External USB optical drive problem

[Hassan69]

Hi I just purchased the the following Startech USB 3.0 to Slimline SATA ODD Enclosure. I used an old laptop blu ray drive that works (old laptop does not bootup). I plugged it into my early 2009 iMac and the light comes on and you can hear it work. I placed an audio cd and a blu ray disc and the Mac does not recognised either and also the drive is not recognised by the Mac. I have also connected this to a Windows 10 laptop with a USB 3 connection same issue as it does no recogise the drive either. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[nebo1ss]

Probably not enough power.Can you use external power for the drive.

 

[Hassan69]

There is no power connection just the usb cable.

 

[dwig]

You need to check the specs on the case and the drive. SATA drives can require any mix 0f 3.3v (rarely used), 5v & 12v. Most "portable" cases that get their power from the USB connection don't provide the 12v power since the USB connection provides only 5v. Many old drives, possibly your old BluRay drive, require both 5v and 12v.

If your drive requires 12v and the case doesn't provide it then there is no way to make the combination work. The only solution would be a case with its own power supply.

 

[nebo1ss]

There is no power connection just the usb cable.

Try one of these to get the extra power. You need two USB connectors on the computer or connect the USB with the smaller cable to a USB Brick. My external DVD drive came with this cable and will not work without it.

 

[Hassan69]

I have checked the drive and it requires 5v as you can see in the attached image.