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anybody replace optical drive with a hard drive?
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why all the trouble of creating a case? Electrical tape is fine!
Here is my mod.. I even managed to keep the speaker too!
Nice job.
I wouldn't make a case either. Tape and foam (maybe some velcro)
Is there a problem with keeping the speaker as you mentioned?
yeah, the space is REALLY tight with the sata connectors protruding out so much - which is why I don't want a case, the cables already give pretty good support. We just need some tape that doesn't leave residue.
why all the trouble of creating a case? Electrical tape is fine!
Here is my mod.. I even managed to keep the speaker too!
Did you make sure not to cover the hole on the hard drive that says "do not cover this hole"?
You may also overheat the drive a bit by suffocating it like that. The drive will also get quite warm on its own and may melt the glue and not stay in place.
oh yeah, that one... i'll have to check when i get home. One good thing is that i have the HD auto shut down in 1min, so it barely ever gets used.
why all the trouble of creating a case? Electrical tape is fine!
Here is my mod.. I even managed to keep the speaker too!
Might i make a suggestion. Since both of the sata connections are same speed, I would switch the placement of the hdd with the ssd. I would do this because the hdd vibrates and could use the anti vibrate material in the mount, second the hdd is more prone to failure from jolts/quick movements than the ssd, so swapping would extend the life of the hdd.
So, I thought lets give you guys a update how things are going here. I did the install and it all worked. But anyone ho knows me, can tell I want things to be perfect/pretty good. So I worked on it a bit more, so I could post a detailed how-to and show some descent pictures. While doing that I figured out a few more interesting details. The macbook pro has a row of small magnets on the edge of the battery compartment, if the lid is not attached to these magnets, the macbook pro will not boot.
And here's another nice detail. The chances are that you want to test everything before closing it all down. You found out that if you push the battery cover against the magnets, it will still boot. So you boot, it all works and you shut-down. Nest you remove the battery cover and you remove the camera cable as it is in the way. See this picture from the service manual:
The slimline sata cable is the bottom one, underneath the highlighted cable. The highlighted one is the camera cable.
But when you read the service manual, you know why this is a very, very bad idea....
Caution: When testing an
AirPort card connection,
wait at least 5 seconds
after shutdown before
connecting the camera
cable connection to the
logic board. Waiting less
than that could damage
the AirPort card.
The chances that this happens to you are pretty slim, but guess what? It happened to me! So this is just a warning... Don't do as I did!
So I am still waiting on the airport card to arrive, and in the mean time I am working on a extended tutorial with descent pictures and a clean install. Because I hate duck tape and tierip installs! (but that's me).
Anyway, I will post the tutorial pretty soon, probably today or tomorrow.
And here's another nice detail. The chances are that you want to test everything before closing it all down. You found out that if you push the battery cover against the magnets, it will still boot. So you boot, it all works and you shut-down. Nest you remove the battery cover and you remove the camera cable as it is in the way. See this picture from the service manual:
The slimline sata cable is the bottom one, underneath the highlighted cable. The highlighted one is the camera cable.
But when you read the service manual, you know why this is a very, very bad idea....
Caution: When testing an
AirPort card connection,
wait at least 5 seconds
after shutdown before
connecting the camera
cable connection to the
logic board. Waiting less
than that could damage
the AirPort card.
The chances that this happens to you are pretty slim, but guess what? It happened to me! So this is just a warning... Don't do as I did!
So I am still waiting on the airport card to arrive, and in the mean time I am working on a extended tutorial with descent pictures and a clean install. Because I hate duck tape and tierip installs! (but that's me).
Anyway, I will post the tutorial pretty soon, probably today or tomorrow.
So here are the pictures I promised you guys. I tried to make kind of tutorial of how I did it, so other people can learn, and take ideas on how to do their install.
First of all, here is the required cable:
The way to keep the most cable is to remove the molex, using a pair of tweezers. You need to get inside the molex where you can see little hooks that prevent the pins from slipping out. You have to push them inwards, I used a pair of tweezers, but anything that is small and long can be used.
Here's a picture of what I mean: (although not quite clear)
Here's a picture of the molex removed:
Next I stripped a sata power connector using a utility knife:
as you can see, the wires are still in place, you will have to remove these to get the wires from the slimline cable in there. Once you have a few out the rest goes with it quite easily.
After that I cut the wires from the slimline sata cable:
And stripped some plastic:
Here you can start to see what the plan is:
And here I started fixing them toghether:
here's a picture of the finished product:
I also stripped the data cable a bit, so I could bend it slightly easier. (you get more room to play with)
Here you can see, the bracket that I made, (I had to modify a bit) and the test hard drive that I am using for now. Two mtron ssd's are on its way to me, so when they go in I'll post some pictures of that also.
