connecting desktop DVD-RW to laptop

  • Thread starter Thread starter George Plank
  • Start date Start date
G

George Plank

Hi,
I have a latest desktop DVD+-RW (IDE) and
I was curious if it is possible to temproray connect it
to my laptop through some cable/adapter through the
unused CD slot to backup my data. I know that the
standard for CD/HDD is the same for Laptops and
Desktops but the connectors are different ...
Thanks,
George
 
George Plank said:
Hi,
I have a latest desktop DVD+-RW (IDE) and
I was curious if it is possible to temproray connect it
to my laptop through some cable/adapter through the
unused CD slot to backup my data. I know that the
standard for CD/HDD is the same for Laptops and
Desktops but the connectors are different ...
Click to expand...

Buy a USB or Firewire enclosure and put the drive in there... all depending
on if your laptop has a firewire or USB interface.
 
You could put ethernet cards, in both the desktop and laptop. Then,
just set up a network, and backup across the network. I've burned CDs
across a network, and DVDs are not any different.
 
You could put ethernet cards, in both the desktop and laptop. Then,
just set up a network, and backup across the network. I've burned CDs
across a network, and DVDs are not any different.
Click to expand...


I would not recommend this at all. You would be asking for more coasters
than Chili's.

External firewire enclosure (or usb 2.0) is the only way to do this
sanely.
 
Hi,
I have a latest desktop DVD+-RW (IDE) and
I was curious if it is possible to temproray connect it
to my laptop through some cable/adapter through the
unused CD slot to backup my data. I know that the
standard for CD/HDD is the same for Laptops and
Desktops but the connectors are different ...
Thanks,
George
Click to expand...

It would be possible if you can find the suitable adapter, but
AFAIK they're not very common, much less so than the opposite
adapter, one that converts notebook drives to desktop IDE. If
you had a male-male pin header that'd slip into the latter type
of adapter (and added an IDE cable at the other end), it should
work, but you'd also need an external regulated power supply,
worth roughly 1A @ 12V, 1A @ 5V, with the appropriate 4-pin molex
connector else you'd have to graft one on.

In other words, an external enclosure others already recommended
is the better option. Another option (depending on method of
backup), is that some backup programs like Powerquest Driveimage
will let you make images that're saved to fileshare across a
LAN, where they might later be burnt to CD/DVD/etc. Along same
lines, if you don't need a backup of an entire partition then
copying the files over the lan to the desktop box (with the DVD
drive in it) is another option.
 
Thank you all for your suggestions!
Yes, I knew about the LAN, but I wanted to bring
this drive with me and use with the laptop when I travel
so that I could copy all my data (which is a lot).
Actually, I didn't know that I could use USB
and external enclosures but it seems to be
the best way so I will try to get it.
Thank you again,
George
 
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