replacement cd for iMac 233mhz

Question

Level 1

5 points

replacement cd for iMac 233mhz

my iMac 233mhz (Bondi) was originally equipped with the cd-rom drive "cr-173". i now need to replace this drive.

do i need to put in another cr-173? or, will the cr-175 also do the trick? and finally, are there are cd drive models compatible with my iMac?

many thanks for whatever help you may offer!

Posted on Nov 3, 2005 4:50 PM

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Answer 1

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Nov 3, 2005 5:18 PM in response to tony oliva

Hi Tony.

You can get pretty much anything here: http://www.midwestmac.com/page63.html

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Answer 2

Strider

Level 6

14,600 points

Nov 3, 2005 5:24 PM in response to tony oliva

here's a site that sells replacement and upgrade parts: http://www.wegenermedia.com/imaccd.htm

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Answer 3

tony oliva Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 3, 2005 5:50 PM in response to tony oliva

rather then send me links for stores selling mac equipment, please focus on this general question:

when replacing my iMac's original cd-rom drive (model CR-173), do i need to put in another CR-173...or will other later models -- like the CR-175 cd-rom -- also be compatible?

many thanks, richard

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Answer 4

Strider

Level 6

14,600 points

Nov 3, 2005 5:56 PM in response to tony oliva

I honestly have no idea. Do you know which models the CR-175 was associated with, cause I sure don't. I doubt most people around ehre do. if that's the model that was used in other tray loading iMAcs, than it would probably work, seeing as replacement drives lsited at the sites we linked you to work for all models of the same type. Where are you buying these that you see these model #'s. While I don't doubt they are the correct #'s, its just not something seen around here to often.

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Answer 5

Strider

Level 6

14,600 points

Nov 3, 2005 6:04 PM in response to Strider

I did a google search for each part# and the 175 was coming up for rev A and B iMacs on several sites. So yeah, it should work.

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Answer 6

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Nov 3, 2005 6:08 PM in response to tony oliva

please focus on this general question

You would probably get a better answer on the sites that Strider and I linked. They do this stuff all the time. Send them an email, now that you have a couple of starting points.

Please bear in mind the contributors here are just Mac users, like yourself, not Apple employees. I couldn't even tell you the model # of the CD drives in my own iMacs.

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Answer 7

Nov 4, 2005 11:02 PM in response to tony oliva

Basically, any drive fro another tray load (233- 333) iMac should work in yours. You can get one for $15- 20 on eBay. I would spend a whole lot more than that on an older iMac (actually you can get an entire 233 imac for something like $50- 60 including shipping)

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Answer 8

Ron JACKLE

Level 7

33,451 points

Nov 5, 2005 5:25 AM in response to Steve Fredericks

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Answer 9

tony oliva Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 5, 2005 7:33 AM in response to tony oliva

many thx to everyone who replied to my query...

as of yet, there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer to my original question...however, i'm starting to think that ANY (or most) of the tray-loading cd-roms will be compatible with the CR-173 drive i wish to replace (including model 678-0178, which Ron didn't mention).

The following reply came from tech support @MicroDocUSA (a company that sells Mac replacement parts):

"Many years ago, the rumor was, that you could only replace the CR173 with a CR173. That has actually turned out to be incorrect. The only tray load optical drives we have available right now are CR176 or CR177 and we have shipped thousands of them to schools around the country without any reported problems".

Tech support
MicroDocUSA

I then re-checked with this same person:
"Just to be absolutely sure that I understand this correctly...are u saying that I can replace my CR173 with any of the following models: 175, 176, 177?"

Reply: "That is correct!"

As such, the issue is still a bit fuzzy...and I'd be grateful for any further insights.

Best wishes to all!

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Answer 10

Nov 5, 2005 2:42 PM in response to tony oliva

Dear Tony,

This is just a general comment to you on this thread.

Besides the sites that the level 4 angels recommended, you have come upon a real gold mine in terms of Apple information. I used to rely on my then husband to keep my Amiga computer (remember them) and now iMac in check. I also subscribed to AOL where there was a great MAC community (Sadly, AOL USA stopped having hosted MAC chats). I'm even lucky enough to have a couple of Mac shops near to me.

These angels have the best information and keep me sane (or a near facsimile 🙂

All the best,

Irene

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Answer 11

tony oliva Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 17, 2005 1:51 AM in response to tony oliva

ok...i have a FINAL VERDICT (as far as i'm concerned), since -- as we all know -- the proof is ultimately in the pudding...

i bought a used CR-175 cd-rom (model# 678-0178) from ebay (which had originally been inside a 266mhz tangerine iMac) & used it to replace the CR-173 cd-rom (model# 678-0161) that originally shipped with my 233mhz bondi blue iMac...and it works GREAT!

as such, the above info from tech support @MicroDocUSA seems to be absolutely correct (whereas the info from iMac's 7/99 service manual -- quoted above by Ron Jackle -- appears to be quite inaccurate).

hopefully, others will profit from the trials & tribulations that i went thru in order to get to the bottom of this isssue. peace to all! tonyo

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