Newbie Question

Maverick1701 · January 29th, 2003, 03:16 AM

Yeah, I'm a new laptop owner...

Do any of you guys have modular laptop drives that you can switch out? (for instance a DVD-ROM for a CDRW)

I just bought a used IBM A20m Thinkpad and it comes with a 24x CD-ROM module, which is removable. I know some models of the A20m had DVD drives, but I can't find any specifically for sale or even mentioned, and I have no experience with laptop modules. All of the optical drives look exactly alike to me. All the same shape, all the same hookup as far as I can tell. If a bought one that says its for a Dell Inspiron or something, will it work in my Thinkpad? Is it just a driver issue? All the slots appear to recieve the same drive...

KenKun · January 29th, 2003, 03:23 AM

Yep, you can use DVD drive made by Toshiba Pioneer or Teac .. etc with any Laptop as long as it fits in (i know that it has a standard size, only the drive`s tray cover might differ in color or size) ..
Your OS will detect the drive and mostly install the drivers for it automatically, if not you can get the drivers from the manufacture`s website ...

Think of it just like switching your desktop`s CD drive (which you can use any IDE drive in) ..

PS. not 101% sure about this, so someone correct me if i`m wrong.

Welcome to TechIMO

January 29th, 2003, 03:27 AM

the dell dives have a differnt connection or all the ones i've sen do you'll need to go to the ibm site and get the part number for the drives you want. prices are kinda high but if you keep an eye open on ebay sometimes you can get some. i'll post a website later that has alot of ibm thinkpad drives {its on my other computer}

Maverick1701 · January 29th, 2003, 03:29 AM

Thanks a lot, especially for your quick response this late.

I can probably switch out the "bay covers" like you can on a regular CD rom with the one from my CD ROM module... at least I've seen other posts on this subject mention it. I was only uncertain because everywhere I have seen the sold separately, they mention a specific laptop for it. Had me edgy.

Thanks again.

Maverick1701 · January 29th, 2003, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RicheemxX
the dell dives have a differnt connection or all the ones i've sen do you'll need to go to the ibm site and get the part number for the drives you want. prices are kinda high but if you keep an eye open on ebay sometimes you can get some. i'll post a website later that has alot of ibm thinkpad drives {its on my other computer}

The thing with that is when I look for the A20m on IBMs site, it doesn't have a spec page anymore, it just has links to buy a new laptop and such. The support page only had drivers and bios flashes.

If you can show me where to get specific Thinkpad drives, that'd be awesome.

January 29th, 2003, 03:37 AM

I didn't give an fru# for replacement? It should matter the drive sizes are going to be the same any ways I think. the only problem is getting the right connection. I bought an Ibm drive to go into an nlx case and it was a differnt connection than the one dell uses {it was a panansonic drive} here's that page I mentioned I've never use them but I know the prives are decent just from my own searches ACS parts

hope it all helps

KenKun · January 29th, 2003, 03:45 AM

I did a little check and it seems that ThinkPad Series use Hitachi or Panasonic (Matshita) DVD drives.

Quote:

- GD-S200 (Hitachi-LG Data Storage)
- GDR-8081N (Hitachi-LG Data Storage)
- SR-8175 (MKE)
- SR-8176 (MKE)

The following is a list of IBM ThinkPad systems which may include those DVD drives:
- ThinkPad A20m, A20p, A21e, A21m, A21p, A22e, A22m, A22p
- ThinkPad A30, A30p, A31, A31p
- ThinkPad T20, T21, T22, T23
- ThinkPad i Series 1800

I took the info from the firmware update official page of IBM.
http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/MIGR...up=unknownuser

Good luck ...

January 29th, 2003, 03:49 AM

here's the url for the thinkpad a20m drive options it has a full list of parts and part numbers that will work with your laptop. IBM

its straight from the ibm site if the link doesn't work right just Im me or pm me and i'll send it agin or tell you how to get there

Maverick1701 · January 29th, 2003, 03:58 AM

I seem to have found it...

http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/MIGR...user1004106089

It said in the specs that the A20m has the "Ultrabay 2000" and I found an 8X with the matching # for about $115 on ACS. Think I'll find it cheaper elsewhere?