Adding a second HDD to ENVY 14 by replacing Slot Loading Optical drive

[MikeWarner]

I just got a cheap one off ebay and ripped the plastic bit off the end and it fitted perfectly. Here:
NEW SATA 2nd HDD caddy for 9.5mm Universal CD/DVD-ROM on eBay (end time 24-Feb-11 02:24:55 GMT)

I fitted the SSD in place of the original drive and the spinning HDD in place of the optical drive as there does not appear to be any way to boot from the drive in the optical's position.

[gundam83]

I just got a cheap one off ebay and ripped the plastic bit off the end and it fitted perfectly. Here:
NEW SATA 2nd HDD caddy for 9.5mm Universal CD/DVD-ROM on eBay (end time 24-Feb-11 02:24:55 GMT)

That looks very similar to the one I bought off of ebay. Did you have a problem with mounting the metal brackets from the optical drive onto the caddy? The holes on the caddy were too small to accept the screws used to mount the brackets. I just taped them on with some painter's tape, but I don't know if that's a good solution

[akashhhhh]

Just ordered my New Modeus caddy! Pretty excited about doing this, I really love how easy it is to open up the Envy casing, so much easier than any other HP I've ever owned. It's going to be annoying to have to swap the optical back in when I send the unit in for warranty repair (which is inevitable).

Does anyone know if it's possible to throw the Envy optical into an enclosure? I know it's generally possible but this is a slot loading drive without a bezel so I wonder if there will be any issues.

Also, there's a 5% coupon for newmodeus, it only saves you a couple of bucks, but money is money: FB072808

[kaichan918]

just wondering, how hard is it exactly to remove the optical drive. i dont use it at all. might as well cut the weight off. how much lighter would it be? 4oz lighter?

[kaichan918]

can or has anybody tried to use the space for extra battery? replacing the optical drive with battery instead?

[deftonesmw]

Another battery doesn't seem efficient. The envy has the slice available...mine gets around 9 hours with the slice battery. I'm not sure how much of a battery one could really fit in the cd drive's spot. Also the battery would either have to be added to the primary battery's connections or connected to the slim battery's connection which i think would be a pain in the a$$. I think the best move would be to relocate the slow 500gb hd to the optical's spot and put an ssd in it's place. Make the laptop 4-5 times faster and more energy effecient....that seems like a better option to me. If you need more battery time, get a slice battery. It'll double your time.

[kaichan918]

Another battery doesn't seem efficient. The envy has the slice available...mine gets around 9 hours with the slice battery. I'm not sure how much of a battery one could really fit in the cd drive's spot. Also the battery would either have to be added to the primary battery's connections or connected to the slim battery's connection which i think would be a pain in the a$$. I think the best move would be to relocate the slow 500gb hd to the optical's spot and put an ssd in it's place. Make the laptop 4-5 times faster and more energy effecient....that seems like a better option to me. If you need more battery time, get a slice battery. It'll double your time.

i have two standard batteries, which is much better than using a slice, adds weight and bulkness. i dont use the slot load at all, im thinking about just removing it to cut back on weight. what do you think?

[deftonesmw]

i have two standard batteries, which is much better than using a slice, adds weight and bulkness. i dont use the slot load at all, im thinking about just removing it to cut back on weight. what do you think?

I have 2 standards too but i find it's a pain to have to either plug in or shutdown to swap batteries especially when i'm in the middle of rendering video...much easier to click on the slice than to start all over again as it's only another pound or so in weight. You won't lose any weight by removing the optical...it's barely noticable in my hand right now. It's about the weight of my 240gb ssd drive. I think you're better off just leaving it in there if weight is the only concern. I'm not sure you'll feel a difference.

[gundam83]

Here is my experience if it helps. Used one of the ebay ones and placed my 500gb factory drive into it while using an SSD as my boot drive. Upon closing up I noticed that the casing was bulged in the area over the caddy. Took it apart and snapped the front trim piece off and now it sits in perfect. I also decided to put my SSD in the caddy and factory drive back in it's original slot because I figured less heat and no rotation. That was a bad move since I was unable to get the laptop to boot with the SSD. I tried every single combination inside the bios to no avail. However if you go through the boot menu, you can select the SSD and it'll boot, but it won't do it automatically. It'll just hang. So if anyone is considering putting a boot drive in the optical slot. DONT! At least the 2nd and 3rd time taking the envy apart, it went much quicker.

[MikeWarner]

That looks very similar to the one I bought off of ebay. Did you have a problem with mounting the metal brackets from the optical drive onto the caddy? The holes on the caddy were too small to accept the screws used to mount the brackets. I just taped them on with some painter's tape, but I don't know if that's a good solution

I left the bracket nearest the screen off as it didn't fit. Was still securely mounted though.