Swapping DVD-RAM drives to make it cartridge compatible?

[Disco Makberto]

Hello, my efriends!

This is my first post, so I hope I am doing everything as I should.

As you probably know, there isn't any DVD-RAM drive compatible with cartridge-enclosed DVD-RAM discs that includes the extra buttons "stop", "next to", etc. on the front. I have checked the Panasonic ones, Hitachi ones...to no avail at all. However, as you also probably know, there are some DVD-RAM drives that are compatible with bare round DVD-RAM discs that includes the extra buttons "stop", "next to", etc. One of them is the LiteOn 166.

Now my big and I hope not-too-naive question: is it possible to upgrade the DVD-RAM loader, non-cartridge compatible, of the LiteOn 166 to make it cartridge compatible by substituting it, for instance, with the DVD-RAM loader, cartridge-compatible, from a Panasonic drive? I suppose that this is possible to do as no chip replacement is taking place, but I am still not sure.

In case the above-mentioned modification is technically possible, do you know a place where I can take or send the drives to?

Best to all,

Carlos Al "Disco Mak"

[Justin42]

No, because it's not just the tray, it's the entire loading mechanism. A cartridge loader needs extra hardware to slap open the cartridge, hold it open, etc. Non-cartridge drives would more than likely not have the room/mounting area/etc. It's not like it would be a compatible mechanism you could just pick up and move.

I am sure on a technical level it's *possible* but there are just too many variables to make it even slightly worth the risk/hassle.

(and you must be the first person I've read about in years who actually wants or uses those extra buttons on the front! )

[Disco Makberto]

Hello, Justin42!

I highly appreciate your response.

So, what about the other way around? Is it then "easier", sort to speak, to add the extra buttons to a cartridge compatible DVD-RAM drive? In fact, I think that the only button that actually needs to be added up is the "Stop/Next To". This is because there are some DVD-RAM drives with the "Eject", "Volume", and "Headphone" buttons (this last one is a jack plug). Do you think it is hard to add this button as opposed to changing the whole loader?

Take care,

Carlos Al "Disco Mak"

[Justin42]

If the drive's chipset doesn't support those functions, you couldn't add the buttons no matter what. You'd need to reverse engineer the firmware to add support for additional input lines, add the buttons going into proper control lines, etc.

I think what you're looking to do is, without having the capabilities to reverse engineer firmware and manufacture a custom drive assembly, pretty much impossible...