Acer Travelmate 312D - Please help me find the name of this connector

[dionkoffie]

Last week I acquired a rare Acer Travelmate 312D that came without the disk. I was hoping to just install a regular laptop IDE drive in it but I soon discovered that it uses a strange connector that I cannot seem to figure out.

This is the laptop:

 

It's apparently so rare that I have not been able to find any detailed information about this laptop. 

The disk had been removed by the previous owner and I think that the little cable that converted it to IDE got removed too. This is what is left:

 

Still unsure which connector is used. I've been desperate to find out what it is and if I can find a cable for it so I can put this fully working laptop to use. Hoping anyone would be able to tell me which connector this is. From what I have read online this could be a SCSI connector.

[jaslion]

Looks like a adapter is needed as that seems like a way they would have done a 90 degree ide to random connector plug. I don't know which this is tho.

[Kilrah]

It's a custom PCB of course using some random board to board connector, can't help you find one but I happen to have a very similar 313T so I can show you how it looks...

Starting a search on Google for "Acer Titan HDD" autocompletes the 98301-1 so I guess we're not the only ones looking for it but nothing comes up (model is actually Titanium as you've probably seen on mobo markings)

 

Unfortunately mine's in pretty bad nick with the plastic cracked in many places, pieces missing and the whole left hinge missing, started working on restoring it but that hinge is a major pain and I haven't really had the right idea for it yet... Also the display cable might have a partially broken trace since the display colors will go weird unless it's at a precise angle.

 

Very cute little machine. I have 2 batteries and they still even run for a good hour or 2. Rare indeed, I snatched it for $15 or so on a local auction site not even noticing it was a tiny laptop before I received it and pretty special since I almost couldn't find squat about it online...

 

 

 

 

[dionkoffie]

@Kilrahthank you so much for providing those pictures! Now I know what to look for. 

 

The previous owner found the laptop in his house that he had bought 20 years ago. The acer carrying bag, battery charger and the external floppy disk was included in the sale too and I believe the original receipt was still in there too. The laptop still works perfectly fine but I'm just missing that stupid little board. 

 

I did find a 130 page manual for the 310 but it didn't mention the board. Hopefully one will pop up soon on ebay. Definitely looking to get this restored. 

 

My old compaq with a 486 broke on me so I've been looking for a good replacement.

 

Thanks again!

[Kilrah]

Yeah, have that manual too. I also have the drivers for the GPU, modem, audio and usb in case you can get a board and can't find them.

I had the Acer pouch but no floppy and the charger was dead, and obviously the annoyingly missing pieces. No drive but thankfully the adapter board was there...

 

Hopefully you can find something. If not I might be interested in buying it from you...