Thinkpads Forum

I couldn't find any top to bottom information about fitting a new optical drive into the old 600, has anyone actually tried to do this including the front panel??

As I gather more information, I'll post it here.

The 600 uses an UltraSlim (12.7mm thick x 128mm) format optical drive which many companies make, the problem we have is refitting all the plastic housing that make the drive fit in our 600 laptops.

The optional drives that I don't know whether the front panel fits or not:
Currently empty.

Optional drives that the front panel fits:

Toshiba:
SR-C8002
SD-C2102 Original 2x dvd drive
SD-C2202
SD-C2302
SD-C2402
SD-C2502
SD-C2612
SD-R2102
SD-R2212
SD-R2312
SD-R2412
SD-R2512
SD-R6012
SD-R6112
SD-R6252
SD-R6272
SD-R6372

SONY:
DW-Q58A

Drives that the front panel doesn't fit are:

NEC:
6650a
6500a
6100a
5500a
5100a

Toshiba:
SD-R6472
SD-R6572

I'll get the specs on them as soon as I can, in the meen time I'm looking for people who did this on their own computer and know if it's possible or not, also which other types of drives can be fitted in there.

I hope thiis will help others as well.
Cheers

The ThinkPad 600, 600E, and 600X all use the same size optical drives. Some details about combatibility issues with different CD-RW and DVD-RW drives and their front bezels/faceplates are available in the thread Find the right optical drive to fit 600X.

Compatibility issues with the front bezel are specific to the drive manufacturer and different OEM drives for the 600 series came from different manufacturers (though all were labelled IBM of course). My experience with this is strictly with Toshiba drives (replacing an OEM Toshiba with a more recent Toshiba). Detailed information about compatible Toshiba drives is available in the thread linked to above.

Phil.

Thank you pkiff, don't know how I missed your post, will keep updating.

After getting rply from several eBay vendors I moved the NEC to the non fitting drives, technically they work but the front panel needs dome dermeling for it to fit.

ThanX for the input mates.

LITEON 2O481combo is easy enough to fit 600s bezel (drill tiny hole on 2 top lugs+screw in place,bezel light and button identical positions.
contary to opinions the nec 6100,6450,6500 also has identical button positions and on one side the bezel clips in place but the other side needs to be glued/welded in position(i'm running a modded 6500and from the outside it looks like a standard drive.if one is competent/patient enough the necs will fit.

I have one of the NEC's 6650 dvd burner drives in my 600x and it fits fine, the only thing that I have not figured out is the front face plate to make it look factory. Otherwise, it works fine and have had no problems. I bought my drive from newegg when they were on sale. - Marvin