Possible to use an ultrabay 2000 dvd+-writer externally ?

[lowie]

I own a T40 2374-75G and a 74P6733 port replicator which is compatible with my T40. The T40 includes a DVD-CDRW Ultrabay Slim device. I also own a DVD-+RW Ultrabay 2000 drive from my previous system, and was wondering if there is any way to combine it (externally i guess) with the T40. As Ultrabay 2000 drives are thicker than Ultrabay Slim drives, it is not possible to insert them into the T40. The docking station however has some external connections of which i don't know the use.

My Question: Is it possble to use an Ultrabay2000 DVD-+RW in combination with an Ultrabay Slim Thinkpad? Externally with USB or using the external diskette connection?? Or only possible if I get myself a docking station which supports Ultrabay 2000, e.g. Thinkpad DOCK II? I browsed through eBay and noticed that the latter are quite expensive...

Anyone with hints or experiences with similar issues?

EDIT: what about this connecting cable? would it fit? and would an appropriate transfer speed for DVD writing be possible?

FYI:
T40 connections (see first link in post):
Infared (IR), Modem, 1Gb Ethernet installed on systems via the system board, Cisco Aironet Wireless 802.11b, One integrated, easy-loading modular Ultrabay Slim, One Mini PCI IIIb slot (not CRU), One CDC slot (not CRU), Two USB ports version 2.0, One parallel (EPP, ECP) compatible

Port replicator connections (see second link in post):
Serial, parallel, keyboard, mouse, FDD, monitor, USB 2.0, DVI (*), line-in, line-out

[Edward Mendelson]

You could get the IBM Portable Drive Bay 2000:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4JSSC8

This uses a PC Card or USB cable to plug into the ThinkPad, and seems to support all UltraBay 2000 optical drives. (Note that you can NOT use the TP40 floppy drive in this bay.)

They cost about US$40 on eBay. I have one, and it works very nicely (though you can't install Ubuntu Linux from it because it doesn't recognize the drive in the bay as a CD drive during the installation process).

The connecting cable you mentioned will ONLY work with the floppy drive.

[andyP]

And if you need it, there's an adapter for slimbay drives to ultrabay 2000 drives
http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... d=10000001

[lowie]

Thank you guys. I think I'll try to find a good deal on eBay.

And if you need it, there's an adapter for slimbay drives to ultrabay 2000 drives

Don't think I'm in need of a "slim-to-2000" adapter, if i had a slim ultrabay multiburner drive, I would just replace the dvd/cdrw drive that's currently in my system, would be a lot easier (Slim multiburners are very expensive compared to the Multiburner 2000 that I own)

The connecting cable you mentioned will ONLY work with the floppy drive.

I didn't take me much investigation to figure that out myself Thanks for your reply, I hope to be burning DVD's in a couple of weeks...

[davidspalding]

Pricey solution, but.... The Dock II takes an Ultrabay 2000 drive. I bought the adapter and keep my Ultrabay 2000 Slim DVD-+RW in there.

[lowie]

You could get the IBM Portable Drive Bay 2000:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4JSSC8

This uses a PC Card or USB cable to plug into the ThinkPad, and seems to support all UltraBay 2000 optical drives. (Note that you can NOT use the TP40 floppy drive in this bay.)

They cost about US$40 on eBay. I have one, and it works very nicely (though you can't install Ubuntu Linux from it because it doesn't recognize the drive in the bay as a CD drive during the installation process).

The connecting cable you mentioned will ONLY work with the floppy drive.

Can anyone confirm wether the Ultrabay 2000 portable drive bay is or is not compatible with an Ultrabay 2000 DVD+-RW Multiburner? Maybe it needs high anough data transfer speeds? The page on www.ibm.com about the ibm portable drive bay mentions a compatibility list below:

Compatibility

* 24X-10X CD-ROM Ultrabay 2000 Drive ( 05K9233)
* 6X-2X DVD Ultrabay 2000 Drive (27L3448)
* SuperDisk (LS120) Ultrabay 2000 Drive (27L3451)
* 4X/4X/20X CD-RW Ultrabay 2000 Drive (00N8252)
* Second HDD Ultrabay 2000 Adapter (6 GB, 12 GB, 18 GB, 36 GB) (08K6068)
* ThinkPad Zip 250MB Ultrabay 2000 Drive (00N8253)

The Multiburner I own is not in this list, can anyone confirm their compatibility?

[LtTPfan]

I have the PCMCIA version of the Portable Drive Bay 2000 for my T30. I've never tried my DVD-RW in it but have used my DVD in it. I can play movies seamlessly and copy DVDs from it onto the DVD-RW in my T30. Since you have USB 2.0, you should be able to use the USB version of the portable drive bay; however, I believe this requires the use of an external AC adapter, while the PCMCIA version does not.

