Can I connect IDE cable in reverse (distance between conne..

"viktor" said in news:946871c0.0403110703.b1c9c96@posting.google.com:
 > Hi All,
 > Sorry for the silly question but I'm new in this.
 > I need to connect 2 IDE devices that are not close to each other (HD
 > and a CD)
 > (my second ide controller already got 2 devices connected to it).
 > My question is: Can I connect the cable in reverse (as the connectors
 > on the cable ends looks the same).
 > Basiclly what I'm asking is if some of the 80 wires of the IDE cable
 > are crossed in some way. Or is there is anything special on the one
 > next to the red strip on the cable.
 > Regards,
 > Viktor

Pin 34 in the mobo connector (blue) on the 80-wire/40-pin ribbon cable
is:

- Shorted to ground within the connector. This makes the mobo see pin
34 on its header shorted to ground to let the mobo detect that an
80-wire ribbon cable is installed.

- Open to the other connectors, so pin 34 on the mobo connector is not
connected to pin 34 on the middle or end drive connectors. Pin 34 on
the middle and end drive connectors are connected to each other but just
not to pin 34 on the mobo connector. I believe this line is used in a
2-drive master/slave relationship to let the master know when the slave
is ready (so the master can then report to the mobo when both drives are
ready).

So I really doubt you can reverse the ribbon cable. You would be
shorting pin 34 on the drive attached to the blue connector (which would
probably mean it would never see the slave as ready), and pin 34 would
be open rather than grounded on the black connector which the mobo would
then detect as meaning you had a 40-wire ribbon cable and would refuse
to run higher than UDMA-33.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Can I connect IDE cable in reverse (distance between conne.. 

OK, Accepted.
However, could he unsnap the connectors themselves and switch their
locations on the cable?
As long as his drives were not jumpered to Cable Select?




"*Vanguard*" <no-email DeleteThis @post-reply-in-newsgroup.invalid> wrote in message
news:ZNudnTlYJbHRVM3dRVn-ig@comcast.com...
 > "viktor" said in news:946871c0.0403110703.b1c9c96@posting.google.com:
  > > Hi All,
  > > Sorry for the silly question but I'm new in this.
  > > I need to connect 2 IDE devices that are not close to each other (HD
  > > and a CD)
  > > (my second ide controller already got 2 devices connected to it).
  > > My question is: Can I connect the cable in reverse (as the connectors
  > > on the cable ends looks the same).
  > > Basiclly what I'm asking is if some of the 80 wires of the IDE cable
  > > are crossed in some way. Or is there is anything special on the one
  > > next to the red strip on the cable.
  > > Regards,
  > > Viktor
 >
 > Pin 34 in the mobo connector (blue) on the 80-wire/40-pin ribbon cable
 > is:
 >
 > - Shorted to ground within the connector. This makes the mobo see pin
 > 34 on its header shorted to ground to let the mobo detect that an
 > 80-wire ribbon cable is installed.
 >
 > - Open to the other connectors, so pin 34 on the mobo connector is not
 > connected to pin 34 on the middle or end drive connectors. Pin 34 on
 > the middle and end drive connectors are connected to each other but just
 > not to pin 34 on the mobo connector. I believe this line is used in a
 > 2-drive master/slave relationship to let the master know when the slave
 > is ready (so the master can then report to the mobo when both drives are
 > ready).
 >
 > So I really doubt you can reverse the ribbon cable. You would be
 > shorting pin 34 on the drive attached to the blue connector (which would
 > probably mean it would never see the slave as ready), and pin 34 would
 > be open rather than grounded on the black connector which the mobo would
 > then detect as meaning you had a 40-wire ribbon cable and would refuse
 > to run higher than UDMA-33.
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Can I connect IDE cable in reverse (distance between conne.. 

most of these types of connectors are crimped through the insulation onto
the conductors in the cable. you *might* be able to get them off without
destroying them, which is highly unlikely, but then getting them back on
with *good* connections is just as highly unlikely since they aren't really
intended to be multiple use crimps anyway...

the first time they are used, the slot where the insulation goes in and gets
cut down to the actual conductor gets slightly opened and then the next
time, there is that much less pressure to cut the insulator and grab wire.

