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Help fitting IDE HDD
Jasper - 21/4/09 at 08:11 AM

I want to fit a second IDE drive to one of my home PC's. It's an old Dell machine and has only got a single HDD connector on the ribbon cable. Can I just fit a ribbon cable with two connectors on? If so, anybody got an old one lying around they don't need?

madmandegge - 21/4/09 at 08:24 AM

Should just be that simple yes! One will have to be master, one will need to be slave, this is controlled by the jumpers on the back of the HDD.

I'll have a look, but am 99% certain I don't have a spare anymore! Everything's gone SATA

geoff shep - 21/4/09 at 08:34 AM

Is there another IDE channel on the motherboard that connects to a CD or DVD drive - does that have another connector?

jlparsons - 21/4/09 at 09:42 AM

Some motherboards can be a bit funny and not autodetect hard disks, in which case you'll need to enter the information on the sticker on top of the drive into your PC's bios. Best thing is to take a picture of the sticker with your digital camera/phone before you install it, that way you won't end up ripping the bugger back out to check details to set it up.

95% chance it'll just work though.

Jasper - 21/4/09 at 09:52 AM

quote:
Originally posted by geoff shep
Is there another IDE channel on the motherboard that connects to a CD or DVD drive - does that have another connector?


Yup - tried that - didn't recognise the drive - though I'd better put it on the same cable as the other drive.

And I'm ok with the master/slave thing. I've fitted plenty of HDD before, but never to a machine that didn't have a connector ready for it.

ReMan - 21/4/09 at 10:18 AM

If no-one gets in quicker I'll have one at home that I can put in the post tonight.
It should work OK

Jasper - 21/4/09 at 10:34 AM

Thanks chaps - just got one from Ebay for £1.50 delivered!