Here's a close-up of the install:
(I probably have to bend the last ground and the 5 volt a bit straighter, especially the 5 volt, because that one is the one is the most important. (the 12 volt doesn't gets used, and you need only one ground)Also note that this is not soldered!
And a view of the final result: (I do not like to use duck tape, but to keep some of the cables in place, you really have to.
So that's all there is to it. To me it seems a far better way than soldering the cables together as it attached the same way manufacturers do it.
First of all, here is the required cable:
The way to keep the most cable is to remove the molex, using a pair of tweezers. You need to get inside the molex where you can see little hooks that prevent the pins from slipping out. You have to push them inwards, I used a pair of tweezers, but anything that is small and long can be used.
Here's a picture of what I mean: (although not quite clear)
Here's a picture of the molex removed:
Next I stripped a sata power connector using a utility knife:
as you can see, the wires are still in place, you will have to remove these to get the wires from the slimline cable in there. Once you have a few out the rest goes with it quite easily.
After that I cut the wires from the slimline sata cable:
And stripped some plastic:
Here you can start to see what the plan is:
And here I started fixing them toghether:
here's a picture of the finished product:
I also stripped the data cable a bit, so I could bend it slightly easier. (you get more room to play with)
Here you can see, the bracket that I made, (I had to modify a bit) and the test hard drive that I am using for now. Two mtron ssd's are on its way to me, so when they go in I'll post some pictures of that also.
Here's a close-up of the install:
(I probably have to bend the last ground and the 5 volt a bit straighter, especially the 5 volt, because that one is the one is the most important. (the 12 volt doesn't gets used, and you need only one ground)Also note that this is not soldered!
And a view of the final result: (I do not like to use duck tape, but to keep some of the cables in place, you really have to.
So that's all there is to it. To me it seems a far better way than soldering the cables together as it attached the same way manufacturers do it.
Actually, last night I realized that sleep doesn't work correctly with the HDs swapped. Sleep only works when the computer doesn't hibernates (achieved by using smartsleep)
Normally, when you close your lid, Mac OS x will write all data in RAM to the HDD(hibernation), then it sleeps. That data is recalled if the computer loses power (when battery is being changed, or when sleep drains all of the battery power).
When I swapped SSD (which contains the only bootable partition) into the optical bay and the computer tries to sleep, it hangs up at hibernation. The computer never goes to sleep(or be able to wake up for that matter)
I used a utility called smartsleep and disabled hibernation altogether, so now the computer sleeps and wakes up normally - no more hangs, at the expense of hibernation.
When I swapped SSD (which contains the only bootable partition) into the optical bay and the computer tries to sleep, it hangs up at hibernation. The computer never goes to sleep(or be able to wake up for that matter)
I used a utility called smartsleep and disabled hibernation altogether, so now the computer sleeps and wakes up normally - no more hangs, at the expense of hibernation.
how about this cable.... would it work?
http://cgi.ebay.ca/15-7-Pin-Female-...14&_trkparms=72:1215|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318
Again, that one is for a regular 3,5 hard drive. Some pictures here to show you the difference. With the second one the data cable is the widest, meanwhile with regular sata connections the power connector is by far a lot wider.
This is the one you mentioned, you can see that the power cable is the widest. Let's take a look at the next one.
Here the power cable is even smaller than the data cable, so that's the difference.
My mtron ssd's are here, (finally...) As soon as I get myself a external dvd burner I can install them and do some benchmarks. I will keep you guys informed.
This is the one you mentioned, you can see that the power cable is the widest. Let's take a look at the next one.
Here the power cable is even smaller than the data cable, so that's the difference.
My mtron ssd's are here, (finally...) As soon as I get myself a external dvd burner I can install them and do some benchmarks. I will keep you guys informed.
I did the mod (it's that way now)
Funny thing was, I did it, and then I went "Ooh this is going to break something, I had better put it back the way it was". Then I did it again, and again,
Point is, it's really pretty easy, and can be revearsed easily. Sure you have to be very careful with the very small stuff (it's good to have maginification, or at least it helps).
still there are risks, but for geeks who cares ...right?
It's really, really crampred with the ***** cables that we are stuck with so far. We really need a special cheap adapter.
If some enterprising fellow that's handy with the solder could make some extra cash be making some , please do.
Anyway, it's better than spending $100 on the optidrive and also it's very easy to switch everthing aound......just for fun
Funny thing was, I did it, and then I went "Ooh this is going to break something, I had better put it back the way it was". Then I did it again, and again,
Point is, it's really pretty easy, and can be revearsed easily. Sure you have to be very careful with the very small stuff (it's good to have maginification, or at least it helps).
still there are risks, but for geeks who cares ...right?
It's really, really crampred with the ***** cables that we are stuck with so far. We really need a special cheap adapter.
If some enterprising fellow that's handy with the solder could make some extra cash be making some , please do.