--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://geerynet.d2g.com" target="_blank">ftp://geerynet.d2g.com</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://68.98.180.8" target="_blank">ftp://68.98.180.8</a> Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP
This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!...
over 120,000 FTP users served!
^^^^^^^




"Amir Facade" <amir_facade RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Au-dndHaOYpHn8zdRVn-gg@comcast.com...
 > OK, Accepted.
 > However, could he unsnap the connectors themselves and switch their
 > locations on the cable?
 > As long as his drives were not jumpered to Cable Select?
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > "*Vanguard*" <no-email RemoveThis @post-reply-in-newsgroup.invalid> wrote in message
 > news:ZNudnTlYJbHRVM3dRVn-ig@comcast.com...
  > > "viktor" said in news:946871c0.0403110703.b1c9c96@posting.google.com:
   > > > Hi All,
   > > > Sorry for the silly question but I'm new in this.
   > > > I need to connect 2 IDE devices that are not close to each other (HD
   > > > and a CD)
   > > > (my second ide controller already got 2 devices connected to it).
   > > > My question is: Can I connect the cable in reverse (as the connectors
   > > > on the cable ends looks the same).
   > > > Basiclly what I'm asking is if some of the 80 wires of the IDE cable
   > > > are crossed in some way. Or is there is anything special on the one
   > > > next to the red strip on the cable.
   > > > Regards,
   > > > Viktor
  > >
  > > Pin 34 in the mobo connector (blue) on the 80-wire/40-pin ribbon cable
  > > is:
  > >
  > > - Shorted to ground within the connector. This makes the mobo see pin
  > > 34 on its header shorted to ground to let the mobo detect that an
  > > 80-wire ribbon cable is installed.
  > >
  > > - Open to the other connectors, so pin 34 on the mobo connector is not
  > > connected to pin 34 on the middle or end drive connectors. Pin 34 on
  > > the middle and end drive connectors are connected to each other but just
  > > not to pin 34 on the mobo connector. I believe this line is used in a
  > > 2-drive master/slave relationship to let the master know when the slave
  > > is ready (so the master can then report to the mobo when both drives are
  > > ready).
  > >
  > > So I really doubt you can reverse the ribbon cable. You would be
  > > shorting pin 34 on the drive attached to the blue connector (which would
  > > probably mean it would never see the slave as ready), and pin 34 would
  > > be open rather than grounded on the black connector which the mobo would
  > > then detect as meaning you had a 40-wire ribbon cable and would refuse
  > > to run higher than UDMA-33.
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Can I connect IDE cable in reverse (distance between conne.. 

Guess I won't try that one then.
Just a thought. LOL
back to the sheep.


"TomG" <tgeery-NOSPAM-.RemoveThis@cox.net> wrote in message
news:be84c.13793$fD2.11319@lakeread02...
 > most of these types of connectors are crimped through the insulation onto
 > the conductors in the cable. you *might* be able to get them off without
 > destroying them, which is highly unlikely, but then getting them back on
 > with *good* connections is just as highly unlikely since they aren't
really
 > intended to be multiple use crimps anyway...
 >
 > the first time they are used, the slot where the insulation goes in and
gets
 > cut down to the actual conductor gets slightly opened and then the next
 > time, there is that much less pressure to cut the insulator and grab wire.
 >
 > --
 >
 > Thomas Geery
 > Network+ certified
 >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://geerynet.d2g.com</font" target="_blank">ftp://geerynet.d2g.com</font</a>>
 > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://68.98.180.8" target="_blank">ftp://68.98.180.8</a> Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP
 > This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!...
 > over 120,000 FTP users served!
 > ^^^^^^^
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > "Amir Facade" <amir_facade.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
 > news:Au-dndHaOYpHn8zdRVn-gg@comcast.com...
  > > OK, Accepted.
  > > However, could he unsnap the connectors themselves and switch their
  > > locations on the cable?
  > > As long as his drives were not jumpered to Cable Select?
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > "*Vanguard*" <no-email.RemoveThis@post-reply-in-newsgroup.invalid> wrote in message
  > > news:ZNudnTlYJbHRVM3dRVn-ig@comcast.com...
   > > > "viktor" said in news:946871c0.0403110703.b1c9c96@posting.google.com:
   > > > > Hi All,
   > > > > Sorry for the silly question but I'm new in this.
   > > > > I need to connect 2 IDE devices that are not close to each other (HD
   > > > > and a CD)
   > > > > (my second ide controller already got 2 devices connected to it).
   > > > > My question is: Can I connect the cable in reverse (as the
connectors
   > > > > on the cable ends looks the same).
   > > > > Basiclly what I'm asking is if some of the 80 wires of the IDE cable
   > > > > are crossed in some way. Or is there is anything special on the one
   > > > > next to the red strip on the cable.
   > > > > Regards,
   > > > > Viktor
   > > >
   > > > Pin 34 in the mobo connector (blue) on the 80-wire/40-pin ribbon cable
   > > > is:
   > > >
   > > > - Shorted to ground within the connector. This makes the mobo see pin
   > > > 34 on its header shorted to ground to let the mobo detect that an
   > > > 80-wire ribbon cable is installed.
   > > >
   > > > - Open to the other connectors, so pin 34 on the mobo connector is not
   > > > connected to pin 34 on the middle or end drive connectors. Pin 34 on
   > > > the middle and end drive connectors are connected to each other but
just
   > > > not to pin 34 on the mobo connector. I believe this line is used in a
   > > > 2-drive master/slave relationship to let the master know when the
slave
   > > > is ready (so the master can then report to the mobo when both drives
are
   > > > ready).
   > > >
   > > > So I really doubt you can reverse the ribbon cable. You would be
   > > > shorting pin 34 on the drive attached to the blue connector (which
would
   > > > probably mean it would never see the slave as ready), and pin 34 would
   > > > be open rather than grounded on the black connector which the mobo
would
   > > > then detect as meaning you had a 40-wire ribbon cable and would refuse
   > > > to run higher than UDMA-33.
   > > >
  > >
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Can I connect IDE cable in reverse (distance between conne.. 

