IDE to SATA. Can I convert or need a new HDD?

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15 Oct 2010
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Hello

I just bought a lot of hardware including a motherboard. My old one had 2 IDE inputs but my new one had more SATAs and only 1 IDE. I have 2 IDE devices which are my HDD and my DVD drive. What can I do to have them both connected without having to buy a new hard drive? Can I run my PC without a DVD drive?

Thanks a lot
 
You can connect two devices to one IDE cable. Plug the hard drive into the first one and the DVD drive into the second.
 
How do I do that? I only have 1 input on my mobo

an IDE cable normally has three plugs on it, one at each end and one in the middle, as seen here: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-040-GE&groupid=701&catid=48&subcat=151

So you can plug it into the board and "daisy chain" the 2 devices.

If your cable only has two connectors (one at each end) on it then the manufacturer cheaped out.

NB: buying a new hard drive would have been OTT anyway as you could have replaced the dvd drive with a sata one for like £10
 
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Your IDE cable should have 3 connectors on it, one at either end and one in the middle towards one end. The DVD drive should go on the middle connector, the HDD on the end one nearest the DVD and then the other end goes to the board. You'll probably need to change the jumpers on the two drives to either cable select on both or master on the HDD and slave on the DVD.

EDIT: Beaten like a ginger step-child :(
 
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