EHZ-SHOP Optical Drive Enclosure External Caddy DVD Drive Case for Slim 12.7mm Optical SATA CDROM/DVDRW/COMBO Drive (USB3.0 Caddy)

The 'height' of this CADDY unit is designed for the STANDARD 12.7 mm optical disk drive units, but would (apparently) accommodate the slim-build 9.5 & 7.0 drive units as alternatives, but the bezel supplied might not be appropriately-built to fit correctly to the exterior of such an assembly. The 'SLIM' description is correctly used solely for a 9.5 mm drive unit, but the 7.0 mm drive unit would also have to used with a 'slim' (9.5 mm caddy unit), since no such external mounting caddy unit has ever been produced (as far as I'm aware). The caddy unit works as would be required with a 12.5 mm drive unit, but I didn't try it with either other type since my needs didn't require that. The descriptions attempting to relate the caddy to the types of optical disk that may be read/written are obviously utter nonsense, since the caddy will work with ANY standard-shaped optical disk drive (the caddy unit expects the disk-drive to connect via the standard SATA plug-in arrangement that (almost?) all such optical disk units have used since 'SATA' appeared; the caddy is actually nothing but a box that enables any required optical disk unit to be plugged into it! (via its unseen 'SATA' connector within the rear of the 'box' plus the caddy-supplied power & USB 3.0 connector to its rear externally (it's just the standard USB 2/3 connector at the computer-end of course); what happens inside the 'optical disk box', is dependent solely on how the 'box' has been built internally by Toshiba (?), & be used in conjunction with driver software that always has to be added by the user, since the whole caboodle is a proprietary-product where the owners (Sony, Toshiba, & Co.) have not provided any of such software of their own to the users - everything's an "optional" 'add-on' extra, including everything to do with the Blu-Ray feature; no-one appears to have YET trumped-up extra charges for using M-Dir! Also the markings 'USB 3.0' are inappropriate, since the unit will work quite happily using 'USB 2.0' (at least for reading) - (I didn't try USB 1.0, since I've nothing left that I've got specifically marked as such, but on reflection could have temporarily arranged for such by plugging-in a very old mouse device). The labelling on the caddy's box & description on Amazon is especially deceptive, since that suggests that an optical disk unit is part-&-parcel of the content - because the word 'DRIVE' has been used; I temporarily 'lost' one 'spare' optical disk drive of mine (that had the Blu-Ray writing features), that I'd 'temporarily' put into the caddy for testing purposes! (The 'qualities' attributed by the caddy's labelling can't be applied to what is essentially just an 'empty' metal box!).

I had replaced the hard drive in my laptop with an ssd and decided to move the hard drive to the optical drive bay. This enclosure would enable me to do that. I attempted to slide the drive I to the enclosure but it was reluctant to go all the way in. I eventually eased the enclosure apart and fitted it that way. The lugs holding it together are not strong so care was needed.I then tried to fit the supplied fascia and discovered that the lugs did not match the front of my drive. I eventually managed it with a bit of cutting and some super glue. I now have a stand alone working drive in a rather flimsy enclosure but as it is not used that often I am fairly satisfied at a fairly cheap price.

Firstly, there are no instructions on how to fit the DVD/CD drive. Whilst this is not too much of an issue for a reasonably technical person, it would possibly stump those with no experience.Secondly, the face plate for the drive does not fit correctly to the front of the drive. Some of the connectors are in the completely wrong spot for connecting to a drive drawer. I could not connect the one from mine to the drive correctly because the connectors are all shifted to one side too much. The two connectors on the left most side as you look at the drive fitted , but the other connectors would not. Therefore it would not allow the drive to close. In the end I decided to trim two of the connectors off and around 3mm from one end, which now allows the drive to close. The button to open the drive is in the right place, as is the small hole that allows you to open them without power.

This is a well intentioned device but execution isn't great.First off, there was no installation instructions. I know its pretty straight forward but not everyone is handy and savvy.The drive fascia didn't line up and I ended up having to make some modifications to make it fit flush and work as I just couldn't be bothered with the hassle of returning it.Secondly, the eject button wasn't opening the drive door either and I am sure it wasn't the drive's issue because I tried a few that I had laying around. The fascia button just could not be pushed far enough to press the eject button on the drive so super glued a tiny piece of plastic to the back of the fascia button and that solved the issue.The manufacturer needs to go back to the drawing board and properly finish this device before bringing it to the masses.