The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Confused on how to connect HDD in replace of the DVD drive?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by super serious sally, Oct 19, 2013.

  1. super serious sally

    super serious sally Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    So basically I'm trying to get my Hard Drive that came with the M14x and place it in a DVD drive caddy, and use that along with my SSD that is currently installed right now.

    A couple of months ago I ordered this caddy from Amazon yet I don't think it has the right type of connector.

    This is the dvd ribbon cable connector, and this is the dvd ribbon cable.

    So the question basically is can anyone point me to what cable, or instead what different type of caddy I need to get again?
     
    super serious sally, Oct 19, 2013
    #1
  2. 1shado1

    1shado1 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    221
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    31
    It looks fine to me. Have you tried plugging them together?
     
    1shado1, Oct 20, 2013
    #2
  3. super serious sally

    super serious sally Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Yes I have tried plugging it in yet they don't connect. They don't fit. The "L shaped" grooves are getting in the way. So I obviously ordered the wrong type of caddy.
     
    super serious sally, Oct 20, 2013
    #3
  4. 1shado1

    1shado1 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    221
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Okay, I'm a blooming idiot. Getting senile in my old age. I never clicked on the link to the pic of the caddy, just the other two links, hence my thinking they should fit together. Sorry. Now I understand the problem. The connector on your HDD caddy that you purchased looks to have a Slim ATAPI connector. You need a caddy with a SATA connector. I don't know about anywhere else, but at least on ebay, there will usually be a photo shown of the connection, as well as mentioning SATA in the description. Hope this helps. Sorry for my earlier confusion.

    Click the photo for a larger version :)

    sata-vs-slimline-atapi-connecotr.jpg
     
    1shado1, Oct 20, 2013
    #4
  5. super serious sally

    super serious sally Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Perfect. I've been holding this off for months. Thanks a ton!
     
    super serious sally, Oct 20, 2013
    #5
  6. 1shado1

    1shado1 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    221
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    31
    You're very welcome. Glad I could help. :)
     
    1shado1, Oct 20, 2013
    #6
  7. 1shado1

    1shado1 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    221
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Just a reminder: there are 2 different thicknesses of caddy. Some are for 12mm thick drives, and some are for 9.5mm drives. Make sure the one you buy is thin enough to fit in your M14x. I don't know how much room is in there, but a 12mm might not fit.
     
    1shado1, Oct 20, 2013
    #7
  8. super serious sally

    super serious sally Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    super serious sally, Oct 20, 2013
    #8
  9. 1shado1

    1shado1 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    221
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Should be a perfect fit. :)
     
    1shado1, Oct 20, 2013
    #9
  10. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

    Reputations:
    3,658
    Messages:
    6,874
    Likes Received:
    969
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Alienware-L_Porras, Oct 22, 2013
    #10