Thread: Question about Slimline CD connectors.

Originally Posted by Freq

Im using a laptop computer for my Car PC project. I would like to relocate the CD/DVD drive to another location. As most of you all know, the connectors are different on a Slimline Drive vs. a Desktop drive. So I am looking for the same connectors that are on the Slimline drive (male and female) I am having trouble locating them. I cant use a Slimline to IDE adaptor, because am not using a desktop type computer. So if anyone knows of a source to buy an extension cable for slimline Drives, or where to get the miniture 50 pin connectors that it uses, I'd be thank-ful.

In short, you are SOL. I know that is not useful, but the truth.

You can find the connectors, I think someone here had some numbers, or you can see if you can locate an ID on yours...like a brand name..Hirose for example. I think they have a little HR on the stamping.

The reason I say you are SOL, is, I just finished a year long search for a similar item for my lcd screen. I ended up measuring the connectors, and looking through catalogs until I found a match. Then I ordered a few and luckily they were the right ones. Then I spent a week doing a pin by pin SMD solder job to create what you are describing. It works now, but the soldering was a biach. (BTW yes that screen in my picture)

The only solution I can think of is to use the header that plugs into your HD, plug a mini ide cable to that, plug your HD into it, and get an IDE adapter for your CDROM and plug that into the other end of the ide cable.

Does that make sense? I think you can plug the ide cable right in, but the pins might be reversed ...you will have to count the pins and do some manual checks there.

One other thing...

If you open up the drive (a little bit) you may find an extra adapter plugged into the drive.

My old laptop has that, if I remove the extra adapter, I could build something to go between. I could use a broken drive for part of the connector, and a standard laptop drive 40pin adapter for the other end....then I could use a 40 pin cable...or any other standard structure to move the drive farther away.