Replacing optical in 2007 17"

[elf69]

My recently acquired macbook pro has a faulty optical.

About this mac tells me it has a: uj85j

I have looked on ebay and seen uj85 but c not j models.

Is there a difference to prevent me using them?

Also are other drives compatible?
The book yard have other drives they say will fit but i'm so confused now.

Can anyone offer some help?

 

[BrettApple]

They're probably just different revisions. They're all PATA based slot loading DVD drives used in various Macs across the lineup from that era.

You can get them from PowerbookMedic for pretty cheap. At least in the US, no idea about shipping but either way both parts should work.

 

[Fishrrman]

How much do you still -use- the DVD/CD drive?

If it's "not much", probably easier (perhaps cheaper, as well) to buy an external USB DVD/CD drive and let it go at that...

 

[elf69]

Where I'm not a big user of the optical there are times I need one.
In my job we use them at times.

Plus the annoying clicking and cracking sounds it makes on every boot is annoying.
it really broken.

I like a fully working machine.
And I have 4 boxes of CDs to put into itunes yet lol.

The pro is only machine with large enough HDD to take it all.

I have sen thick and thin pata drives o just need be sure will be ok for my machine.

 

[elf69]

I was lucky to find a scrap old white imac pretty smashed up in our spare parts store room.

It has a uj85 drive.
Pulled it and tried it in my pro...

It works!

WOOHOO!

 

[Tarek]

Congratulations on replacing it. I've always had problems with Apple's optical drives because they failed on my 2008 and 2010 models and I always end up replacing them on my dime since they always fail after the warranty is over. I'm honestly glad they just removed them from the newer generations because nowadays they're more of an annoyance than anything. I'd suggest buying an external DVD drive in the future.

 

[elf69]

I have an external but I am fussy about it all working.

Even my old ibook failed and had to replace it.

Plus fact I'm looking at selling this mac as dont like he keyboard compared to my 2009 macbook.