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Removing optical drive without installing anything in its place?

B

burnout8488

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
May 8, 2011
578
95
Endwell, NY
I've seen a lot of threads about using the Optibay to put a second HD/SSD in the area where the Optical drive sits in a MacBook. I don't want to do this, I want to remove it entirely, but have a question.

I am looking at getting a polycarbonate 2007 MacBook, and was wondering if the optical drive is integral to the structure of the laptop. If I remove it, will it compromise the integrity of the laptop and make it bendy? Or, can I remove it entirely and enjoy a slight weight savings? I haven't read of anyone doing this, despite searching the forum and internet for the last hour.

Thanks!:apple:
 
That's what I figured, but I will be inside the laptop anyway doing general clean-up work. If I'm in there, I'll take it out if it doesn't compromise sturdiness.

I don't think I'm going to find too many that have done this, so I might just be the guinea pig and post up my results once complete.
 
I just took it out but put a extra hard drive in its place, super super simple to do!!!


i did this mod 2 days ago on my macbook unibody,

was fairly simple to do, didnt even need directions, just super small screwdriver!!!

my mac has extra 1 tb hard drive, as well as the 750 that it normally uses.


spent like 40 dollar on a tray to hold the hard drive in, as well as a box encloser to put the cd/dvd drive in so I can use it thru USB. 100 dollars for 2.5 tb hard drive thru mico center.

it simple to do, just open up ur mac, take off a couple of screws, and unclip 2 clips. you dont need directions.
 
Last edited:
burnout8488 said:
I've seen a lot of threads about using the Optibay to put a second HD/SSD in the area where the Optical drive sits in a MacBook. I don't want to do this, I want to remove it entirely, but have a question.

I am looking at getting a polycarbonate 2007 MacBook, and was wondering if the optical drive is integral to the structure of the laptop. If I remove it, will it compromise the integrity of the laptop and make it bendy? Or, can I remove it entirely and enjoy a slight weight savings? I haven't read of anyone doing this, despite searching the forum and internet for the last hour.

Thanks!:apple:
Click to expand...

I Have the same mid 2007 macbook, I Don't have the optical drive in it, It broke, so i use an external USB Drive. It actually is a bit lighter! It is fine without the drive, I Have dropped the macbook before, the less weight the more likely it is to survive a fall, so sturdiness is not an issue.
 
WAM2 said:
I Have the same mid 2007 macbook, I Don't have the optical drive in it, It broke, so i use an external USB Drive. It actually is a bit lighter! It is fine without the drive, I Have dropped the macbook before, the less weight the more likely it is to survive a fall, so sturdiness is not an issue.
Click to expand...

Great news!

If you hold the mac with two hands and apply a bending/twisting force to it, it's not any more prone to twisting? I'll probably go ahead and do this when the Mac arrives... just bought one on eBay.
 
That's what I'm expecting. Would be cool if I could relocate the original HD up to where the optical drive is, but I don't feel like buying an optibay just to move the location of my one hard drive. Not interested in running two HDs at the moment.
 
I took mine out and left it empty.. Got tired of that dumb noise every time the computer wakes from sleep, and I never used it.

There is a little workaround to enable remote disc on another computer, and that works beautifully with my iMac.

I have not experienced any lopsided weight or rigidity issues, the thing weighs nothing and was attached to the internal metal frame.

Not sure about unibodies though, this is on an older 4,1 macbook.

I say go for it if you never use it.
 
I went and did it today. The metal frame that holds the CD drive is what gives the laptop it's rigidity, not the CD drive itself.

It feels exactly like it did before, but with no noise at bootup or after sleep. Kind of nice!

You guys were right, the weight savings was minimal if any and I can't notice it.
 
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