Key for Caddy on HDR 2496

[HarryBates]

Hello Forum, I recently purchased a HDR 2496, with caddies, but I have one problem, I don't have a key to unlock the caddy. Does anyone have an extra key, that they would sell and postage for shipping item to me.

[Bruce Graham]

Hi Harry;

I have a spare key. PM me and I'll send it to you.

Cheers
Bruce

[arjepsen]

I had a similar problem on the HDR's I bought.
One problem was, that when it's unlocked and you can change drives, the power to the slot/socket is disconnected.
In the end I had to disassemble the thing that holds the drive, and remove a bin from the locking mechanism, so that it's constantly in the "locked" position, but allows the drive to be removed.

I just have to remember not to remove the drive when the HDR is powered up..... usually not a problem

[nicholasg]

I have an MDR 2496 that also is missing the key for the removable drive. does anyone have a spare they would be willing to sell?
Also to "arjepsen"; My drive is also in the unlocked position. You said you found a work around by removing a pin. Can you you explain that in more detail? Thanks,
Nick Stevens
Downtown Recording

[arjepsen]

I don't remember in complete detail, since it's a modification you do to the "caddy base" itself - specifically to the "barrel" that you turn with the key.
You have to remove the whole thing from the HDR to do the mod.
I think I just removed it and disassembled it to the point where I could see what the turning of the key would do.
I could see that there was a "pin" or "pole" sticking out of the "barrel" that the key turns. (goodness I hope all this makes sense). I simply unscrewed/removed that pin/pole, since that is what locks the caddy in place.
Now I can leave the Barrel in the locked position (since that connects power to the caddy), but still remove/insert the caddy.

Sorry I don't have pictures of it - I'm too lazy to disasemble my HDR now, to take photos of it

[Old School]

Hi all,
I just altered the plastic (cut it out with a dremel) so that the caddie slides in and out with the pin locked. No more problems.

Have a blessed day in Christ,
Mike W.

[nicholasg]

Thanks to all who responded to the problem unlocking the external drive on my MDR 2496. Although neither solution was the one i needed, your success inspired me to find a solution, which I did. So now, without a key, the MDR recognizes the external drive, and I can remove it.
Nick

[Y-my-R]

I just stumbled across the question about the missing key from the D8B announcements forum, and thought I shouldn't respond there, but rather find the post in the right area (even though it's old). So, here goes...

It's great to know that there's a trick to disable the lock altogether, in case it causes problems, and to keep the switch the lock/key accentuates in the "on" position. I'll remember that if mine starts failing! Thanks guys!

But until then... I don't quite get why nobody has pointed out that these keys are STANDARD, and that any sort of drive-bay key usually works.

I have 3 different types of drive bays, and 3 different sets of keys from different manufacturers (from old computers with IDE bays, and from the HDR/MDR). All the keys I have fit for all of them interchangeably. So, just get "any" drive bay key, and you got a 90% or higher chance that it will work.