TGS Challenge: Super Stealth

[Killdrath]

First off, this is something I was planning to do anyways, TGS just gave me an excuse to do it sooner, and better, than planned.

I've seen many instances of people stealthing their cd drives, but have to have the front panel moveable in order to hit the eject button. Also, I remember somewhere reading about someone who re-wired the eject button.

Well, I want to be able to have my CHOICE. Now, I'm decent with a soldering iron, so this was nothing huge for me, but I know people who I wouldn't trust with one anywhere near anything I cared about, so, for these people, this is normally an unattainable goal.

So, I think that some drive manufacturer should make this very minor alteration to their drives in order to be more modder friendly.

[Killdrath]

OK, first off, I chose to mod a new-old 48x cd-rw. The thing was still new in box, but had been sitting in the closet forever.

http://www.killdrath.com/images/01.jpg

First things first, disassembly. Four simple screws, and tear the "warranty void" sticker in half. :)

http://www.killdrath.com/images/2.jpg

[Killdrath]

Next up, make a small notch in the plastic support for the drive, and run 2 wires connected to a standard connector (conveniently stolen from a fan connector). This is the part I did differently from any other I've seen done before.

http://www.killdrath.com/images/4.jpg

The other end of the wires get CAREFULLY soldered to the pins on the bottom of the eject button. I was very careful to keep the wires short, but not too short.

http://www.killdrath.com/images/5.jpg

[Killdrath]

Now, the reasons I've done it this way: What happens if you do this mod by just wiring the button to a new button elsewhere on the case, and then your drive fails? Yep, tear apart your lovingly modded case. I want one that has a standard connector at the back that I can plug a simple SPST momentary switch into, route the wire anywhere in my case, but still disconnect it if I need to change my drive out!

So, I got a very small SPST switch, and wired it to a matching connector (stolen from the same dead fan)

http://www.killdrath.com/images/03.jpg

A little cleanup and reassembly, including gluing down the connector, and this almost looks like it was made this way (which I think it SHOULD be)

http://www.killdrath.com/images/02.jpg

[Killdrath]

Testing the beast to make sure I didn't slip up with the soldering iron... works fine.

http://www.killdrath.com/images/6.jpg

And finally, I think everyone knows how to attach a bay cover. I simply cut this one down to size, attached a thin polystyrene spacer, and superglued it all together.

That was my point in this, a simple extra circuit by the manufacturer and a connector that costs a penny, and you have a drive that can be stealthed simply by plugging in a switch and gluing on a faceplate.

I put this drive into my retired win 2003 file server since my existing system has no bays left and I've lost the bay covers LOL.

http://www.killdrath.com/images/7.jpg

http://www.killdrath.com/images/8.jpg

[Killdrath]

The switch is designed in such a way that I could drill a small hold anywhere on my case and mount the button. But, for simplicity here, I ran the wire to the rear panel and attached it to a non-used fan mounting hole.

http://www.killdrath.com/images/9.jpg

A simple mod, but one that I think would greatly benefit all us crazy modders. It was easy for me, completed in just 2 nights, but for some who don't have the soldering skills, not a feasible option.

On a final note, the drive still functions perfectly, and the stealthed bay cover looks good. I cant wait to do this to the lian-li case I plan to mod up for my next system.

[Omega]

Pretty awesome, and a good idea. I know that people like to go this route (at least that's the way I've seen it done all places except mine)

still though, +rep for the fan connector. That'll also let you be able to change out the button without tons of hassle, too.

[alexanderH]

yeah that is one fantastic connection idea! +rep for that and the great contest entry. great work mate.

[xenosagarox]

"OMG WHERES YOU CD/DVD DRIVE??" lol to whoever says that when they look at the case.

[Dilphat]

wow that's pretty sweet...so are you the only one so far that's entered in the contest???

[Killdrath]

Yes, but I'm hoping that by posting this, I can stir up some interest. I really dont even care if I win, I just wanted to participate in something fun! (besides, it gave me an excuse to modify something while waiting to be able to order my next case)

[Killdrath]

edited posts to fix broken picture links... I changed my domain names around and forgot to update the image links :)

[chaksq]

Very nice mod. By the way I have the exact same CD-ROM drive. I may even still have the same box.

Do you care if I borrow your idea? If you don't mind me asking where did you get that switch?

[Killdrath]

PLEASE borrow the idea :)

The switch came in a two-pack from Radio Shack for like $3

[chaksq]

Thanks man. I'll look for it sometime. +rep for a well executed mod

[SgtM]

Can't believe I haven't chimed in on this one yet. Very cool mod. +rep

[Omega]

"OMG WHERES YOU CD/DVD DRIVE??" lol to whoever says that when they look at the case.

People used to say that to me all the time when my Plextor was still stealthed.

It's pretty funny, because I tapped the corner of the panel where the CD drive was hiding and the drive popped out, people were looking at it like "wait, what?"

[TheGreatSatan]

Nice mod. +rep for your entry

[si-skyline]

Very nice mod.. i think this was a great idea to do.. like myself i ust to be not very good with a soldering iron and when trying to remote switch a cd drive i went thu 2 old ones before getting it right.. so back in the old days this mod on a shelf could of saved me time and money. :up:Well done!

[Killdrath]

I will very soon be venturing to replicate this on my very nice DVD-rw drive... So yeah, as I said before, I had already planned to do this mod as part of my WIP project, TGS just gave me a reason to do it early, on a test-drive.