one thing i wanna do to my MDD just for the hell of it is add a HDD activity LED as mac lack these and always have. the question is how would i do this where would i wire the LED?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Mod a MDD
- Thread starter LeoTheLion89
- Start date
Because their used only on computers that have a tendency to freeze while attempting to load anything, namely older Windows boxes. Actually, some Macs do have a HDD LED. My Cube has one, it's a pretty red one on the inside near the VRM board.
ok and just for the hell of it how to i upgrade the Power LED with a nice Purple or blue one?
Take out the front panel and remove the old LED and put in a new one. You may have to unsolder the old one or clip some wires. Fairly easy to do.
based upon this service manual to install the HDD light not only will i have to pull the LB to do it (as i have to wire it to all 3 IDE connectors) but i will also have to drill a hole in the case and the MDD panel to mount the LED
the one thing the manual does not say is if it is possible to remove one of the fold down doors completely off the bezel as id like to install a card reader or front USB port mod (not sure yet) but i know that either option i do the fold down door will get in my way
You should figure out the front door issue when you have it. Just fool around with it until you get it!
Anyway, I really like the idea of this. When I had my MDD I always missed the activity light. Especially when it would hang for a bit while installing something. Though I could hear the hard drive writing data, I would have loved a nice light blue LED on the front.
How do you plan on doing the card reader mod? That's an excellent idea. How do you plan on connecting it to the motherboard?
Anyway, I really like the idea of this. When I had my MDD I always missed the activity light. Especially when it would hang for a bit while installing something. Though I could hear the hard drive writing data, I would have loved a nice light blue LED on the front.
How do you plan on doing the card reader mod? That's an excellent idea. How do you plan on connecting it to the motherboard?
well if i can find a USB card with a USB header i will do it that way if i cant then ill get a card reader that u plug in with a normal USB port and just plug it into the internal USB port on the card.
Good idea. Never thought of that. You will just mod one of the doors right? How will you do that?
i have no idea i guess ill have to wait til i get it and then dismantal it remove the MDD bazel and fugure where it the Optical bay opening exactly is in the machine and how much of the optical drive is hidden by the MDDs if i can get full access to the card reader with out the bazel on then ill just take off one of the doors if possible
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Only problem I see there is that the door isn't perfectly squared on the corners. I guess if you can find a standard PC 3.5" front panel, you can rewire it to standard USB and plug it in. They may even sell USB 2.0 headers to USB adapters. Not sure. You can then get a 3.5" to 5.25" adapter, and cut a hole in the door to fit the card reader. A bit of modding on the inside (so it all fits) and you should be good
cutting a hole in the door is a good idea just not sure what to cut it with i dont have a cutting wheel in my wimpy little travel dremel
Well a little tip is to use an Xacto knife to score the paint so it wont chop. Just mark your square where the hole will be and cut through the paint. Also cover the mirror finish n masking tape (that's what I used to cut something that was painted) it should hold the finish on. Just take it slow too.
As for the wheel, you might as well invest in a few. I broke two already just cutting some wood. You can also just try to use an xacto knife, but that'll take a bit.
I think this would be a cool mod as the thread starter mentioned. Before i made my account i have been reading these forums and oddly this one seems lacking when i first read it it has two pages of posts now it seems that half of them have vanished. Has anyone had any success trying this? I would love to see the results of such a mod.
I haven't done it. I think Leo is soon. The thread is only a few days old. I would think it would take almost a month to finish this
I just noticed that the starter of this thread has been 'banned', maybe that might account for many of the missing posts.
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