I recently bought three inexpensive internal LightScribe CD/DVD drives because I want to burn and label discs. My external drive worked fine for burning, but I wanted LightScribe support. At first I had the wrong SATA cable, and the drives would sometimes open but lacked enough power to spin up or read discs. I bought what was supposed to be the correct cable: it connects to the drive and splits into USB and a power connector. Now the drive opens, closes, and spins, but my laptop no longer detects it. What kind of adapter or power setup do I actually need to use an internal SATA optical drive with a laptop?
3 Answers
Check the physical connections carefully: SATA data goes to the adapter's data port, while SATA power must come from a compatible powered supply. The tray opening does not prove the drive has enough power for data communication. Also make sure the adapter supports optical drives rather than only SATA hard disks, since some inexpensive USB adapters are incompatible or unreliable with optical drives.
An internal SATA optical drive needs two separate connections: SATA data and SATA power. A normal laptop USB port usually cannot provide the power an internal 5.25-inch drive expects, especially during spin-up. You need a proper USB-to-SATA optical-drive adapter or an externally powered enclosure, with the power supply connected as well as the USB data connection.
The drive itself is designed for a desktop, not for direct connection to a laptop. The reliable solution is a powered external enclosure or adapter made for a full-size 5.25-inch SATA optical drive. It should provide the drive's required power and convert the SATA data connection to USB. If it only has a simple USB lead without a proper external power brick, the laptop may not detect the drive even though the tray and motor work.
That makes sense. I was trying to save money by using the bare internal drive, but I probably need an enclosure or a genuinely powered adapter instead.
The cable I bought looked like a two-in-one USB and power adapter, so I thought it would handle both connections. I may have misunderstood which part actually supplies power.