MacBook Air SuperDrive Accessory Needs High-Power USB Port

[rtheb]

BTW, what kind of soldering iron tip and solder do you use for this kind of work?

I use standard 60/40 solder (60% tin and 40% lead) with a rosin core.

Use plenty of flux and heat the pin not the solder.

The tip is a about 1/8" but just a standard Radio Shack Iron will work.

Also Radio Shack sells a Soldering Stand with clips that I find helpful.

You might want to do a search for soldering how-to and buy a beginner soldering instructional kit to practice.

 

[SkippyThorson]

Try plugging any non-powered USB hub into a Mac Pro or a PC, and try running a device that requires a bunch of power (i.e. "high-power"), like a zip drive or optical drive that doesn't have an AC adapter, and see if it works. If it does, I guarantee you it won't support another device, such as an iPod...

I actually have 3 flash drives plugged into a non-powered USB Hub from Mi, plugged into my Airport Extreme and they all work just fine. Albeit a little slower than directly into my computer, but they work.

I like the fact that the option is even there to purchase the Air drive. They could have easily only included that disk-borrowing software with no hardware option. Props to Apple, despite the high-powered demands. It works with all of its intent - I don't see the issue here.

 

[rtheb]

Props to Apple, despite the high-powered demands. It works with all of its intent - I don't see the issue here.

If you read this thread to the end you will see it is not a power issue, but Apple locking all other computers, except the MacBook Air, out.

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/6200271/

Apple deserves our condemnation, not approbation, in this matter!

 

[RickAdair]

I've tried this using the board from idotpc. I keep getting a "usb over current" error when I connect the drive. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Rick

 

[rtheb]

I've tried this using the board from idotpc. I keep getting a "usb over current" error when I connect the drive. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Rick

Since you didn't describe the computer and configuration it is pretty hard to comment, however I would run System Profiler and see if the drive is recognized and if its Bus Power is (mA): 500.

If you properly soldered the board, then it is possible that you got a bad board from idotpc.

In the past the "usb over current" was discussed here:

http://forums.macworld.com/thread/74189?start=0&tstart=0

and here:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1866828&tstart=135

UPDATE:

Found this issue with 10.5.6

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=141178

 

[RickAdair]

Thanks for the info. I am only seeing this when I connect the MBA superdrive. All other USB devices work fine. I verified the solder points. This is on a MBP SR 2.4. Not sure where to go next.

Is does not show up in system profiler.

Thanks again,
Rick

 

[bobnugget]

Does not!

Hey, you might be interested in a thread I started here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/638755/

It links through to instructions I put up on my website - you can get the SuperDrive to work in Windows (but not as a bootable drive) by installing a driver from Boot Camp.

Instructions

 

[RickAdair]

Thanks for all the info guys. I had a short on the board. After some cleanup all is well and my Terrabyte MBP project is complete.

Thanks again,
Rick

 

[rtheb]

Thanks for all the info guys. I had a short on the board. After some cleanup all is well and my Terrabyte MBP project is complete.

Thanks again,
Rick

That is good news I suspected a short and/or a bad board so I'm glad you solved the issue!

BTW please describe your Terabyte MBP project?

 

[rtheb]

Hey, you might be interested in a thread I started here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/638755/

It links through to instructions I put up on my website - you can get the SuperDrive to work in Windows (but not as a bootable drive) by installing a driver from Boot Camp.

Instructions

I tried your instructions with one of my hardware modified MacBookAir Superdrives and now my MacBook doesn't recognize the superdrive on the Windows Vista 32 side.

I used the BCUpdateVista32.exe and I'm not sure what happened.

I'm going to try and roll back the drivers with System Restore and see what happens.

BTW the drive still works fine on the OS X side of the MacBook.

I wouldn't try this method with a hardware modified drive until we have more info.

If anyone else has tried this with a "standard" MacBook Air Superdrive please comment.

 

[RickAdair]

That is good news I suspected a short and/or a bad board so I'm glad you solved the issue!

BTW please describe your Terabyte MBP project?

I replace the internal superdrive with a 500GB HD using an adapter from newmodeus.com. I'm running one 500GB for OS X and one 500GB for bootcamp. Now having the modded MBA superdrive allows for burning and optical disk access. It's great to have this much storage in a 15" MBP.

 

[rtheb]

I tried your instructions with one of my hardware modified MacBookAir Superdrives and now my MacBook doesn't recognize the superdrive on the Windows Vista 32 side.

I used the BCUpdateVista32.exe and I'm not sure what happened.

I'm going to try and roll back the drivers with System Restore and see what happens.

BTW the drive still works fine on the OS X side of the MacBook.

I wouldn't try this method with a hardware modified drive until we have more info.

If anyone else has tried this with a "standard" MacBook Air Superdrive please comment.

The System Restore worked for the hardware modified MacBookAir Superdrive.

The MacBook again recognizes the "Optiarc DVD RW AD-5630A USB Device"
aka MacBook Air Superdrive.

bobnugget:

Could you please post some pictures of your Device Manager showing the "DVD/CD drives" properties?

