Using MBP(2007) without Optical Drive?

I have a late 2007 Macbook Pro whose optical drive has been broken. I don't even know when it stopped working. (that being said, I wish next MBP comes out without an optical drive)
I'm wondering if I can just remove the broken optical drive and leave the space empty so that I can make the laptop lighter even if it's a little bit?
Thanks for your help in advance.

I took the optical drive out of my MBP then installed a second HDD via a special bracket, I hardly use the optical drive and have an external drive to burn with on the 'once in a while' timeframe
Works very well, but as D0GG said, fraction of weight is saved not really worth it for that alone.

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Hi,
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**Click the KUDOS thumb up on the left to say 'Thanks'**
Make it easier for other people to find solutions by marking a Reply 'Accept as Solution' if it solves your problem.

Is there any methods to use network printer without installing driver?

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Hi,
Please refer to your other post:
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IMac G5 education without optical drive, what can I do?

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Thanks, I apologize if my english is not very good

I've just bought on ebay an iMac G5 1,6 Ghz (without isight) with the motherboard dead.
I assume you managed to fix that "motherboard dead" problem, since there would be no point in installing an optical drive in a Mac that does not work.
If you can't get the slot open because it is intentionally closed, maybe you can get an external optical drive and stick something else into that internal space. For example, will it fit a 2.5-inch (laptop size) IDE hard drive for additional internal storage? Or you can get an IDE-to-compact-flash adapter card and give your iMac a solid state flash drive (like MacBook Air); CF cards are getting pretty cheap, even at the 16GB size, and you can get even larger ones for a higher price. Maybe you can even boot from it.
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Can I install Windows without optical Driver

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Thank you for your reply, and the information. This is what I came up with:
I added the strings as instructed, however when I went to sign the script in terminal, I was told:
/Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app: replacing existing signature
/Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app: code object is not signed at all
In subcomponent: /Applications/Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app/Contents/info.plist
Also, here are screen captures of the lines that I added. Mine are the top string entries:
Thank you for your help, thus far!

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No need to buy an optical drive and don't try transferring, it rarely works.
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Four options.. in reverse order of my personal preference/recommendations
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See the following link for more info..
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5287
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http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/03/windows-8-on-a-macbook-air-beautiful-and-kinda -broken/
http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/robert/hyper-v-3-0-confirmed-for-windows-8-clie nt.aspx
http://www.windows8update.com/2011/12/06/enabling-hyper-v-in-windows-8/
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Windows 8 Release Preview
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How to share cd/dvd:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10427176-263.html
& on the computer with the cd/dvd:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1777?viewlocale=en_US
Change Password
Mac OS X:
Changing or resetting an account password via GUI:
Resetting a user's password
Resetting the original administrator account password
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106156
You do not have a CD/DVD
Changing password from single user mode:
You can also change the administrator's password from single user mode or create a new administrator account.
You need to get into single use mode for steps one and two that are listed below.
This page will tell you how to get into single user mode.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1492
Basically, you hold down the command-s key then powering on your machine. The command key has a little apple symbol on the lower left. It is between the alt/option key and the space bar. On a PC keyboard, it will be the windows key, I think.
1) You can change the password on an account. ( Do you know Unix. You are in a Unix single user console. ) The setup commands you need should be listed on the screen. For Mac OS 10.4.11, the commands are:
# Type the follow two instructions to access the startup disk in read/write:
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /
# Start up some utility processes that are needed.
sh /etc/rc
# You will probably need to press the return key once the system stops typing.
# To find out the users on the system type, use the list command. The l is a lower case L:
ls /Users
# One of these accounts will be the administrator.
# Pick one of the users which I'll call a-user-name and type it in this command:
passwd a-user-name
# and enter the new user password. You need six characters.
# You will need to enter your password twice. Your typing will not show up on the screen just
# press enter when you complete the typing.
# For cryptic information on these commands try:
man ls
man passwd
The root account isn't enabled by default. I am not sure if changing the password on root will enable it.
2) Get the Mac to set up an additional administrative account. You can then change the password on your old account.
Start with your computer power off. Hold down command-s. Power on your computer.
Type in the following:
The first two commands will depend on your release of Mac OS X. Look at what is typed out in the console to determine the exact format.
# Type the follow two instructions to access the startup disk in read/write. Press return after each command.
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /
cd /var/db
pwd
#List all files. The l is a lower case L.
ls -a
#The move command acts as a rename command in this format.
mv -i .applesetupdone .applesetupdone.old
reboot
Once you've done that the computer reboots and it's like the first time you used the machine. Your old accounts are all safe. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!
Limnos adds detailed explainations:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8441597#8441597
The above the idea came from a post by JoseAranda at September 9, 2006 3:48 AM
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/howdo_i_reset_my_mac_os_x_admin_rootpassword.html
You will need to scroll down to see this post. Search for applesetupdone
Once you have a new administrative account, you can change the password of your old administrative account
blue apple > System Preferences > Accounts
• You can see that it is easy to change your administrator password. You can set a firmware password that you enter before your machine will boot.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352
• For the best data security, you should use FileVault. Create a good logon password. Define and use a good backup plan. I do not recommend using FileVault unless you really need the security because it is much harder to recover your data should you have a hard drive problem and you do not have your data backed up.

Windows 7 won't boot without optical drive (SSD, Dual HD)

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Any way to archive XP recovery data without optical drive

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Hi,
I hope this is still relevant for you...
I had to face the exact same dilemma with my T43. I too wanted to make a recovery cd, but wasn't able to thanks to having a DVD read only optical drive.
My solution was rather creative:
I googled for a software which lets you emulate a DVD burner, and what I does is it saves whatever the recovery program is sending to the "fake" burner to an .iso file, which later I could just copy to a different machine with a DVD burner and burn to disc.
My solution requires having a second machine near by and transferring the large .iso file via network.
Hope this helps,
Elhay

Using MBP(2007) without Optical Drive?

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