Anyway, it's better than spending $100 on the optidrive and also it's very easy to switch everthing aound......just for fun
ok can someone please sell me on of these cables the slimline to power and sata...... i cant get it from satacables because im in canada... i cant find anyone online that makes one......and no one around my city sells them......
ill paypal someone money if they can send me one
ill paypal someone money if they can send me one
I wouldnt bother.... keep it for when you need it
and go out and get yourself a Macbook Air superdrive and do the minor hack to it and take that with you..... its prettier
thats just me though
Ok guys and gals,
I have been searching for this cable for a while.
can someone pease buy me(i'll pay for them) 4 and post them to the UK PLEASE PLEASE...
There is no company or site that delivers to UK so i would greatly appreciate if someone would help.
Thanx
I have been searching for this cable for a while.
can someone pease buy me(i'll pay for them) 4 and post them to the UK PLEASE PLEASE...
There is no company or site that delivers to UK so i would greatly appreciate if someone would help.
Thanx
Minor hack?
I looked at that mod and it looks like too much trouble.
It's not like a firmware update. You have to solder a replacement system board
It is hard to find some for sata slim optical drives, and even harder for very slim ones (9.5mm !)
http://cgi.ebay.ie/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220333893030
(looks bad to me, too big, bulky, etc.. but at least it is the right pcb board)
I would buy a complete external one,
http://cgi.ebay.ie/USB-Burner-8x-DV...3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:2|39:1|240:1318
or maybe a slim blu ray
http://cgi.ebay.ie/NEW-Blu-Ray-Play...3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:2|39:1|240:1309
Anyone get this method to work with the pre unibody macbooks? Those superdrives are not sata but rather IDE so there connector is diff. I'm thinking of ripping apart a OBHD-SATA from newmodeus. http://newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_27&products_id=168
SATA is type of drive is allows to connect after.
I would use a 1.8" SSD or HDD in that slot too have enough room for some other usb mods.
The Pata version from newmodeus is actually cheaper (on sale for $25). Doesn't the macbook air use a pata SSD?
Dont want to thread jack but:
What type of performance difference would there by with a 32gb ssd (PATA vs SATA) and a 320gb 7200 rpm SATA vs IDE drive?
SATA is type of drive is allows to connect after.
I would use a 1.8" SSD or HDD in that slot too have enough room for some other usb mods.
The Pata version from newmodeus is actually cheaper (on sale for $25). Doesn't the macbook air use a pata SSD?
Dont want to thread jack but:
What type of performance difference would there by with a 32gb ssd (PATA vs SATA) and a 320gb 7200 rpm SATA vs IDE drive?
to fatcat23
it is possible, and a lot easier :
http://store.mcetech.com/Merchant2/...5&Category_Code=STORHDOPTIBAY&Product_Count=2
(comes with sata or ide connector)
I am not really sure what kind of usb mods you want to fit here, especially because I do not understand how you will plug your mods to the logic board (or maybe by using one of the external usb ports)
Also recent 1.8 inches SATA use mini SATA I think..
The first gen of Air uses PATA, the current gen uses SATA.
Do not thread jack please, go check Google for hdd vs ssd.
For PATA vs SATA, I do not think this is useful to know in your case as the plug on the logicboard is PATA anyway, your SATA drive will be limited to the PATA speed anyway.
it is possible, and a lot easier :
http://store.mcetech.com/Merchant2/...5&Category_Code=STORHDOPTIBAY&Product_Count=2
(comes with sata or ide connector)
I am not really sure what kind of usb mods you want to fit here, especially because I do not understand how you will plug your mods to the logic board (or maybe by using one of the external usb ports
)Also recent 1.8 inches SATA use mini SATA I think..
The first gen of Air uses PATA, the current gen uses SATA.
Do not thread jack please, go check Google for hdd vs ssd.
For PATA vs SATA, I do not think this is useful to know in your case as the plug on the logicboard is PATA anyway, your SATA drive will be limited to the PATA speed anyway.
to fatcat23
it is possible, and a lot easier :
http://store.mcetech.com/Merchant2/...5&Category_Code=STORHDOPTIBAY&Product_Count=2
I am not really sure what kind of usb mods you want to fit here, especially because I do not understand how you will plug your mods to the logic board (or maybe by using one of the external usb ports
the first gen of AIR uses PATA, the current gen uses SATA.
Do not thread jackplease, go check google for hdd vs ssd.
For PATA vs SATA, I do not think this is useful to know in your case as the plug on the logicboard is PATA anyway, your SATA drive will be limited to the PATA speed anyway.
The optibay is $130 and takes up the entire drive. I want to add a usb hub, then internal gps & 3g usb modem & maybe something else. They would be running from the bluetooth usb hub.
Your right about the PATA vs SATA, it would be limited to PATA. Thanks for the help, never though about it like that.
EDIT: I want to do this as cheap as possible and with as much room for my mods.