Have you attempted to burn anything (particularly DL DVD's) and were you successful?

Herewith are the before and after pics of the MacBook's Device Manager info before and after the System Restore:

Please Notice that before System Restore there is no "Optiarc DVD RW AD-5630A USB Device" under the "DVD/CD drives".

After the System Restore you can see that the "Optiarc DVD RW AD-5630A USB Device" under the "DVD/CD drives" is now functioning properly.

Strange stuff

 

[bobnugget]

Yup - I'll post them up later. Before I installed the drivers, I was getting a "USB Mass Storage Device" and a CD-ROM drive, I think, but they didn't work. After, I get the OPTIARC drive. I can post Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7 shots.

Also - I'm not surprised installing the driver doesn't work with a replacement board. The driver is for the weird apple board in the MacBook Air SuperDrive and makes it work. It looks like quite a simple modern windows driver, and installs a drive filter too.

 

[SkippyThorson]

If you read this thread to the end you will see it is not a power issue, but Apple locking all other computers, except the MacBook Air, out.

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/6200271/

Apple deserves our condemnation, not approbation, in this matter!

I actually read all 7 pages, thank you, however I didn't come to a conclusion that meant that was the actual problem. I don't see why they should allow this for use with other computers. The Air is it's own one of a kind device, and has a one of a kind add on. The problem there? Nonexistent to me. All their computers have drives anyway, so what does it matter? If it breaks, you replace the drive. I have drives laying around should one of mine die.

It's like saying that the iPhone 3G dock should allow docking of all iProducts... No, they make universals for a reason (same deal), they sell generic drives for swapping for a reason. No real issue here. Want a drive? Buy a different one.

You do all know that they sell external CD drives without an Apple logo, right?

 

[cleanup]

Holy old thread, Batman!

Oh well. Just another case of Apple pulling its "let's put proprietary technologies and aesthetics over function!" stuff again. If you don't like, you buy third party drive, yis? Probably cheaper, anyways.

 

[iomatic]

Ugh.

How does one backup their external USB hard drive using the SuperDrive without hacking? Answer: never, without hacking.

Preposterous. Now I have to find another DVD writer? Maybe there's a Blue-Ray one?

Oh:
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/smartshare-usb
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001IZJHXM

 

[rtheb]

Ugh.

How does one backup their external USB hard drive using the SuperDrive without hacking? Answer: never, without hacking.

Preposterous. Now I have to find another DVD writer? Maybe there's a Blue-Ray one?

Oh:
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/smartshare-usb
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001IZJHXM

This cable appears to be nothing more than a portable USB hub.


From the Griffin Press Release...

SmartShare® USB

The convenience of a desktop USB hub, but entirely portable. This slim-as-can-be USB hub provides an extra hi-speed USB 2.0 port to MacBook® Air (or any other laptop), and makes its recessed USB port accessible to more devices. Even travelers can enjoy the luxury of plugging in an available keyboard, mouse or other peripheral into one port while charging and syncing their iPod or iPhone in the other.

MacBook Air owners have reported that the MacBook Air Superdrive doesn't work with any powered or non-powered USB hubs.

Hopefully someone with a MacBook Air will test this and report if the MacBook Air Superdrive works with this cable.

 

[PracticalMac]

FireWire already has gobs of power, is Apples own technology, and because of its host independent design may easily provide video, audio, Ethernet, and USB support.

This MBA sounds like a "Blond". It has the looks, but little else.

 

[Paul B]

It wasn't pretty, but I finally got done modding one of these. The process was much harder than expected. The solder points are small (relative to what I'm used to) and close to each other, not to mention the wires were all different lengths and hard to cut... I think the soldering alone took me two hours.

Then there's the crystal that gets in the way of the USB cable. Insanely annoying. I didn't move the crystal like tankgrl did because I wasn't sure what gauge wire to use. Does anyone know? Will 24-gauge speaker wire work?

What I did was I did what Unenumerated shared in the comments of this page. I cut the material around the cable and re-mounted the superdrive with the crystal underneath the cable. It was a really tight fit -- so tight that I couldn't screw the 1st screw back in (the one not along the sides) and I'm not so sure that I wanna do that again for my next superdrive mod.

 

[rtheb]

It wasn't pretty, but I finally got done modding one of these. The process was much harder than expected. The solder points are small (relative to what I'm used to) and close to each other, not to mention the wires were all different lengths and hard to cut... I think the soldering alone took me two hours.

Then there's the crystal that gets in the way of the USB cable. Insanely annoying. I didn't move the crystal like tankgrl did because I wasn't sure what gauge wire to use. Does anyone know? Will 24-gauge speaker wire work?

What I did was I did what Unenumerated shared in the comments of this page. I cut the material around the cable and re-mounted the superdrive with the crystal underneath the cable. It was a really tight fit -- so tight that I couldn't screw the 1st screw back in (the one not along the sides) and I'm not so sure that I wanna do that again for my next superdrive mod.

