well, that's basically the question. i saw a lite-on internal dvd-rom drive at kmart for (i think) just over $30. i don't want to remove either of my other drives but would like to have a dvd-rom drive to reduce some of the wear on my dvd+/-rw drive. so is there any way possible to convert and use an internal as an external?
Well there are kits that you can put internal hard drives into to make external. (Which are friggin expensive.) But I never seen a dvd Rom Kit. You dont' have room for 2 DVD drives?
i have 2 drives. one is a cd-rom and the other is a dvd/cd writer. i only use the cd-rom to rip cd's which i don't do very often. i use the writer constantly to rip and burn dvd's. i don't really want to replace the cd-rom drive since it is practically still like new because i hardly ever use it. but i would like to have a dvd-rom drive to use to rip my dvd's to keep from using my dvd writer so much. hopefully that would make it last longer. i don't want to buy an external because they are so expensive. i'm all about saving money whenever possible. that's why i wanted to buy an internal in the hopes there would be a way to fix it to be used like an external. but even if there is a way, it probably would end up costing as much as an external anyway. :-(
i know i can use the dvd writer to rip and burn cd's and dvd's. that's what i do. but i also wanted to get a dvd-rom drive to use only for ripping and possibly playing my dvd's.
The answer to your question is Yes. If you live in the US, Newegg.com sells an external case for under $35 delivered that will encase any Optical Drive or a HDD up to 300 gigs. Just make sure that you set whatever you put in it to Master on the jumper. http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-145-314&depa=0