Edit: Just for grins, I slipped my NEC-6500a 8x DVD-RW/24x CD-RW drive out of my T30 and into the Portable Drive Bay 2000. It played a DVD movie seamlessly. HTH

[lowie]

I have the PCMCIA version of the Portable Drive Bay 2000 for my T30. I've never tried my DVD-RW in it but have used my DVD in it. I can play movies seamlessly and copy DVDs from it onto the DVD-RW in my T30. Since you have USB 2.0, you should be able to use the USB version of the portable drive bay; however, I believe this requires the use of an external AC adapter, while the PCMCIA version does not.

So when using the portable drive bay with a USB connection, it needs additional power, when using it with PCMCIA connection it does not? Interesting. I bought a drive with both connections in the package, as soon as i get it I'll post a review!

ANYONE ther with experience on using a DVD+-RW drive in an ultrabay 2000 portable drive bay?

[leegaard]

(Note that you can NOT use the TP40 floppy drive in this bay.)
.

I am not aware of any floppy drives for at T4X but I might not be a jour.

Arent you thinking about a Ultrabay 2000 floppy, as I can see that its not on a list of devices able to run in the external bay

[leegaard]

[The Multiburner I own is not in this list, can anyone confirm their compatibility?

Well - Your drive will at least need the Ultrabay 2000 > Ultrabay slim/enhanced adapter to work.

Otherwise it will not seize in the bay of the external bay.

[lowie]

(Note that you can NOT use the TP40 floppy drive in this bay.)
.

I am not aware of any floppy drives for at T4X but I might not be a jour.

Arent you thinking about a Ultrabay 2000 floppy, as I can see that its not on a list of devices able to run in the external bay

To be very clear, i am thinking about combining an ultrabay 2000 portable drive bay with an ultrabay enhanced DVD multiburner. My previous post contains links on both devices.

I already bought the portable drive bay, but am not 100% sure that they will work (properly) together. Can anyone with similar experience please share them?

[leegaard]

But I am quite certain that you will need the adapter to make it work.

Or at least to be seated properly in the bay

http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... d=10000001

I cannot read for sure whether you know that or not.

[lowie]

But I am quite certain that you will need the adapter to make it work.

Or at least to be seated properly in the bay

http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... d=10000001

I cannot read for sure whether you know that or not.

The Multiburner i own, is pulled out of my previous Thinkpad, a T23, so its an Ultrabay Enhanced model. These are as thick as the Ultrabay 2000 drives, and substantially thicker than the Ultrabay Slim drives.

The Ultrabay Slim Multiburners are way more expensive than the Ultrabay 2000 models, and as I can't insert the 2000 model in my T40, I will need to use my DVD burner externally. This is not a big deal as I rarely need to burn DVD's. On the road, I can always use my integrated DVD/CDRW drive (an Ultrabay Slim model) that is integrated in my T40.

[leegaard]

I am quite certain that a T2X series use Ultrabay 2000 as stated here.

http://thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:T23


Mine does for sure !

As far as I am informed the Ultrabay enhanced is for R51 and Z60m series

But dont worry - If it could be used in your T23 I am quite certain that it can be be used in your recent purchase.

But I am sorry to say, that your link to the DVD burner is probably wrong.

[leegaard]

Well .. To make it clear..

Very informative page:

http://thinkwiki.org/wiki/UltraBay

[LtTPfan]

So when using the portable drive bay with a USB connection, it needs additional power, when using it with PCMCIA connection it does not? Interesting. I bought a drive with both connections in the package, as soon as i get it I'll post a review!

Portable Drive Bay 2000 driver - ThinkPad General
Applicable countries and regions
This package provides the PCMCIA and USB drivers for the Portable Drive Bay 2000 device (19K4480).

PCMCIA connection:
Hardware requirements:
- IBM ThinkPad A Series, T Series, iSeries, 770, 600, 570, 560, 390, or 240 notebook computer with an available PCMCIA Type II or III slot

Software requirements:
Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows NT 4.0

USB connection
Hardware requirements:
- A computer with an available USB port
- A power adapter (included)

The reason a power adapter is needed for USB operation is the limited current supply available on a USB port. You need power for the Portable Drive Bay plus power for the device installed in it. I'm not sure if the adapter included is an AC adapter or a USB adapter that uses the power from a second port. If not, you could probably get an adapter that plugs into a second USB port so you have true mobile connectivity.

BTW, an UltraBay 2000 floppy drive will not work in the Portable Drive Bay 2000.

[leegaard]

I think I have read somewhere thats it a batteryoperated adapter with 3 AA cells ..

Someone who owns such an adapter might answer.

I have just purchased such an adapter (or actually 4 as they were cheap) so I can tell it in a few days when they arrive

[epbrown]

I've got the original PDB (for my 600X) and the PDB2000 (bought by mistake) - both use 3 AA batteries to supplement the bay's power; the former helps when burning CDs, the latter needs battery power to supplement the USB port's meager power outpout.