X41 X4 Ultrabase optical part?

[jiopsi]

Is there some kind of identification for a compatible optical drive for X41 X4 Ultrabase? And could I boot from that drive?

[jiopsi]

Found out that it has ultrabay slim compatible slot?

[keithsketchley]

Here’s a few potential p/ns for “Ultrabay Slim”, which is what the bay in the x4 Dock and x4 Ultrabase uses:

Note that you need PATA interface, newer ones on Lenovo’s site are SATA but I don’t know what they call that bay.

Ultrabay slim devices
Note: X4 Dock required

ThinkPad CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo Ultrabay slim drive 22P7011 08K9865 (HLDS) & 62P4556 Yes
ThinkPad CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo II Ultrabay Slim drive 73P3288 13N6771 Yes
ThinkPad DVD Ultrabay slim drive 73P3270 92P6579 Yes
ThinkPad Multi-Burner Ultrabay slim drive 73P3294 92P6110 Yes
ThinkPad Multi-Burner Plus Ultrabay slim drive 73P3342 39T2507 Yes
from a Lenovo page “CD-ROM, CD-RW, and DVD drive accessories - ThinkPad X41, X41 Tablet” dated in 2007, possibly at http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-60523. The first number listed is the “option part number” (sometimes called “ASM”) while the second is the “FRU” number used for ordering as a replacement part – the drive will have both numbers on it. Ignore the Yes, I forget what that means and all entries are Yes. (While the table says “x4 Dock” required, they should work in the “x4 Ultrabase”, I have both and my Multiburner Plus p/n 73P3342 works in both.)

From a page not specific to x41:
73P3294 ThinkPad Multi-Burner Ultrabay Slim Drive

73P3270 ThinkPad DVD-ROM Ultrabay Slim Drive

73P3342 ThinkPad Multi-Burner Plus Ultrabay Slim Drive


I’ve had my hands on a CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive carrying FRU 39T2505/ASM 39T2504. Note that one reason for different p/ns for the same functionality is the newer European electronics requirements. Sometimes the FRU and p/n numbers are logically related, sometimes not.

If you have one in your hands, careful reading of the external face and the label on the top of the drive should identify the basics of what it handles. The multi-burner drives say “DVD Multi recorder CD-RW” on their face. Beware that CD-RW/DVD-ROM drives are common and that terminology is sloppy, especially by people who do not understand what they actually have – and some eBay sellers do not like questions!

I’m unsure of the difference between the Multiburner and the “Multiburner Plus”, perhaps the Plus is faster and handles the +R and +RW media while the basic Multi only handles –R and -RW. The Plus, which I have as p/n 73P3342 matching the above tables, is supposed to handle DVD-RAM in addition to the usual DVD+/-R and DVD+/-RW, but that’s an obscure format used for archiving data so of little concern for most users herein (I don’t know if the basic Multi handles DVD-RAM). (The + media is not handled by some earlier drives in computers in general, so is probably not a good choice where you give the discs to other people.)

[jiopsi]

Found and bought one for 10€. It's FRU 39T2505, and I think its CDRW/DVD.

[keithsketchley]

Yes, FRU 39T2505 is CD-RW/DVD-ROM, the p/ns and clear naming will show on top of the drive whereas the face is not so undertandable. Again I’ll caution that some sellers are confused, such as current eBay item 290330090910 which is listed as “DVD-CDRW” with no p/n given but the photo clearly shows a drive labelled CD-RW/DVD with p/n 39T2505, which should properly be described as CD-RW/DVD-ROM so buyers know what they are getting.

BTW, drives will show in Windows Device Manager with name of actual manufacturer – my MultiBurner Plus DVD-RW/CD-RW drive I listed earlier shows as “MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ-822S” which is a Panasonic subsidiary though some listings incorrectly say Toshiba.
(Apparently there is a UJ-822 version, that probably is the MultiBurner not the Plus. Somewhere in this forum there is a thread on updating its UDF firmware for better DVD-RAM compatibility, and a UJ-825 – the author used its drivers to update the UJ-822, and earlier and later model numbers.

There is a Lenovo firmware update for several UJ-8xxy drives but not including the 822S, the Lenovo routine fwdm14.iso makes a bootable disc which checks to see if the drive needs the update instead of just doing it regardless, but the drive must be in a computer not a docking station.
This stuff gets messy.

[keithsketchley]

Here I provide information to help guide purchase of optical drives for the Ultrabay Slim cavity used in many Thinkpads and docks such as the x4 Ultrabay and x4 Dock. This is a collection of information, my focus was getting DL capability.

PREAMBLE:
I am addressing recording to DL blanks unless specifically stated.

Great caution is needed:
- I’ve seen errors in Lenovo documents, whose writers seem to be sloppy in using previous ones as template for new ones.
- some sources appear to confuse ability to read DL with ability to write it,
- IBM/Lenovo naming is odd (e.g. some DVD MULTI may be more capable than DVD MULTI+,
- vintage does not define capability, as greater was often an extra-cost option,
- some external drive p/ns could have various internal drive brands/models,
- sometimes recording software will give clues in its identification of the drive, sometimes not,
- eBay sellers can be sloppy (showing wrong photo is common) and glib or worse (I recommend using PayPal who apparently are tough on sellers, so you can hold seller to what they advertised).

