Laundry List of Sources for Optical Unit used by TG-CD and PCE CD-ROM^2

[Jitawa]

This site carries the old drives, dunno if the price is too high.  I think for these, if you had the original CD-Rom unit, you could just slot this drive in as a replacement as I understand it:

http://www.computertradeexchange.com/inventory/NECB.html

[channelmaniac]

If you have a list of NEC computer CD-ROM drives that have the correct optical assemblies I can look around http://www.sidewalksale.com for them.

RJ

[neozeed]

Yeah this looks to work fine without having to gut it for parts.Its an old computer drive. I still need to get a system card to fully test it.

[papa_november]

    It looks like it might actually work. It's a shame that that particular CD drive is so rare.

[papa_november]

    Well, I went and bit the bullet. It doesn't work. I'm not 100% sure why, but I think it's just incompatible. The machine will hang at the "wait a moment..." message. Oddly enough, you can still play back the audio tracks using the front panel buttons.

    The board on the inside looks slightly different, but other than that it looks totally identical to the normal TG-16 drive.

    What IS different is the model number; the PC Engine's drive model is CDR-30A. I really should've done my homework here. The only silver lining in this case would be if the entire disc mechanism can probably be transplanted from this new drive to an old dead drive without any need to mess with the laser directly. I guess I should try that next.

[Michael Helgeson]

Yea,we discussed this awhile back in shoutbox. There is slight differences on the pcb,extra wires,ect. Removing and adding what is missing may make them work. It really sucks,as the rep I spoke with from Smart works about this was pretty sure they worked fine. This may not be the only model out there however. There maybe be more...

[papa_november]

    Well, swapping the mechanisms did little good. Looks like my drive PCB was fried somehow.

    It really is kind of infuriating that the 35D drive doesn't work. All the chips are identical. Maybe it has a different ROM or something? It could be as simple as a jumper setting for all we know.

[Michael Helgeson]

Exactly,as there is some added wires ect.. to the pcb of the 35D. You may be able to undo said stuff and add on what is missing from the TGCD and its possible it may work. I thought about messing with it if I ever have the time,but don't see it happening for at least a few months.

[nikdog]

after some google searching the d-2 has the kss-220a as well. still trying to find out if the d-11 has it or not. anyone know?

[papa_november]

    I tried the mechanism swap on another dead drive (thanks The Old Rover!)and it works perfectly.

[papa_november]

     Electronix says they have the KSS-220A. Maybe it's still in stock?

[nikdog]

     Electronix says they have the KSS-220A. Maybe it's still in stock?

it is, i've gotten one from them before.

[pceslayer]

     Electronix says they have the KSS-220A. Maybe it's still in stock?

I placed an order there on the 02/25/09 and they called me up the next day to say they were on back order.

No biggie.. I wen't to goodwill a little while ago and found a Sony Discman D-33 for $9 that I can now confirm has a kss-220a.

[rmaniac]

Is there any way to shoehorn a faster access drive into a PC Engine? I love my PCE but the load times are kinda painful.

[chop5]

Found a old sony discman at the thrift store. A model D-11 manufacture date november 1990. Opened it up and can confirm it does have a KSS-220A laser in it.







i search everytime i go to the thrift but they are getting harder to come by as well as cd players with duo lasers in it. i wonder why?