dirtycrowMay 12, 2025

Using DVD slot for second 3.5" drive?

https://programming.dev/post/30229124

Using DVD slot for second 3.5" drive? - programming.dev

I’ve found an Inspiron with an FX8800P and 1 3.5” slot and a DVD slot. I intend to use it in my 3-2-1 backup with two drives (one hot, one warm) and the third backup in AWS Glacier (inb4 fuck Amazon - it’s cheap). It will also function as a NAS. Have you placed a 3.5” drive in the 5.25” DVD bay? I understand you may need an adapter. Not sure if I can skip that. The reason I can’t use a NAS is because I want to power one of the drives off for power, longevity, and I don’t want to use RAID.

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I did not, but of course you can. Either by using an adapter (maybe a printable one?), or – if it is an SSD – by just placing the drive there and hld it in place with one screw.

If there already is a drive installed you want to removed and there is no spare cover, you can also print one.

(You can of course buy the parts instead of printing them. Those adapters and covers are fully standardized and widely available.)

5.25 inch bay to 3.5 inch adapter by TomServo

Needed a solid and easy to print 5.25 bay to 3.5 drive adapter, and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for anywhere on thingiverse, so made this one.For mounting the adapter to the bay, add 4x M3 threaded inserts. This relies on threaded inserts and longer mounting screws than what are normally used. This is designed around inserts that have a 5 mm outer diameter. Either press the threaded inserts from the inner side of the adapter, or heat the inserts and gently press them in. The mounting holes are just small enough that you don't exactly need the inserts if you truly don't want to use them, but I do really recommend it.Printing this in either 0.1 or 0.2 works well. Haven't tried 0.3, but this can print with 0.2 and any regular ol' standard FDM printer in about 4 hours. Newer, faster printers can do it in 1.5-2 hours.

Thingiverse
May 12, 2025 at 10:02pmWeb