Unfortunately it seems the Ultrabay Slim drive adapters are not labeled to differentiate DL capability, whereas the drives in an external USB enclosure and Thinkcentre M57 slim desktop are right on the face. (Both examples I’ve seen are labeled “+R DL” whereas specs often include –R DL which I didn’t know existed.)

RoHS is recent European requirement for electronics, which multiplied the number of pns IBM/Lenovo had to produce for a while, all production is probably now compliant.

If anyone has specific solid information please add it to this thread, or preferably email me privately and I’ll recompile my list, especially if you actually have a particular drive and have tried it with DL blanks.

.... continued in next post.

[keithsketchley]

SPECIFIC INFO (DL drives in bold type)
26P9389 FRU/ 26P5738 PN is Ultrabay Plus cradle for WorkPad C500
PN 22P9163/FRU 22P9165 is a USB 2.0 external portable “Multi Burner”
39T2506 FRU/ 39T2507 PN is not DL per my RecordNow 8Premium software, labeled “DVD Multi +”, labeled “DVD Multi +”, edge labeled “DVD MULTI Recorder CD-RW”, RoHS, PATA
9T2579 FRU/ P/ 39T2578 PN is CD-R/W DVD-MULTI-Player, RoHS, labeled CD-RW/DVD, PATA
39T2687, 39T2677, 39T2679, 39T2681, 39T2685 & 39T2683, 39T2829 & 39T2851 were used in various models of x60 thru x61s, in the x6 Dock, per Lenovo MIGR-62906, which suggests vintage but not capability.
39T2829 FRU/ 39T2828 PN (in some x6 Docks, labeled “DVD Multi”, PATA, one seller said is UJ862 which is DL per Panasonic document, but actual drive received from that seller is labeled as Hitachi-LG GSA-U10N, RecordNow8Premium recognizes it as “HL-DT-ST DVDRW DL”.) RecordNow 8Premium software recognizes a +R DL blank and tries to write to it, however the used one I bought will not write successfully to any CD or DVD recordable media. It has the latest firmware I can find, v1.05. I suspect a weak laser. It does read a DL disc recorded on my Lenovo external DL drive.
39T2851 FRU is DL per Lenovo manual & Lenovo MIGR-67920 (aka 41N5643 though I’ve seen a photo of one showing that FRU 39T2851 labeled with 42T2506 PN & DVD MULTI & RoHS)
41N5561 FRU is Ultrabay Slim per Lenovo MIGR-4NXNTP, replaces FRU 62P4553/ pn 62P4554, but is it DL?

...continued more...

[keithsketchley]

MORE...
41N5565 is the PN on a package containing drive 41N5629 PN/ 41N5630 FRU and accessories.
41N5629 PN/ 41N5630 FRU is external slim drive with USB 2.0 interface, Super Multi-Burner with LightScribe, edge labeled “DVD MULTI Recorder” and RW +R DL”, RoHS, my RecordNow 8 Premier software does write to +R-DL with this drive. I like it.
41N5643 is DL -+R per Lenovo page which refers to Lenovol MIGR-67921 page
42T2506 PN seen in photo also labelled FRU 39T2851 & DVD MULTI.
41N5647 is the manual for an unidentified DL drive.
42T2545 an eBay seller claims is SATA
43N3214 an eBay seller claims is SATA with DL, that seller’s photo says Blu-Ray on top
45N7451 is SATA interface according to an eBay seller, for 400/500/700 type laptops
62P4553 is FRU for pn 62P4554
62P4556 FRU/ 62P4557 PN holds Ultrabay Slim drive in Ultrabay 2000 bay, per Lenovo MIGR-4NXNTP
73P3294 is Multiburner (no Plus), can read but not write DL nor DVD+R but can write DVD-R & -RW,
92P6110 one seller showed photo labelled “Multi +”

....continued in next post

[keithsketchley]

SPECIFIC INFO – continued.....
Complete Ultrabay Slim drives may be made by someone else for IBM/Lenovo, and may carry their model information as well (on the underside of the thinner area).
Hitachi-LG model GSA-U10N type C2 is 39T2829 FRU/ 39T2828 PN, is DL, see above.
Panasonic UJ-822S is in 39T2506 FRU/ 39T2507 PN, not DL, see above.
Panasonic UJ-862S is - & +R DL per a Panasonic document.
Sony DW-D56A is for a bay in older Thinkpads like x30, may be DL, not on Sony site but a Dell site has dimensions & specs.

REFERENCES:
In addition to Lenovo MIGR documents referred to above, here are a few general guides:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... rintLenovo re media types and drive labeling symbology, does not cover DL
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4TNTTA guide to optical drives