External CDRom Drive

11 posts / 0 new
Last post
iMac600's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 7 months ago
Joined: Jan 26 2006 - 02:53
Posts: 44
External CDRom Drive

I recently purchased a PC External CDRom drive for $5 from a used components shop.

It has a Parallel port connector, which appears to be the same as a Macintosh standard SCSI port connector. The internal
components are IDE. Can I connect this to a computer, say a Macintosh LC, and have it successfully run? Or does the IDE
controller show some problems?

I will be replacing the Internal 2x drive with a faster drive. Say a 52x. Biggrin

Offline
Last seen: 7 years 3 weeks ago
Joined: Dec 19 2003 - 17:40
Posts: 566
No...

If it is indeed a Parallel drive then no.

Parallel != SCSI.

TOM

iMac600's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 7 months ago
Joined: Jan 26 2006 - 02:53
Posts: 44
Oh.

I guess it'll be my next hack project then.

Hack a Hard Disk in there and use it with my PC. Wink

Offline
Last seen: 7 years 11 months ago
Joined: Dec 20 2003 - 10:38
Posts: 211
A good project...

Unfortunately, the ATAPI command set that is understood by a CD-ROM drive (and which is embedded in the parallel to ATAPI controller inside the external enclosure) is not the command set used by an ATA disk.

Good luck,

Phil

Whosawhatsis's picture
Offline
Last seen: 16 years 10 months ago
Joined: Aug 28 2005 - 01:49
Posts: 66
Re: No...

Parallel != SCSI.

Well, that's not entirely accurate. SCSI /is/ a parallel interface... so are IDE and firewire, but none of these are directly compatible with the IEEE-1284 ports commonly found on PCs.

iMac600's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 7 months ago
Joined: Jan 26 2006 - 02:53
Posts: 44
Faster Drive

I'll just hack a 52x in there then. A CD Burner would be even better (I have several) but I
would expect some form of problem to arise.

Offline
Last seen: 7 years 3 weeks ago
Joined: Dec 19 2003 - 17:40
Posts: 566
Re: No...

Parallel != SCSI.

Well, that's not entirely accurate. SCSI /is/ a parallel interface... so are IDE and firewire, but none of these are directly compatible with the IEEE-1284 ports commonly found on PCs.

That's what I meant Wink

TOM

cwsmith's picture
Offline
Last seen: 6 months 1 week ago
Joined: Oct 13 2005 - 08:23
Posts: 698
Re: Faster Drive

I'll just hack a 52x in there then. A CD Burner would be even better (I have several) but I
would expect some form of problem to arise.

I really doubt the parallel interface is fast enough to be able to use the full capability of a 52x CD-ROM drive. Give it a try, but you'll probably want to save the 52x for a FireWire enclosure or for an internal use.

ex-parrot's picture
Offline
Last seen: 3 years 10 months ago
Joined: Dec 20 2003 - 01:35
Posts: 6844
Re: Faster Drive

I'll just hack a 52x in there then. A CD Burner would be even better (I have several) but I
would expect some form of problem to arise.

I really doubt the parallel interface is fast enough to be able to use the full capability of a 52x CD-ROM drive. Give it a try, but you'll probably want to save the 52x for a FireWire enclosure or for an internal use.

FWIW, I used to have trouble burning at 2x through the parallel port.

iMac600's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 7 months ago
Joined: Jan 26 2006 - 02:53
Posts: 44
Hmm...

Is this drive worthless or what?

2x maximum speed, no Mac compatibility, No Burner, no Hard Disk...

Perhaps it should be a garage sale item. Although I could use a 2x drive for something...

Whosawhatsis's picture
Offline
Last seen: 16 years 10 months ago
Joined: Aug 28 2005 - 01:49
Posts: 66
I pulled a power supply out o

I pulled a power supply out of SCSI CD-ROM that proved quite useful in my last mod... perhaps this drive could have a similar use.

Log in or register to post comments