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Thread ID: 60634	2005-08-08 03:37:00	Master/Slave HDD/CD-Rom Connections	RoyG (7768)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
379334	2005-08-08 03:37:00	My computer has two installed Hard Drives and I am proposing to replace one of these (Slave) with a HDD from another computer. On opening the case I expected to find (from what I have read and seen on PressF1) a flat IDE cable from the motherboard with two connectors: one connecting to the Master and one to the Slave. What I actually found was a flat cable with just end connectors between the motherboard and the Master HDD and another similar flat cable from the motherboard but with two connectors: the terminating one going to the CD-ROM and the intermediate one going to the Slave HDD. Since the computer is working OK and the Slave is detected OK in the Setup (as Secondary Slave) the wiring must be correct. However, being rather cautious I would appreciate some comment on the arrangement described above before I jump in and insert the repacement HDD using the same connection scheme. I also noticed that one of the end connectors appeared rather fragile, as if the tension required to remove it might cause some damage, there being no plastic loop to facilitate removal from socket as I have seen in other computers. I assume that these cables are fairly readily available from places like Dick Smith.	RoyG (7768)
379335	2005-08-08 03:42:00	yes but dse.co charge shockingly high prices for these cables they're really worth about $2.50 each.......does the cable goin to the harddrive have a blue connector on the motherboard end ?......if not then you can swap it over with the one goin to your cdrom and use the end connector for the master drive, your current hdd, then set the 'new' drive to 'slave' and use the 'middle' connector......	drcspy (146)
379336	2005-08-08 03:43:00	Normally there's 3 connectons on an IDE cable. Like |--- mobo connector -----------|slave|-----------|Master A hard drive, and a cd rom / dvd / dvd burner / cd burner, shouldn't go on the SAME IDE connection. Hard drives are normally on the primary IDE and cds etc, on the secondary IDE connection. Any computer shop will have IDE cables.	Speedy Gonzales (78)
379337	2005-08-08 03:53:00	Obviously, I'm going to have to write my FAQ on IDE cables. ;) The cables are surprisingly strongly gripped by the connectors. They'll stand quite a lot of force, though not abuse. (It takes quite a lot of force to fit the cables --- especially the 50-wire ones). The 40-wire flat IDE cables won't have coloured connectors. They'll be plain black. So they won't work with CS mode. Use the MAster and SLave jumpers as appropriate for each drive. And it doesn't matter which is at the end if there are two drives on the cable. If there's only one, the end is preferable, for electrical reasons. If you buy a nice new 80-wire cable it will have black, grey and blue connectors. That will work with CS mode, if you put the Master drive at the end, and the Slave in the middle. If you use the MA and SL jumpers, either positioning will still work.	Graham L (2)
379338	2005-08-08 04:09:00	Obviously, I'm going to have to write my FAQ on IDE cables. ;) The 40-wire flat IDE cables won't have coloured connectors. They'll be plain black. So they won't work with CS mode. Dell for one used Cable Select from May 1997 before 80 wire cables. Master was the drive at the end and slave was drive in the middle.	PaulD (232)
379339	2005-08-08 04:13:00	oh yes i've used cable select on older pc's .....ah if i recall correctly the older hp pavillions liked it .......	drcspy (146)
379340	2005-08-08 04:15:00	Wait for my FAQ. ;) CS is provided for by cutting wire 29 on the way to the slave. That meant that either the MB was in the middle, or the Master had to be in the middle. Unless (at great expense and difficulty ;) as implemented in the 80-wire ones you arrange it so that the middle (slave) connector doesn't have a connector in position 29, so the wire can just go straight through. Perhaps Dell had their cables specially made.	Graham L (2)
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