[Ham-Computers] Can I Connect an IDE Drive and CD Drive to the Same Cable?

[Jim Hill]

Hi Gene:
I have the two IDE connectors, one connected to 
the hard drive and the other to the CD 
drive.  The computer doesn't see the CD drive any 
more, so there is a problem with that 
system.  From your suggestion I realize I won't 
damage anything if both are connected to the same 
cable, so I'll try that approach.

 From my notes:
Removed existing 320 GB hard drive and replaced 
it with a new Western Digital 320GB hard 
drive.  When computer is started, Dell screen is 
seen, BIOS is loaded, then two beeps are heard, 
DOS screen appears with the following statement.
Second Drive 0 not found, strike F1 to continue, F2 to run the setup utility.

Put existing hard drive back into computer, and 
same screen appears.  If I press F1, the computer 
starts normally.   I restarted the computer, 
pressed F2, and went to Drive configuration

SATA Primary Drive   OFF
SATA Secondary Drive   OFF
Primary Master Drive   Hard Drive
Primary Slave Drive   OFF
Secondary Master Drive   Unknown Device
Secondary Slave Drive   OFF

IDE Drive UDMA   ON

I don’t understand the Secondary Master Drive 
setting. I don't remember seeing this before, but 
set it to OFF.  There are two choices, off and 
Auto.  If Auto is selected for the secondary 
master, Unknown Device is seen.  If OFF is 
selected, the computer starts normally but the CD drive is inoperative.

  Jim


At 09:57 AM 5/31/2011, you wrote:
>Jim:
>
>You should have two IDE connectors on the motherboard - use one for the
>hard drive and one for the CD and set both of them to master.
>
>If you only have one connector, use the 'end' connector for the hard
>drive (set to master) and the second one for the CD (set to slave).
>
>Gene, WØQFC
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