4

I have removed a DVD/CD re-writable drive from Acer Aspire 5000 laptop. I want to make it an external one by connecting to Sabrent USB 3.0 TO SATA/IDE 2.5/3.5/5.25-INCH Hard Drive Converter. But the converter doesn't seem to have an interface that can match the drive.

What is the interface of the drive? According to a service manual for several models of Acer laptops including Aspire 5000, is the interface enhanced IDE (ATAPI)?

What kind of converter do I need to make the drive into an external one?

The DVD/CD drive:

enter image description here

enter image description here

Mismatch between the converter and the drive:

enter image description here

fixer1234
  • 27,064
  • 61
  • 75
  • 116
Tim
  • 16,963
  • 69
  • 181
  • 260

1 Answers1

10

Its called a Slim (Slimline) ATAPI

enter image description here

Source

They make adapters that go to IDE, I have one. There may be other adapter types. Addonics are high quality adapters. But these are for internal mounting in a desktop.

.

The white connector is the old floppy drive power cable, this is how it gets power for the drive

enter image description here

enter image description here

Moab
  • 58,044
  • 21
  • 113
  • 176
  • Thanks. (1) Is it correct that the link to Aliexpress is for Slim SATA, not for my drive which is Slim ATAPI? (2) Which interface is popular now, Slim SATA, Slim ATAPI, or something else? (3) Do today's laptops' optical drives still use different interfaces than hard drives? (I wonder if my Sabrent usb-SATA/IDE converter still not works for optical drives) – Tim May 15 '16 at 16:08
  • Yeah, I cannot seem to find a usb adapter for atapi slim, only the ones for internal mounting in a pc, no usb enclosures either. Probably best to just buy a usb dvd drive. – Moab May 15 '16 at 16:11
  • All slim optical drives are now Sata interface, which is what the cable I linked to is for. – Moab May 15 '16 at 16:14
  • Thanks. (1) Can the Addonics ones for internal use in desktop be used externally between a DVD drive and a usb port in laptop? (2) Do today's laptops' optical drives still use different interfaces than hard drives? (I wonder if my Sabrent usb-SATA/IDE converter still not works for optical drives). (3) Is my DVD drive hard to reuse and resell today in US? – Tim May 15 '16 at 16:17
  • Addonics adapters need a source of 5v power, so external use is not practical. There is no value for those old atapi slim dvd drives – Moab May 15 '16 at 16:28
  • Thanks. (1) For those optical drives that are full sized rather than slim, are their interfaces the same as those for hard drives, i.e. SATA, and IDE? (2) If yes, can my Sabrent USB-SATA/IDE converter work for full sized optical drives? Actually my Sabrent converter works for IDE/SATA hard drives that are both desktop-sized and laptop-sized. Slim optical drives might have a different size from a laptop-sized hard drives? (3) For those full sized optical drives, which interface is most popular: SATA, IDE, or something else? – Tim May 15 '16 at 16:48
  • Slim ATAPI to SATA adaptors do exist, e.g. http://www.ioi.com.tw/products/proddetail.aspx?CatID=101&HostID=2032&ProdID=1010104 (random google - no affiliation or recommendation) – abligh May 15 '16 at 18:27
  • @abligh I know that and have that in my answer with links and pictures, but he is looking for one to use it via usb – Moab May 15 '16 at 19:20
  • @Moab presumably he can just attach a USB/SATA convertor to that ... – abligh May 15 '16 at 19:22
  • Search for "slimline IDE" on eBay, there are a few adapters (e.g. [this](http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351673228747)), and you get more results than "slimline ATAPI". But in many cases it is cheaper to just buy a new slimline sata drive. – Tom Carpenter May 15 '16 at 21:24
  • @T... That drive is quite old, and probably close to worthless. The entire laptop it came from, if working, would probably resell for around the cost of a new USB DVD burner (which can be had for [$25-$30](http://www.newegg.com/External-CD-DVD-Blu-Ray-Drives/SubCategory/ID-420), will perform better and support more formats such as M-Disc). – Michael Hampton May 16 '16 at 05:09