Issues with installing Pioneer DVR-105 in G4 MMD model .....

[BernieR]

Hello Helpful people!

Ok, i finally bit the bullet and bought a 4x dvd-r for my G4 MMD model. (BTW paid just over $200 for the unit shipped to me AND 25 4x blank discs!)

So here are the problems:

1. I had to snip out the corners of the metal framing (on the mac) at the exit for the upper DVD-R placed unit. Also i had to snip the corners of the MMD plastic. Is this normal or did i install it wrong?

2. The rear metal plate (inside the mac covering the wires on the back) will not go back on properly now that i have a combo drive in the bottom and a DVD-r drive in the top. Is it necessary?

3. The DVD-R drive came set in the "master" position, so i just installed it. The combo drive that came with the MAC doesnt say if it its a slave or master ..... the pins are not marked (toshiba brand black unit) Does it matter?


Well, i am now finished burning my fist DVD disc --- 4.2 gig went down in 13 minutes! using toast. This is cool. Can not wait for 8x !!!!!

thanks for the help!

Bernie

[MacDSL]

I have the same setup, my DVD-r is Master, and the CD-RW is Cable select. they both work great.

Yes, you did install it wrong, there was no need to "cut" your Mac, the front piece of the drive removes easily, therefore allowing smooth opening and closing of the drive.

The metal back piece is installed on mine with no issues, try to flatten the cables in the back. It is not mandatory, but there is not much inside a computer anymore that is not necessary.

If both drives are working properly, then it is installed correctly..

Have fun.. and enjoy it, because they won't both fit in the new G5.

[theMotoMan]

Bernie,

1. Some of us just remove the plastic piece at the end of the DVD tray to provide the clearance. Looks kinda hokey when you eject the tray, but it is all hidden once you retract it.

2. The metal shield must help cooling flow and/or electrical noise. Try rearranging your wiring slightly...it should work. Mine fits fine.

3. You should set both of your drives to CS (cable select) and put the DVR-RW at the end of the cable. I'm not sure if all MDD models are the same, but my 2x867 is that way. I saw a bulletin on the Apple support site about it.

BTW, I think good deals are to be had currently on the 4X drives since the 8X's are on the way. I picked up a CenDyne (OEM Pioneer 105) for $149 after rebate from OfficeMax. I'm a happy camper.

[galactica]

Hello Helpful people!

Ok, i finally bit the bullet and bought a 4x dvd-r for my G4 MMD model. (BTW paid just over $200 for the unit shipped to me AND 25 4x blank discs!)

So here are the problems:

1. I had to snip out the corners of the metal framing (on the mac) at the exit for the upper DVD-R placed unit. Also i had to snip the corners of the MMD plastic. Is this normal or did i install it wrong?

Yea, never hack away at the case. As mentioned, most drives allow you to remove the tray faceplate to make the extended tray less wide.


See how the tray faceplate can come disconnected! This will allow clearance of those two grey tabs that are blocking the drive when this faceplate is not removed.

2. The rear metal plate (inside the mac covering the wires on the back) will not go back on properly now that i have a combo drive in the bottom and a DVD-r drive in the top. Is it necessary?

Actually, its REALLY necessary! If you are a master at replacing IDE cable then dont put it back on. Your heat sync is really a shap item and can slice the IDE cable that will stick out if you dont put this metal plate back on! Speaking from experience here! It slides on, make sure its in the proper orientation and then there are two groves, one at top, one at bottom and it will slip right over the notches on the drive trays.

3. The DVD-R drive came set in the "master" position, so i just installed it. The combo drive that came with the MAC doesnt say if it its a slave or master ..... the pins are not marked (toshiba brand black unit) Does it matter?

The "Pins" wont be marked, however the drive will have a "label" telling you which pin is which.

Set your Burner to Master or CSEL, and set the combo drive to SLAVE. It should be clearly marked

Well, i am now finished burning my fist DVD disc --- 4.2 gig went down in 13 minutes! using toast. This is cool. Can not wait for 8x !!!!!

thanks for the help!

Bernie

So it looks like you installed it properly.

[BernieR]

Hey thanks for the replys !!

Well, i guess its just a flesh wound for my mac there on those snipped corners-- cause the tray ejects intact..... oh well....

about that rear plate.... well i am going to rearrange the cables and put it on. Its going to be tight with two drives in there.


Its too bad i could not find a tutorial (with pics) on how to install this drive in a MMD MAC. I used to have a G4 450 and there is a great tutorial for installing drives at XLR8yourMAC for that model.


Oh well, at least it seems to be working

thanks again!

Bernie

[BernieR]

ok put the plate on --- it wasnt that hard

thanks again!

Bernie

[galactica]

Its too bad i could not find a tutorial (with pics) on how to install this drive in a MMD MAC. I used to have a G4 450 and there is a great tutorial for installing drives at XLR8yourMAC for that model.

For future reference:

1. your owners book that came with your comptuer gives you step by step how to install a drive
2. apple.com/support has about 1 billion .pdf files and I know one of them is how to because I used it when installing my super drive.

important thing is you got it up and running

[BernieR]

ahhhhhhhhhhh....... now he tells me :P

oh well i got it to work!

it is cool having two internal drives ... too bad the G5 wont....

Speaking of G5 ,and getting off topic -- not to be anti mac here ( as i have never even used a PC) but why is Apple building a G5 and bragging about how its just as fast as the current P4 top of the line?

Since its like next gen, shouldn't it be like BLAZINGLY faster than a current model P4?

just wondering .....

Bernie

[galactica]

ahhhhhhhhhhh....... now he tells me :P

oh well i got it to work!

it is cool having two internal drives ... too bad the G5 wont....

Speaking of G5 ,and getting off topic -- not to be anti mac here ( as i have never even used a PC) but why is Apple building a G5 and bragging about how its just as fast as the current P4 top of the line?

Since its like next gen, shouldn't it be like BLAZINGLY faster than a current model P4?

just wondering .....

Bernie

my take on it is there is nothing but a P4 to even get close to comparing it to. There is no P5 or anything. Understand what im saying?

By the way, just realized my picture never loaded above. Now you can see how the faceplate comes off (and other mac users who have same problem can see what to do!)

[BernieR]

Galactica,

that pic would have helped a lot!!!! (before i trimmed )

not to be trolling here but:
http://news.com.com/2100-1006_3-1023436.html?tag=lh

Again, i have been using a mac since the mac plus so no trolling here.

Bernie

[galactica]

Galactica,

that pic would have helped a lot!!!! (before i trimmed )

not to be trolling here but:
http://news.com.com/2100-1006_3-1023436.html?tag=lh

Again, i have been using a mac since the mac plus so no trolling here.

Bernie

Either you have one HUGE vocab or you do a lot of fishing

Anyways, hmmmmmmmm..... does posting a PC link merit a warning?! hahahah just kidding. Like you said..... Ive been a mac user since the Mac SE....... never owned a PC, never will.

[BernieR]

Hey G!

Fishing is my favorite sport

hey, sorry about that link, typo ect ect.



Bernie

[galactica]

just out of curiosity, can you post a picture of your mac's flesh wounds?