Does anyone know of a hack that would give me control over my laptops optical drive. I want to be able to spin (at various speeds) and turn on and off the laser while the drive is open. Any Ideas?

4/7/2010 2:45:00 PM

sub7

4/7/2010 2:47:01 PM

Oh I also forgot does anyone know off hand what the power output of a standard optical drive laser is? I can't seem to find that info...

4/7/2010 3:12:34 PM

You aren't going to be able to do this with OS level software. Drives only support eject functionality, and the laser cannot be turned on while the drive is open for safety and legal reasons.

If you want to do this, it's going to require hardware rework.

4/7/2010 4:16:32 PM

Quote :

"sub7"

Now don't be mean.

4/7/2010 7:49:15 PM

Quote :

"You aren't going to be able to do this with OS level software. Drives only support eject functionality, and the laser cannot be turned on while the drive is open for safety and legal reasons. If you want to do this, it's going to require hardware rework."

not necessarily

remember, you can reflash the drive's firmware from inside the OS

4/7/2010 8:28:10 PM

What about the ability to turn on the Drives motor and control the speed of rotation? Any software code recommendations?

4/7/2010 9:30:40 PM

Quote :

"you can reflash the drive's firmware"

Which is not OS level software. And still a major, major bitch to do because I highly doubt the firmware controllers are even designed to handle this kind of stuff.

^Doubt it.

4/7/2010 9:37:03 PM

hmmm.... I think you'd be better off buying a drive from eBay, taking out the parts and running them through a DC powersupply to get their controls down. Same for the laser.

I can't see this working reliably without dissection of the drive.

4/7/2010 10:14:43 PM

@wwwebsurfer That is what I have been doing. However for what I'm trying to do I have to move up to the next level and use software...

4/8/2010 1:53:52 PM

^ So build your own controller.

4/8/2010 2:08:49 PM

I'm trying to keep it fully integrated without having to rebuild or modify the drive.

4/8/2010 2:21:37 PM

I keep thinking of this

http://vimeo.com/1109226?pg=embed&sec=1109226

4/8/2010 2:23:24 PM

^ I've seen many people do stuff similar to that, but that one is really good.

4/10/2010 9:13:15 PM

Nor does it help me... So no one knows a single line of code that would just turn on an optical drive and spin it at full blast without taking the drive apart?

4/10/2010 9:46:25 PM

Maybe try disassembling a firmware update package for your drive?

4/10/2010 10:00:01 PM

why do you want to do this?

4/11/2010 10:18:17 PM

^ Why wouldnt you want a controllable laser?

4/11/2010 10:29:46 PM