Need help with Acer TM 291Lci

[Atindra]

Hi all,
I have Acer TM 291LCi, it has swappable media bay and I want to replace my slim combo internal drive with slim DVD-rw drive. Will there be compatibility issues? Acer site doesnt mention any info about these nor the slim drive manufacturers describe any. I checked online and through the pictures (on newegg.com) I could see the socket which fits with laptop on the drives is mostly on the side at the back of drives while my acer's plug which goes to socket is in the center. My current combo drive is Lite-ON LSC 24082K. And I wish to buy NEC or LG or Lite-ON's slim dvd burner.

Atindra:

[G. Threepwood]

you should be able to remove the frame from your current drive. if you do this you will see that the frame is actually an adapter, the drive mounted in it should be a standard slim line drive.

[Atindra]

you should be able to remove the frame from your current drive. if you do this you will see that the frame is actually an adapter, the drive mounted in it should be a standard slim line drive.
Thanks, I did see it later. Do you have any suggestion for DVD+/-RW drives? Which should be good?
Atindra

[G. Threepwood]

Do you have any suggestion for DVD+/-RW drives?

i have no idea, but you should look out for something with good firmware support. So that you can get your drive updated, when new CD-Rs DVD-Rs are available.

[martino]

Hey mate, I have a 291LCi and my drive is f*****. I was looking for a replacement, but I have found that the Slimtype drives don't fit. The connector in standard drives is found on the side(not sure which one), but in the TM291LCi it is found in the middle. I have tied exchanging the drive with a Dell, but it didn't fit and the Dell was using a standard Slimtype drive. So you/we have to look for someone who sells Acer replacement drives...

[martino]

Here come some pictures:

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/9651/acercdrwdvd0015no.th.jpg (http://img45.imageshack.us/my.php?image=acercdrwdvd0015no.jpg)
Top View

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/8152/acercdrwdvd0020mf.th.jpg (http://img45.imageshack.us/my.php?image=acercdrwdvd0020mf.jpg)
Bottom View

http://img451.imageshack.us/img451/4302/acercdrwdvd0035rz.th.jpg (http://img451.imageshack.us/my.php?image=acercdrwdvd0035rz.jpg)
Front View

http://img451.imageshack.us/img451/8340/acercdrwdvd0046bl.th.jpg (http://img451.imageshack.us/my.php?image=acercdrwdvd0046bl.jpg)
Side View

http://img451.imageshack.us/img451/3646/acercdrwdvd0051ax.th.jpg (http://img451.imageshack.us/my.php?image=acercdrwdvd0051ax.jpg)
Side View 2

http://img451.imageshack.us/img451/6552/acercdrwdvd0068ci.th.jpg (http://img451.imageshack.us/my.php?image=acercdrwdvd0068ci.jpg)
Connector Bottom View

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/8657/acercdrwdvd0079kr.th.jpg (http://img45.imageshack.us/my.php?image=acercdrwdvd0079kr.jpg)
Connector Top View

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/8121/acercdrwdvd0085ny.th.jpg (http://img45.imageshack.us/my.php?image=acercdrwdvd0085ny.jpg)
Last Top-Side View

As you can see, the connector is found in the middle and it sticks out. And if you look at the following picture(which contains a Pioneer Slim DVD Burner) you can see where the problem is.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.asp?image=27-129-003-02.jpg,27-129-003-03.jpg&CurImage=27-129-003-03.jpg&Description=Pioneer%20Slim%20DVD%20Burner%20With%205X%20DVD-RAM%20Write%20Black%20IDE%20Model%20DVR-K06%20-%20OEM

To me it seems like Acer use their own Drives, but I don't know where to get them from, anyone?

[G. Threepwood]

Acer uses standard slim-line drives. however they are mounted in an acer adapter. just loosen the screws an detatch the plastic parts (shown in your picture) from the drive. you will see its a standard slim-line drive.

just make sure to get a replacement that is jumpered to master. put it in the acer adapter and you are fine.

[martino]

Seems like you are right...


Would this work: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=358248
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827129003


Now I'm confused. What is the difference between these two drives(and which one would work in the 291LCi)?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2010100005+1036508673+1037806791&Subcategory=5&description=&srchInDesc=&minPrice=&maxPrice=

[G. Threepwood]

Thats strange, in none of your links they state what their drives are jumpered to. Afaik slimeline drives have no jumpers on the back (like 5,25 inch drives have). So if the drive you buy is jumpered to slave you are stuck with that.

Perhaps someone else here can help you out with that. All i know is that you deffinatly need a drive that is jumpered to master. Becouse the hdd in the tm 290 is primary master and the the cd-rom is secondary master.

[martino]

Wouldn't they be set to master as default. I mean, why would they set them to slave?

[G. Threepwood]

most laptops need "master" drives, so i think your right, they will most likely be set to master.