[Ham-Computers] Strange cable problem (word to the wise)

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Group,

I've been slowly upgrading the drives in our main machine here (Microsoft 
wastes a lot of space with their continuing bug and security fixes) plus my 
scanned for reprint TM's and NAVSHIPS keep outrunning the available space.  I've 
also had some issues with MS updates not booting properly after installation 
that required reinstalling the OS and all applications.  So I wanted a backup 
boot drive that I could stop the system boot, go to CMOS setup, and change the 
boot drive from 0 to 1 and get back to the before update status with.  I 
installed a second 60 GB Maxtor and brought it up as a replacement boot drive but 
didn't actually use it as such.  Worked fine as just a data drive but CMOS didn't 
recognize it during boot.  And wouldn't boot from it when I set the boot 
device to HDD1 instead of HDD0.  After plugging in and unplugging the ATA cable 
several time, the Slave connector broke and came apart.  After several AS's and 
GD's, I examined the connector with a magnifying glass and discovered that one 
of the contacts was bent over and touching the ground rail (nothing to do 
with why it broke so far as I can tell).  Must have happened when Maxtor built 
it, as it came with the first 60GB drive.  So the word to the wise is don't 
assume a device is bad when it misbehaves just because the cable that came with it 
was sealed in a nice heat-sealed bag.

Robert Downs - Houston
<http://www.wa5cab.com> (Web Store)
<wa5cab at cs.com> (Primary email)
<wa5cab at houston.rr.com> (Backup email)