Posts: 17,885
Threads: 2,316
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
so i ordered one of the 600 mhz OWC ibooks for my mom and lo and behold got a 700 mhz. Woohoo! Except the CD drive does not work. You put a disk in, it immediately spits it back out.
Now I know I could return it to Larry and get another one. But i figured maybe I should go ahead and upgrade the CD drive myself. So, how much do replacement drives run for the 700 mhz ibook? I assume you can get a CD-R version? Are they hard to install?
Posts: 9,023
Threads: 752
Joined: May 2025
They are a bit difficult to install, and if you are going to go to the bother I would do a Combo drive.
Have you tried a store bought CD in the drive?
Here is the guide to take the optcal drive out,
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/
Posts: 17,885
Threads: 2,316
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
Well thats probably what i would do. If I returned it, i'd probably get a slower one and still only have a CD drive. So i figured I'd just replace the one I have. And yes, I was thinking of a combo drive.
Negative on ANY CDs. Store bought or burnt. I doesn't even spin up. I pop in a disk, and in about 2 seconds it pops right out. No spin up, nothing. Doesn't even sound like theres any movement TRYING to start. Just poops it out.
Posts: 17,885
Threads: 2,316
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
sweet chocolate christ!
maybe I'll just tell my mom to use an external CD drive.
Posts: 9,023
Threads: 752
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 3,642
Threads: 360
Joined: May 2025
Seems you'd be better off with an ibook that was slower and fully functioning.
Send it back, or ask for a repair.
Posts: 1,318
Threads: 273
Joined: Sep 2015
Reputation:
0
If larry sent you a 700 with a faulty drive, I'd bet they'd repair that machine and not short change you on the model. they're good people. You might ask them to upgrade the drive as well and get a quote.
dot.
Posts: 2,409
Threads: 100
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
Another soulution if U are hapy with the "silent upgrade" is a Firewire external CD burner. maybe less than $25 shipped on ebay like the VST ones. Small footprint and flat, designed for laptops:
Like this one:
here's one in US (no pic):
Wow, just checking out eBay's new search format. Paypal and feedback ratings in the search now.
Posts: 2,502
Threads: 118
Joined: May 2025
Also of note: When working inside the ibooks to remove the optical drives, it's very easy to 'overdo' it when detaching the ribbon cable from the adhesive on the drive, and end up ripping the cable. Not a good thing to do. I believe I did it the first time I tried, it sucked.
Other than that, it's just a very long process. After doing it about 10 or 15 times now, I can get the job done in about 30 minutes or less.