You could also simply purchase a longer ribbon cable. I think 18" is
the recommended max length, but I've seen them selling at 36" lengths,
too. I'd have to go read the ATA-5 specification to see what it says.
For example:

http://www.cablesnmor.com/ide.html

If you're going to build your own, and after reading the ATA specs to
know what they say is the max length, you could buy the parts and make
your own. However, you will need to make sure that you use a 40-pin
connector (blue) that has pin 34 shorted to ground on the mobo side but
open (i.e., not connected) to the ribbon cable. I've seen where a 1/4"
section of the signal wire for pin #34 has been cut out to open it at
the mobo connector so it doesn't connect to the middle (grey) and end
(black) connectors. Provided you can find the ribbon cable and
connectors, you can use a vise to crimp the connectors onto the ribbon
cable. The ATA spec says the noise grounding wires can be either the
even or odd wires in the ribbon cable, so you'll have to get a matching
connectors. It doesn't do anything to have 80-wires in the ribbon with
40 of them to reduce crosstalk by being grounded unless you actually
ground them. That means you'll need to get 80-wire connectors with 40
pins where the even or odd wires all get shorted together to the ground
pins.

If you go to
http://www.circuitassembly.com/Products/ProductDetails.asp?id=1610, that
describes the blue mobo connector. The ground bus bar connects all the
even wires (for this connector) together and to the ground pins. For
the mobo (blue) connector, pin 34 is also supposed to get grounded but I
don't see mention of this in the specs for this blue-colored connector.
Maybe you're supposed to short it yourself with a jumper wire. You
would then take a razor blade and cut along and remove a short length of
the wire used for signal line #34 so this shorted signal line at the
mobo connector doesn't also short that signal line back on the drive
connectors. For this even-numbered grounding connector, the odd wires
are the signal lines, so signal line #34 (to pin #34) would be wire #67
(2n - 1, where n = signal line).

Probably easier to just buy a longer 80-wire/40-pin ribbon cable.
 >> Stay informed about: Can I connect IDE cable in reverse (distance between conne.. 

On 11 Mar 2004 07:03:54 -0800, vikingil.DeleteThis@yahoo.com (viktor) wrote:

 >Hi All,
 >Sorry for the silly question but I'm new in this.
 >I need to connect 2 IDE devices that are not close to each other (HD
 >and a CD)
 >(my second ide controller already got 2 devices connected to it).
 >My question is: Can I connect the cable in reverse (as the connectors
 >on the cable ends looks the same).
 >Basiclly what I'm asking is if some of the 80 wires of the IDE cable
 >are crossed in some way. Or is there is anything special on the one
 >next to the red strip on the cable.
 >Regards,
 >Viktor


Won't work if you are using a ATA100 (80-way) cable.

Just buy a "5.25 to 3.5" drive-adapter kit and stick the HD in a 5.25
slot.

That will bring it closer to the CD-drive and solve your problem.
The adapter kit should be readily available at your local
computer-parts store.

An additional incentive:-

If some perforations are added to the dummy plastic cover in front of
the HD in the 5.25 slot, the power-supply fan (and back-panel fan, if
present) will draw air past the HD, very nicely cooling it. I have 2
large hard-disks ( 160 and 250 Gbyte) installed in 2 separate 5.25
bays in one of my machines with this very satisfactory ventilation
arrangement.

