Vaio laptop needs a new optical drive

[ericboo]

I have a PCG-V505BX and it won't read most disks anymore.

Any ideas what drive I might be able to replace it with?

Supposedly via Sony's support site, they offer a firmware update for a Matshita® UJDA745 drive for my machine.

Besides buying used on Ebay, I cannot find one. Are they somewhat universal besides the bezels?

I was going to get a new laptop but decided not to be stupid.

 

[corkyg]

If your optical drive is modular, you should be able to slide it out, and then ID it. If not - you might consider getting a thin, external FW drive that can do the job. Disable the bad internal one.

Ext

 

[ericboo]

I finally got the drive out and instead of having the typical female connector on the right-hand side of the back of the drive like THIS, it has a male connector in the back-middle of the drive.

The model is a Sony CRX950e.

I guess it is an older style connector.

I already have an external burner but my bios does not allow booting from USB.:disgust:

 

[corkyg]

OK - with no USB device boot, that would limit you. Does it have a floppy drive?

The cheapest replacement for your drive is $320 (Buy it now) on E-Bay.

CD

 

[ericboo]

No floppy either!

I can either install the hard drive into my desktop (I have the adapter) and copy over all the install files from the CD, or just scrap it and get a new one. Option 2 is sounding better.

 

[corkyg]

Yeah - there comes a time. When I saw the $320 cost of a replacement drive, I thought, this is starting to be good money towards a replacement. Laptops are getting cheaper.

 

[cheesehead]

Woah. That's one really expensive CD-ROM drive.

 

[IAccord99I]

Originally posted by: ericboo
I have a PCG-V505BX and it won't read most disks anymore.

Any ideas what drive I might be able to replace it with?

Supposedly via Sony's support site, they offer a firmware update for a Matshita® UJDA745 drive for my machine.

Besides buying used on Ebay, I cannot find one. Are they somewhat universal besides the bezels?

I was going to get a new laptop but decided not to be stupid.

Sorry this is a little late, but I recently replaced my own Sony Laptop drive as well so I did do A LOT of research... which aftewards... made me regert buying Sony since they make it so hard for you to replace parts.

Anyways, here's what I learned. Slim drives have 2 standards. One is 12.7mm in height which is more commonly used. The other is 9.5 mm in height.

From what you're saying, it seems like your laptop uses the less common one 9.5mm (Ultraslim Drive).

You do not have to buy the exact part number (i.e Sony CRX950e) as long as you get one that fits. Panasonic and Toshiba makes them (may be others but these are the only two I can think of off the top of my head). Matshita is Panasonic so you can also try searching for Panasonic UJDA745.

This way, you don't have to spend 300+ for a drive. You can fetch one a lot cheaper here.

http://www.ultradrives.com/product_info.php/products_id/634

or if you prefer a non recordable, this one,

http://www.ultradrives.com/product_info.php/products_id/122


***VERY IMPORTANT***: Google the drive and try to find some pictures on it. (Everything from how to install the faceplate to the connector and compare it to the old drive. Make sure everything matches up before you place an order.

 

[ericboo]

After all the laptop has been through, including spills and such, I just bit the bullet and ordered a new laptop.

Not Sony though. Never again!