Replace Laptop Optical Disc Drive with USB Ports

dorsal · Dec 28, 2015

I know this is a very rare and strange request, and I understand it will take a bunch of parts and a lot of time to get working.
I have a MacBook Pro 13" early 2011 I got for a steal with 2 broken USB ports. The issue is purely hardware based, a SMD component on the motherboard is missing.

End goal, get USB ports on this macbook.
My plan was to remove my optical disc drive, replace it with a board, or a set of boards, that will convert the internal SATA data and power to 1 or more USB female ports. I know they will be inside but I will fix that on my own.
This is my plan so far, links below.
Optical drive to HDD caddy, hdd to mini pcie caddy, mini pcie to USB 3.0 converter, a ugly usb wire hanging out of my optical slot haha. From there I can connect a powered hub to see if it will support and mount multiple devices.

I found this, that seems to adapt mini pci e to a usb port:
http

/www.ebay.com/itm/201381623734?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

And this that converts the sata to a mini pci e:
http

/www.ebay.com/itm/MINI-PCI-E-MSATA-SSD-TO-2-5-SATA-6-0-GPS-Adapter-Converter-Card-Module-Board-/121742820086?hash=item1c587002f6:g:nUgAAOSwDNdV3n~4

Then the final piece of the puzzle, allows me to replace the optical drive with a 2.5 HDD:
http

/www.ebay.com/itm/2nd-9-5mm-SATA-SSD-Hard-Drive-Caddy-Bay-for-Apple-MacBook-Pro-A1278-A1286-A1297-/111140781877?hash=item19e081bf35:g:51YAAOSwPcVVtcOd

If anyone has any products or fixes in mind lemme know, Im open to anything.
Laptop also has SD card reader, thunderbolt mini_DP, ethernet, and firewire 800 if that helps.

If anyone with more hardware and spec knowledge sees a problem here let me know and correct me anywhere that I am misguided. Thanks

getochkn · Dec 28, 2015

In theory, it could all work, but I don't think the SATA port would the ability to use USB properly.

dorsal · Dec 28, 2015

getochkn :

Thats what I was thinking. I feel like SATA would not support the same plug and play features that USB allows, which might require a restart every time I insert or remove the media. Another issue I could see is devices not being recognized as USB devices when it comes to software and drivers, seems like this would require its own drivers.
Worst case scenario I see is a system crash when I attach or remove the media.

The more I consider it the less it seems like it would work, and it would especially not work with USB devices other than storage media.

ffg7 · Dec 28, 2015

what is the matter with your 2 usb ports beside broken & in what way broken?

dorsal · Dec 29, 2015

ffg7 :

SMD component missing from the board, looks like it popped off, the solder lead is still there in the shape of the component legs. I posted a help request at this link with pics and a description, if you think you can help with SMD repairs:
http

/www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=51245

Thanks

getochkn · Dec 29, 2015

We have to make an account there to see pics, so maybe upload them somewhere free hosting for us to see here. I'll look but not doing the whole make an account thing. lol.

dorsal · Dec 29, 2015

getochkn :

Whoops, sorry about that guys. I thought you could see pics without an account. It took so long for me to create an account there, had to wait time and make a few posts... totally not worth it because nobody responded at all.

"
I have a Macbook Pro 13" A1278 early 2011 i5 in perfect condition I picked up from eBay for a steal.
The only issue, and the reason it was listed for parts, is that both USB ports on the board don't work. The seller claimed they didn't know what caused the issue, but said it could have been water damage or a OS X update.
I did the usual, Apple suggested fix, reset SMC, PRAM, OSX reinstall etc.

What happens is, I plug a USB device in, it will light up for half a second and go dark permanently, they work on other computers. They are never recognized by the macbook.

I looked inside and noticed what seems to be the problem.
An SMD component on the board is missing and I can't tell what type of part it is because it is gone. There is a "brother" part beside it (pictured below) that looks VERY similar, in size, form, and relative position.

First pic shows what i think is equivalent brother part, second shows the 4 points where the old one was, third shows bother parts and their seemingly equivalent nature.

Can anyone identify this part, and maybe give any tips on buying and replacing it? I am very skilled with an iron and computers in general, but I never do SMD.

I don't know if it is a cap or resistor so I am afraid to have at it with my multimeter probes. Any tips?"

http

/tinypic.com/r/2wgvzhe/9
http

/tinypic.com/r/f1i16u/9
http

/tinypic.com/r/152f6uu/9

ffg7 · Dec 29, 2015

were the missing part(s) is supposedly located, is the solder smooth or jagged as tho component was ripped off? look in that area for a fuse that will have writing on it stating 120v 2A or something similar plus have writing on the board stating f1 or similar.

dorsal · Dec 29, 2015

When I get off the course I will open her back up and take a look. But from what I saw there had to be a component there before that was square, the solder is shaped tall and pointy like it was there. I do a great deal of work with through hole components so I know the solder looks

ffg7 · Dec 29, 2015

I do both thru hole & surface mounted components except for bga parts. couldn't tell if it was smooth or not in the pictures. the supposed twin component, is it black with numbers on it?

dorsal · Dec 29, 2015

Definitely black, no numbers or markings, just 4 solder points. I don't do SMD at all so I don't know if it's a cap or a fuse. In my opinion it won't be a resistor cause resistors usually aren't that form, just my assumption.

Edit:
If you know the part type I can test it with a multimeter in a few days when I get home. I hadn't yet because I was afraid of shorting it if it wasn't what I thought it was

dorsal · Dec 29, 2015

Ok, inside by the missing part we have a big black square with 2 wide log legs that has a white plus sign and J8 jd printed on it, a tiny black piece that says XD 8J, and a black piece with 3 legs like a transistor that says KN.
The board has nothing printed at all on this side

ffg7 · Dec 29, 2015

does it say anything on the board beside the missing component like r1 or c2? same thing for the twin. is that twin all black body or a black top & a white or light gray bottom?

dorsal · Dec 30, 2015

Twin is all black, no markings on it or near it. Knowning Apple the board is unmarked intentionally...

ffg7 · Dec 30, 2015

is not as resistor or capacitor as they are 2 legged. transistors & regulators are at least 3 legged.

dorsal · Dec 30, 2015

Hmm I was hoping it would be a cap array or something simple.
I'm starting to feel like discovering the parts identity and finding a replacement is going to be impossible.
I can't seem to find a good repository of SMD parts or a guide to identifying them. I selected your as the answer because I doubt anyone would find our conversation useful in the future because it changed so much and because it is so specific, at least you can get the credit.
If you have any other tips you can share to identifying this piece we can PM. Thanks again

ffg7 · Dec 30, 2015

http

/www.ebay.com/ bhp/firewire-male-to-usb-female

dorsal · Dec 30, 2015

ffg7 :

Thanks, but i've looked it up and firewire cannot be adapted to USB

Replace Laptop Optical Disc Drive with USB Ports

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