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Miscellaneous => The Orphanage => Topic started by: Magnum on November 24, 2013, 09:05:13 AM

Title: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: Magnum on November 24, 2013, 09:05:13 AM
Will a laptop DVD burner work in a SATA type desktop system ?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: FORTRANS on November 24, 2013, 09:38:08 AM
Hi,

   If it is SATA and has a compatible power connecter, then yes.
Laptops can use proprietary power connections.

Regards,

Steve N.
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: Magnum on November 24, 2013, 09:46:37 AM
It's a compaq R4000.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00364919.pdf

I don't think it will have a SATA type DVD burner looking at the removal method.

Andy
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: dedndave on November 24, 2013, 10:10:17 AM
DVD burners were generally PATA (IDE)
and - most desktops have 2 IDE ports for that reason - even the ones that have SATA drives
blu-ray drives are a little different
but - you may need an adapter, if the connector doesn't match up
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: Magnum on November 24, 2013, 11:12:48 AM
I can't find an adaptor for it, so I took a pic of the back of the DVD burner.

Computers have gotten a little more complicated than I am used to.  :biggrin:

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b516/drew77580/LaptopDVD_Connection_zps4c33885a.jpg
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: dedndave on November 24, 2013, 12:09:43 PM
see if this looks right (2 pictures)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/350769214305?lpid=82 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/350769214305?lpid=82)
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: Magnum on November 24, 2013, 02:09:53 PM
I am not sure if this would work unless there is a "male" type connection behind a door.  :dazzled:

If it is, would I then get a ribbon cable to connect this to the right slot on the motherboard ?

Andy
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: dedndave on November 24, 2013, 08:25:16 PM
that seems logical - there is a male 40-pin on the reverse side of the PCB
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: Magnum on November 25, 2013, 12:04:57 AM
thanks a lot. I send an email to the ebay seller about the item.

Andy
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: Magnum on November 25, 2013, 12:20:21 AM
What I found for the desktop that I am trying to bring back to life.

Compaq   

PC SR5123 WM

Prod. # GC660A-ABA

When it had a hard drive, it had Vista.

64 bit AMD chip - Cooling fan is as big as the case fan.  :biggrin:

Phoenix BIOS Dated 2007

I have a utility on a CD to scan and update the BIOS.

Someone said it should be able to boot from a pendrive, but I don't see that option in the boot order.

I saw network interface as a pick which I have never seen. ?

This is pretty interesting learning experience.

Andy
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: dedndave on November 25, 2013, 02:53:00 AM
many machines can boot from a prom to go ethernet
they don't always put it in with the other boot options, though
they are sometimes used that way in corporate environments
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: Magnum on November 25, 2013, 06:58:55 AM
That's interesting info.

Someone gave me 2 SATA drives that I will hopefully get today.

One has XP but it may not work if wasn't originally in my system.

Maybe I will get lucky and a BIOS update will let the system boot from a pen drive.

Andy
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: dedndave on November 25, 2013, 07:02:11 AM
be sure to check for hidden partitions before reformatting   :t
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: Magnum on November 26, 2013, 04:18:31 PM
I received 2 hard drives.

I put in the first one, and it is running Startup Repair.

I found this info.

Should i run a disk diagnosis program ?

Thanks.

Startup Repair cannot fix hardware failures, such as a failing hard disk or incompatible memory, nor does it protect against virus attacks. Startup Repair is not a backup tool, so it cannot help you recover personal files, such as photos or documents. To help protect your computer, back up your system and files regularly. For more information, search for "backup" in Windows Help and Support.

I would like to install a non-Windows program on the hard disk.

Andy
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: dedndave on November 26, 2013, 08:55:37 PM
typcally, if there are hard errors, they will show up during format
although, windows makes more than one attempt to perform writes
so, some errors are seemingly "skipped" over, because of the multiple attempts

what i would do, is to "mount" the drive
and see if it has any hidden partitions
if so, it may have an entire OS installation package
of course, the package is likely designed to install on specific hardware
sometimes, that can be overcome, too - lol

also, browse around the rest of the drive partitions to see if there's anything of interest
keep in mind that things may be infected - so scan for viruses anything you decide to keep

once you have what you want copied off there, determine a partition strategy
depending on the size, you may want to split the it into partitions
you are allowed up to 4 "primary" partitions
that's because the 512-byte partition sector has room for 4 entries
one or more may be "logical" partitions
this allows other sectors to be used for partition tables

now, i don't use multi-boot, but let's say i have a 500 GB drive.....
i try to make something comfortable for the boot partition, say 60 to 100 GB - try to keep it over 20 GB
then, the bulk of the drive, i use for data, in this case, about 380 GB
at the "high" end, i try to leave a small partition for saving disk images, say 20 GB
for larger drives, i may split the data area into smaller pieces
once a partition gets over about 400 GB, it takes a while to index in each session   :P
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: Magnum on November 27, 2013, 02:27:31 AM
The following applies to one drive that is currently hooked up.

I installed a 300 Gb drive.

It's currently being formatted to ext2.

It will take 4 hrs.

Is that because of the 8 gb hidden partition that is being merged with the large partition ?

I will want at least 3 partitions.

(With Puppy and Windows on my other system, they both use less that 100 Gb.)

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Since it has no wireless card yet, I will get one recommended for Linux and Windows.

Second drive is also 300 gb and I don't know which Windows version was on it, but Disk Repair could not help.

I have some disk utilities, but they are on a CD  and I have no CD/DVD burner.

Andy
Title: Re: Laptop DVD into SATA desktop
Post by: dedndave on November 27, 2013, 02:51:47 AM
repartition before formatting
if you have an 8 GB hidden partition, it may have Vista installation files on there   :icon_eek:
you can use quick format, but it doesn't test the data area, of course - much faster, though