Install LaCie LightScribe drive? Yosemite compatible drivers?

pmiles wrote:

Why do you want to use the LightScribe? For a mere $30 you can get a SuperDrive that will work with your system.

I already have a SuperDrive; it came stock in the first optical drive bay and it's working perfectly fine.

However, AFAIK a SuperDrive does not have LightScribe capabilities, hence my desire to install the LaCie LightScribe drive in the second optical drive bay.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LightScribe

pmiles wrote:

Try this:

http://steve-nelson.hubpages.com/hub/lightscribe

Thank-you. I really appreciate your efforts. That article is mostly an advertisement for his "LightScribe Toolbox" software, which is Windows only, disguised as a basic primer for LightScribe newbies. I've been using the technology for years, already familiar with the basic components, and already have Mac LightScribe labeling software & templates. However, he does provide download links to the latest Mac versions of the HP LightScribe system software drivers (2012), and I just have to assume that it works in Yosemite. http://lightscribesoftware.org/freesoftware/mac/

I was mostly hoping to find somebody here that can recommend a suitable IDE to SATA adapter and/or somebody that can confirm the LaCie LightScribe drivers will work in Yosemite. Obviously, I can't simply try the LaCie drivers without first buying the adapter... and I don't want to buy the adapter if the drivers don't work.

First off, thank-you very much for taking the time to respond.

The hatter wrote:

My first stop along the way would be OWC and then Amazon.

I've already been online shopping to OWC and Amazon. The purpose of this posting is to get "first-hand" recommendations from the community about specific parts that are already verified as working in their machines.

Blu-Ray?

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/LG/WH14NS40MP/

Your basic SATA optical drive

http://www.amazon.com/Lite--Super-AllWrite-Layer-Drive/dp/B002YIG9AQ/

Unfortunately, Lite-On is not compatible with LightScribe.

That Blue-ray at OWC looked promising at first, but later in the description it says, "Note: This drive is NOT LightScribe or LabelFlash equipped." I'll have to call OWC to find out more.

You don't want and you can't "turn around" an adapter.

You can convert a molex to SATA but that is not what you want.

http://www.amazon.com/Molex-Power-Adapter-Cable-6-Inch/dp/B000YJMB5Y/

I know these adapters cannot be flipped around, hence my desire to find somebody that's already found the correct one that works in their Mac Pro. That Molex to SATA adapter looks like the exact opposite configuration of what I'd need, assuming something like that doesn't already come within the proper IDE-SATA adapter kit.

Here's a Molex adapter cable that might work with this IDE to SATA adapter card.

I'm also presently waiting on a response from OWC.

Otherwise, if I'm feeling lucky, there are a ton of LightScribe internal SATA drives on eBay for dirt cheap.

SOFTWARE

I hooked up my LaCie LightScribe IDE drive to a universal USB adapter and installed the HP LightScribe drivers from this web-page. Through online research, I confirmed that this is the latest version available, and it's the same driver package previously distributed by LaCie and currently distributed by BeLight.

Using BeLight's Disc Cover (version 3.0.11) labeling software, I was successfully able to burn a LightScribe label.

So yes, the widely available HP LightScribe driver (version 1.18.27.10) works under Yosemite 10.10.2

HARDWARE

Now the issue of hooking up the IDE drive to the secondary optical bay using the Mac's internal 22-pin female SATA drive cable. The 2012 Mac Pro does not have any internal Molex connectors.

I found this IDE to SATA adapter card which would take care of the data bus utilizing a 7-pin SATA connection.

Then I'd need a female Molex power connection to hook into the drive. The IDE adapter card also needs a mini 4-pin power connector, so this 15-pin SATA to Molex & 4-pin adapter seems to fit the bill to power both the drive and the adapter card from a 15-pin SATA power connection. However, since the Mac's internal SATA connector is an all-in-one 22-pin female connector, I'd need a 22-pin male SATA connector that splits off the 7-pin and 15-pin connections separately. Here's one that seems to have it all, 22-pin male SATA plus 15-pin and 7-pin female SATA along with female/male Molex and 4-pin power.

Now, assuming all these cables, adapters and convertors work, I'm looking at roughly $20 - 25 for all.

Unfortunately, nobody seems to provide a simple adapter or kit that will plug-in directly between the Mac's 22-pin female SATA connection and the IDE & Molex connections on the drive.

Considering the number of adapters chained together, their combined cost, and the age of my LaCie drive, I decided to just buy a brand new Sony LightScribe SATA drive on eBay for about $30. Once I hook it up and test, I'll come back and post my results.

Tested and confirmed working...

Sony/HP SATA internal drive model DVD RW AD-7251H5