Will an internal dvd drive function as an external drive via usb

spanielgita · 10 Jun 2011 at 20:10

I am thinking to remove my dvd drive from my laptop so i can install an ssd and regular 5400 500gb hdd (2 hard drives) i have bought a caddy to install the 500gb in the dvd drive bay(after removing the dvd drive)

I want to know if it would be possible to use my laptop's internal dvd drive externally. I would have to get sata to usb cable and a power adapter. I just wonder if it would work driver wise? would the computer recognise it??

Lelouch · 10 Jun 2011 at 20:17

Yes, it should work fine. It's pretty much the same concept as powering an external hardrive.

spanielgita · 10 Jun 2011 at 20:20

Lelouch said:
Yes, it should work fine. It's pretty much the same concept as powering an external hardrive.

So windows will discover it the same through usb as it would through the sata interface on the mobo?

Lelouch · 10 Jun 2011 at 20:22

It should, yes.

Tealc · 10 Jun 2011 at 22:24

I bought a neat little device a few weeks ago that allows me to connect a sata drive or a IDE drive to USB and it even came with a power supply and all cables.

Think I searched for something like 'USB sata IDE'

Was about £12 which isn't bad considering it comes with a 12/5v power brick. I use it for sata drives for backup and IDE for my old internal DVD writer which I took out of my rig.