|
Post by Sílený Jízda on Nov 19, 2006 15:49:35 GMT -6
Long story short I have a Toshiba A45-S151 notebook with a slim-drive type CD/DVD drive (model SD-R2412) that appears to have bit the dust some time back. Until now it wasn't a problem as much as it is now. Till today we used a usb plug in external CD/DVD drive that's worked flawlessly. Last night, however, the notebook began to act wonky enough to warrant a full wipe out and reinstall. I tried several times with no luck to use the usb drive CD/DVD but it's failed every time.
My only alternative now is to pony up some cash and purchase a new internal CD/DVD drive for the notebook. Toshiba has been absolutely worthless in these regards. My question, is it possible to upgrade the drive to a newer model that fits from the same manufacturer? I've looked high and low on the Internet and found several options that list newer drives for less cost of the original. I'm uncertain though about several things. Physically they are the same drive, just a newer model. Same fit and everything. Is it reasonable to go with the information from the sites that one can simply plug a new drive in and do the installation and expect it to work? Second, I'm unfamiliar with some of the people selling these drives. One particular place Ultradrives.com seems promising.
Does anyone here have any experience replacing these drive successfully and where did you purchase the parts?
TIA
|
|
|
Post by Mad Scientist on Nov 20, 2006 9:45:09 GMT -6
'Wonky' leaves a little room for ambiguity.
Have you tried cleaning the drive? For about $10 at WalMart, you can get a cleaner. It's a disk with a few small fibers on it. It often will cheaply ressurrect a failed optical drive.
Now, if you're just looking for a reason to upgrade . . .
If cleaning fails, go at it the the other way. Find a couple of drives you like that appear compatible and in your price range. Then, go to those drive manufacturers' web sites and check the compatibility listings.
|
|
|
Post by Sílený Jízda on Nov 20, 2006 11:07:22 GMT -6
Wonky is my way of saying bit the dust. I've cleaned it to no avail. It started going in and out while reading dvds then went kapoot trying to even read regular cd's. As of late when the computer boots it says something along the lines of 'Media disk failure check cable' and whatnot. That coupled with the odd whining noise it tends to make when you try a dvd or cd leads me to believe it's gone out.
The new drive I'm looking at is definatly an upgrade in terms of functionality. While the one on the notebook now only writes cd's the newer model will write +/- dvd's. I also am leaning towards this one since Toshiba is the manufacturer of the notebook and the drive itself. Measurements and specs lean towards a fit as well. I'm just in unfamiler territory with the notebook. Most desktops I know of can be upgraded with most off the shelf parts. Notebooks, however, I'm not sure if they are that easily repaired or upgraded.
I did also check the manufacturer website of the drive. Unfortunatly, it didn't list any models from their end or any other brand that would be a match to any particular brand of laptop.
|
|
|
Post by Mad Scientist on Nov 22, 2006 0:13:58 GMT -6
Here's one site -- www.sparepartswarehouse.com/Toshiba,Satellite,A45-S151,P000383900,CompatibleModelList.aspx . Just a Google hit; never heard of them, but they have a toll free number.
|
|
|
Post by Sílený Jízda on Nov 22, 2006 8:03:53 GMT -6
Thanks for the link. I checked it out this morning real quick and only found they matched the 'p' part number on the drive and not the model number of the drive. I ended up sending an email requesting any information regarding the drive upgrade to the site I mentioned above. They said the only difference was the speed and actual media that could be burned by the new drive. The other concern I had as to whether it was a master or slave drive or even cable select was actually answered by another web site. It helped me translate the M/S as Master/Slave and determine mine was not a cable select version. The email response I got back also confirmed my suspicion that it was a master drive because it boots up first which would explain the need to have the reboot disk in the cd at startup I suppose.
At any rate I picked up the master version from the guys and it should be shipped out soon for arrival, I hope today. Thanks for all the help though. This has certainly been a learning experience.
|
|
|
Post by Mad Scientist on Nov 23, 2006 1:47:14 GMT -6
Glad you appear to be on your way to curing your problem.
|
|
|
Post by Sílený Jízda on Nov 27, 2006 13:02:21 GMT -6
I put the new drive in and everything seems to be working great. It read the regular movie dvd's with no problem, read a software dvd flawlessly, and performs quite well with normal cd's also. I've yet to try and burn dvd or cd yet but I'll giver her a shot tonight. All in all it plugged right in and started working right off the snap.
|
|