T4x/T6x" DVDRW or ask for a picture of all the sides of the drive.

I already talked to the seller and he is ready to accept the UJ-852 he sent me and refund the money I payed.

Anyway it will cost me both shipping costs.