Swapping Tosh drive for the Add-on drive...

[rover2002]

Is this possible? Could i pull out the NEC drive in the tosh & put in the Tosh drive from the Add-on, or would the drivers on the Tosh drive throw a fit?
ta.

[UxiSXRD]

Try it and let us know. :)

The service manual for the HD-A1 mentions needing an encryption code or some such...

[RAFABAMAD]

I would like to know the answer to this as well. Would someone who has both please try this? If the result was positive, I would happily buy the add-on.

[RAFABAMAD]

From what I've read, it's faster and has better error correction to start with. According to the add-on owners poll, these guys have both. One of them has got to be curious enough to try it. Please?

DVD add on drive/s and standalone player/s

arlrch, AZHTGeek, b.ramos, BassTek, BenDover, Blasst, Blippy2005, BLK 04, bobgpsr, bruce can, calikarim, candyrocket786, CaptDS9E, Category 5, Chako, Cichlid, cws_kahuna, DaBigKahuna, dago2727, darinp2, Darkmatter, DarthJedi, dauthum, denile, Desert Heat, directorpaul, DJWikiera, DocX, Dwight2001, efranzen, Ezra, Farris214, Forest Fan, gas_leak, GizmoDVD, Glen911, gt9450, hammer99, hmuller, HomerJay, huntaar, jay07059, Jeff Williams, John Welch, Jonathan Hickey, JonMarsh, justmeandher, kiomon, kiwichev, MadPerry, madpoet, mimason, nataraj, NavNucST3, Norgoth, Packman1999, paulbh, pedra12, puddy77, Rasczak, rdjam, Reedy, RickW, Ron Lee, Rouser, rudyusmc1980, rxman, shine5555, SOWK, Soycrema, species_8472, stacks42, StrykerSTI, talman, tdhps1, tivodoctor, tmackie, tomr, TomsHT, trgraphics, Vasim Pathan, vwbeetlvr, wewantflair, WiFi-Spy, Wilda, winstonb, xue891

[homerx]

I don't think it would work as the software is depend on the drive. If it does work it would only work as hard as the software would allow so I don't think it would work any better.

It may be worth a try, but if the new drive hurt the toshibias software you may be out 400 bucks for a player. I'd not even try. My A1 works perfect with very little flaws. I will get the HD add on but don't plan on doing that.

Would the cabling be the same?

[azmodien]

I think the A1 load times are mostly hindered by the processing hardware and not the ROM drive.

[UxiSXRD]

That was the generally opposite conclusion in the A1/XA1 service manual thread, which put most of the blame on the drive IIRC.

[Kosty]

It would probably work if you had the right software driver but that would have to be already installed into the firmware, on the silicon already or somehow flashed there.

You never know, its Toshiba firmware and the 360 HD DVD addon is a Toshiba drive (the drive in the HDA1 was a NEC) maybe the 2.0 firmware has a generic Toshiba HD DVD driver in it?

It would be fun if it worked. I'd put the odds at 10% or less.

[PeterS]

Don't know about that. I would guess it would indeed work.

Yes, the speed of the original HD-A1 is due to the drive primarily.
The HD-A1 is more of a general purpose PC than a CE device. I would assume they developed it to accepts whatever drive was ready when they were.
The HD-A2, coming in a couple weeks, uses the new drive - same as the Xbox 360 add-on.

What the dirves do is almost identical. Very interested if this indeed works, but would not be surprised.

[bobgpsr]

I would guess it would indeed work.
I'll bet not.
As post #2 on this thread mention the service manual says you have to contact Toshiba for a new AACS encryption number when you change/replace the drive - even with the exact same part. More like a ethernet MAC number than anything else -- except the number must be exactly right for the individual drive

Bob

[Blkout]

I think the A1 load times are mostly hindered by the processing hardware and not the ROM drive.

Correct.

[Blkout]

Yes, the speed of the original HD-A1 is due to the drive primarily.



Incorrect.

[UxiSXRD]

You've stated your opinion. Now offer some corrobration for your conclusion...

[ShagMan]

The load time for the HD-A1 is certainly NOT the drive. For one thing, the boot time and the disc load time is mostly with the drive NOT spinning... just listen to it, sheesh.



...On swapping the drive from the add-on, that would be a no go just because there's no way to mount the drive at all. I've taken apart my add-on, and it's a "chunk" of metal and not a standard laptop or 5.25" format case.

Just think about it, it looks like a laptop drive, but it's motorized, that should tell you it's a bastard chunk of hardware by itself.

[williamtassone]

dumb question, but what are those USB ports for on the XA1??

Could a 360 add on work as a drive for skipping first gen units connected by USB?

[David Susilo]

I want to know about those USB ports too! On the RCA's rebadged version of the HD-A1, they label them as "game port".