So did your hack work?

As I posted earlier in this thread:

I just finished the mod of a second MacBookAir Superdrive using this other USB to IDE Bridge:

Slim Optical Drive IDE to USB Adapter

I am happy to report that this card works as well.

The cable is a tight fit with this card but it works and you do not have to remove a daughter card or relocate the crystal.

You have to solder the wires from the MacBookAir Superdrive as in this sequence:

RED
GREEN
WHITE
BLACK (Two Wires)

Some System Profiler and Toast Burn pics of a DL DVD showing the Optiarc DVD (MacBookAir Superdrive) being used successfully with my First Gen MacBook!

and here:

You will need to pull the plastic plug socket, where the new supplied power cord attaches to the new board, off. It should come off with pliers.

You will then need to snip the plug pins close to the board or it will not fit in the enclosure.

Then just solder the wires from the MacBook Air Superdrive to the snipped pins in this sequence:

RED
GREEN
WHITE
BLACK (Two Wires)

There are a total of 5 wires and 4 solder points. Both black wires are ground (and are connected together), the red wire is +5V, the green and white wires are the USB data pair.

After soldering put some Kapton Tape over the solder points.

The screws Apple used to secure their board to the DVD are too short to use with the new board, so use some additional Kapton Tape to secure the board to the DVD.

Check the pull apart pictures here:

http://www.jacobpierce.com/blog/2008/06/01/tear-down-external-usb-macbook-air-superdrive/

And tnkgrl's pictures here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tnkgrl/sets/72157605790040071/

You should be good to go.

Let us know your results when you finish.

Also from NexusEclipse

Worked well. Ordered the part from your link and a refurb drive from the apple store. Took an hour or so (took my time just to make sure i didn't screw up). Just a few notes from my install that may be useful.

1. rtheb's comment of cutting the pins very close is key. There is not much room to play with if you don't do it right and I nearly had to recut because it was close.

2. The existing black sticker and the heat resistant tape is useful (especially if you dont have that stuff lying around). I reused the black sticker to make sure that none of the board components make contact with the drive and the tape i wrapped around the soldered points so that it wouldnt make contact with the case.

3. I had originally thought to to desolder the pins and just solder directly to the board, but the board heats up too quickly for the iron i had and ended up with the pin cutting method (couldn't find my wire cutters and used a small serrated knife - it worked fine).

4. The macbook air eject button (at least from I could gather) doesn't work with the modded drive. You can still right click and eject from the desktop but the keyboard key is effectively useless.

5. The screws that come with the IDE board are long enough for this mod and doesn't require tape to hold it down.

Also just to note, getting the case off the drive was very tough. My drive barely had enough room for a credit card to fit and I had to use a screw driver to help nudge the old credit cards in place. Once you get one side off, the whole thing just pops off.

I think if you do attempt another hack, use the Slim Optical Drive IDE to USB Adapter card which eliminates all hassles with the crystal on the board used by tnkgrl.

BTW both of my hacked Superdrives (tnkgrl method and idotpc method) have functioned flawlessly for over a year now.

 

[Paul B]

Yea, mine does work.

I'm gonna go through the same process twice more since I have two more SuperDrives + tnkgrl adapters.

What can I use to strip the wire? The wires are too thin for my wire stripper and the colored ones are stranded.

 

[rtheb]

Yea, mine does work.

I'm gonna go through the same process twice more since I have two more SuperDrives + tnkgrl adapters.

What can I use to strip the wire? The wires are too thin for my wire stripper and the colored ones are stranded.

I just used a very sharp x-acto knife and carefully stripped the wires after de-soldering them from the original Apple proprietary board.

I'm surprised you would use the tnkgrl board as the Slim Optical Drive IDE to USB Adapter is so much easier and fits perfectly without messing with the crystal.

But to each his own.

Glad it is working for you.

Apple could probably sell a lot of these "superdrives" if they just removed the proprietary board, but Apple does what Apple does!

 

[Paul B]

Right, it's too bad I ordered the tnkgrl adapters and not those. And now that I'm not in the US anymore it's hard to have stuff shipped to me.

 

[rtheb]

http://www.adamhunter.net/powerup.html

Provides and Explains a Software Hack that allows the MacBook Air SuperDrive
to work on Windows without any of the Hardware Hacking previously discussed here.

No mention of a Macintosh Software Hack but I thought this might be of interest to those of us using both platforms.

I haven't tried this software hack as I have already done the hardware hacks to my two MacBook Air SuperDrives which BTW are still running flawlessly on the MacPro, iBook G4, and MacBook on the Macintosh side, and on my VAIO and ThinkPad on the Windows side.

 

[rtheb]

Just a heads up in case someone stumbles across this old thread and wants to attempt the hardware hack.

Be sure to use the 2009 version of this drive.

The 2010 version (new version) now has an integrated controller that can’t be removed as discussed in this thread.

The newer drive packing box is larger and is now labeled with the 2010 date.

The 2009 Model Number: MB397G/A

The 2010 Model Number: MC684ZM/A