Source for IDE DVD writers?

[spdfreak]

I need a supply of IDE DVD writers to repair a bunch of old video surveillance DVR's. So far, all I can find is some refurbished stock that I really wouldn't feel good about using in this customers machines. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good source? Google has not been very helpful!

 

[DaveSimmons]

Refurbs, FS/FT forum here, closeout / surplus stock at places like geeks.com

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Go to any Salvation Army or pawn shop, and you'll find plenty of older computers with IDE optical drives.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

The FT/FS here will be very helpful.

 

[nickbits]

I think he wants new ones, not refurbs/used.

 

[spdfreak]

I think he wants new ones, not refurbs/used.

exactly...

 

[TerryMathews]

I need a supply of IDE DVD writers to repair a bunch of old video surveillance DVR's. So far, all I can find is some refurbished stock that I really wouldn't feel good about using in this customers machines. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good source? Google has not been very helpful!

I don't think anyone makes them anymore.

Use a SATA one + a bridge if the customer won't accept a refurbished unit? FWIW mainstream security companies will source working pulls and refurbished units to repair existing installations. I speak from experience here.

There is no issue if you're upfront with your customer.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I too was a little surprised at the speed that these were taken off of the market. If I had known, I would have stockpiled a few for customers.

I saw geeks.com had some CD-RW/DVD-ROM drives for sale new. I know, you probably want something to record DVDs with.

I figure that most PC users stuck with IDE ports, can use an external USB DVD-RW drive. But that wouldn't help with embedded units like a security DVR.

Edit: Geeks.com has them in-stock currently.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=BLK-TS-H652-DO&cat=DVD

 

[Cerb]

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good source?

That depends. How much room do you have?

Using the keywords "SATA PATA bridge" you can find many for sale individually, and in lots.

http://compare.ebay.com/like/130735017530?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

There's an example of 10 low-foot-print ones, and some links to others.

 

[spdfreak]

I too was a little surprised at the speed that these were taken off of the market. If I had known, I would have stockpiled a few for customers.

I saw geeks.com had some CD-RW/DVD-ROM drives for sale new. I know, you probably want something to record DVDs with.

I figure that most PC users stuck with IDE ports, can use an external USB DVD-RW drive. But that wouldn't help with embedded units like a security DVR.

Edit: Geeks.com has them in-stock currently.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...652-DO&cat=DVD

Out of stock already...

 

[spdfreak]

That depends. How much room do you have?

Using the keywords "SATA PATA bridge" you can find many for sale individually, and in lots.

http://compare.ebay.com/like/130735017530?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

There's an example of 10 low-foot-print ones, and some links to others.

I've looked at those and there is room but these are old linux based dvr's and I don't know if the OS that is installed supports SATA. I suppose I can always just try one and see...

 

[TerryMathews]

I've looked at those and there is room but these are old linux based dvr's and I don't know if the OS that is installed supports SATA. I suppose I can always just try one and see...

Doesn't have to support SATA. The bridge handles the conversion. Just has to support UDMA.

 

[Cerb]

I've looked at those and there is room but these are old linux based dvr's and I don't know if the OS that is installed supports SATA. I suppose I can always just try one and see...

SATA drives are backwards-compatible, in terms of the IDE/ATA protocols. Even brand new motherboards allow you to set them to IDE compatibility mode.

You can use such adapters to make PATA drives work in SATA-only mobos, and SATA drives work in PATA-only mobos (some are even bidirectional, allowing either conversion, through the same adapter).

Now, compatibility between the exact parts you get isn't necessarily guaranteed, so definitely try one, before buying several, of the same model; but they do work.

 

[spdfreak]

SATA drives are backwards-compatible, in terms of the IDE/ATA protocols. Even brand new motherboards allow you to set them to IDE compatibility mode.

You can use such adapters to make PATA drives work in SATA-only mobos, and SATA drives work in PATA-only mobos (some are even bidirectional, allowing either conversion, through the same adapter).

Now, compatibility between the exact parts you get isn't necessarily guaranteed, so definitely try one, before buying several, of the same model; but they do work.

I asked the tech at the shop that had the IDE drives (I bought all they had) and he said that the bridges generally work well if the system recognizes the drive but that they have times where the system just won't see the drive using the bridge. So, I'll definitely try one before I buy a bunch of them...

 

[bryanl]

Asus IDE DVD writer: DRW-22B2S/BLK/G/AS

Directron.com carries many older parts, many never used.