How to Make a USB CD Drive

You can attach your CD drive to your USB port.

Adding a CD drive to your computer provides convenience, but opening your computer's case can be a real hassle. For many computer owners, the better solution is to purchase an inexpensive CD-ROM or CD writer and convert it to a USB-attached external drive. This strategy is also a money saving one, since there is often a large cost differential between internal and external drives.

Things You'll Need

• CD drive
• IDE to USB converter cable

Instructions

1. Purchase an IDE to USB converter cable. This device converts an internal CD-ROM, CD writer or hard drive to an external device you can connect to your USB port.

2. Attach the long IDE connector on the converter cable to the IDE connector on the back of the hard drive. Make sure the cable is firmly seated.

3. Connect the USB end of the cable to a free USB port on your computer. Plug the converter cable in and power it on. You will now be able to use the CD drive as an external device.

References

• Dan's Data: IDE to USB Converter Cable