noob optical drive help

[bittle.scott]

I purchased two broken macbook's off one of my buddy's for $25. He said they couldn't be fixed, he had tried countless times. I figured I'd give it a shot and if I couldn't, I'd just part them out. 3 hours later one is working just fine and i'm using it to post this question.

The macbook in question is Model Number: A1181

for some reason the optical drive had been removed from the laptop. He threw one in with the sale, and I'm having trouble finding what I need online. The ribbon it came with doesn't seem to be able to plug into the logic board. I've looked on ebay and craigslist, but the only ribbon that I can find is the one I have. Pictures below to what i'm talking about. I'm a mac noob, just wondering if someone could chime in and help me out


the connection to the logic board




the ribbon I received with the spare combo drive




reverse of said ribbon



any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking to buy a super drive and I don't know what ribbon I need

-Scott

 

[logana]

The MacBook you have got working is a 2009 or mid 2009 MacBook and uses a SATA optical drive. The optical drive your friend gave you is for the earlier MacBooks and they use a PATA drive with a much larger socket on the logic board - both confusingly have the same A1181 model number.

Maybe the SATA drive is in the other MacBook ?

 

[bittle.scott]

The MacBook you have got working is a 2009 or mid 2009 MacBook and uses a SATA optical drive. The optical drive your friend gave you is for the earlier MacBooks and they use a PATA drive with a much larger socket on the logic board - both confusingly have the same A1181 model number.

Maybe the SATA drive is in the other MacBook ?

thank you! acutally the one thats working is all together, it doesn't need anything else. all drives are there. The other not working needs the optical drive and a hard drive. thats it. =]

 

[minifridge1138]

I purchased two broken macbook's off one of my buddy's for $25.

I wish i had buddies like yours.

 

[bittle.scott]

I wish i had buddies like yours.

no doubt. I saw them sitting in his apartment and I was like, "you should sell me those for like 20 bucks"