John Lewis<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Can I connect IDE cable in reverse (distance between conne.. 

"Amir Facade" <amir_facade.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:G-OdnSrzr-eu2Mzd4p2dnA@comcast.com...
 > Guess I won't try that one then.
 > Just a thought. LOL
 > back to the sheep.
 >
 >
 > "TomG" <tgeery-NOSPAM-.DeleteThis@cox.net> wrote in message
 > news:be84c.13793$fD2.11319@lakeread02...
  > > most of these types of connectors are crimped through the insulation
onto
  > > the conductors in the cable. you *might* be able to get them off
without
  > > destroying them, which is highly unlikely, but then getting them back on
  > > with *good* connections is just as highly unlikely since they aren't
 > really
  > > intended to be multiple use crimps anyway...
  > >
  > > the first time they are used, the slot where the insulation goes in and
 > gets
  > > cut down to the actual conductor gets slightly opened and then the next
  > > time, there is that much less pressure to cut the insulator and grab
wire.
  > >
  > > --
  > >
  > > Thomas Geery
  > > Network+ certified
  > >
<font color=green>  > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://geerynet.d2g.com</font" target="_blank">ftp://geerynet.d2g.com</font</a>>
  > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://68.98.180.8" target="_blank">ftp://68.98.180.8</a> Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP
  > > This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!...
  > > over 120,000 FTP users served!
  > > ^^^^^^^
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > "Amir Facade" <amir_facade.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
  > > news:Au-dndHaOYpHn8zdRVn-gg@comcast.com...
   > > > OK, Accepted.
   > > > However, could he unsnap the connectors themselves and switch their
   > > > locations on the cable?
   > > > As long as his drives were not jumpered to Cable Select?
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > > "*Vanguard*" <no-email.DeleteThis@post-reply-in-newsgroup.invalid> wrote in
message
   > > > news:ZNudnTlYJbHRVM3dRVn-ig@comcast.com...
   > > > > "viktor" said in
news:946871c0.0403110703.b1c9c96@posting.google.com:
   > > > > > Hi All,
   > > > > > Sorry for the silly question but I'm new in this.
   > > > > > I need to connect 2 IDE devices that are not close to each other
(HD
   > > > > > and a CD)
   > > > > > (my second ide controller already got 2 devices connected to it).
   > > > > > My question is: Can I connect the cable in reverse (as the
 > connectors
   > > > > > on the cable ends looks the same).
   > > > > > Basiclly what I'm asking is if some of the 80 wires of the IDE
cable
   > > > > > are crossed in some way. Or is there is anything special on the
one
   > > > > > next to the red strip on the cable.
   > > > > > Regards,
   > > > > > Viktor
   > > > >
   > > > > Pin 34 in the mobo connector (blue) on the 80-wire/40-pin ribbon
cable
   > > > > is:
   > > > >
   > > > > - Shorted to ground within the connector. This makes the mobo see
pin
   > > > > 34 on its header shorted to ground to let the mobo detect that an
   > > > > 80-wire ribbon cable is installed.
   > > > >
   > > > > - Open to the other connectors, so pin 34 on the mobo connector is
not
   > > > > connected to pin 34 on the middle or end drive connectors. Pin 34
on
   > > > > the middle and end drive connectors are connected to each other but
 > just
   > > > > not to pin 34 on the mobo connector. I believe this line is used in
a
   > > > > 2-drive master/slave relationship to let the master know when the
 > slave
   > > > > is ready (so the master can then report to the mobo when both drives
 > are
   > > > > ready).
   > > > >
   > > > > So I really doubt you can reverse the ribbon cable. You would be
   > > > > shorting pin 34 on the drive attached to the blue connector (which
 > would
   > > > > probably mean it would never see the slave as ready), and pin 34
would
   > > > > be open rather than grounded on the black connector which the mobo
 > would
   > > > > then detect as meaning you had a 40-wire ribbon cable and would
refuse
   > > > > to run higher than UDMA-33.
   > > > >
   > > >
OTOH you might be able to buy _new_ 80 wire cable and connectors, Amir, and
crimp your own leads. I do that for floppy leads, because all the
commercially available ones are waaaay too long and have far too many
connectors on them - who uses more than one floppy drive or edge connectors
nowadays? But I've never been able to buy floppy leads with just a
connector at each end - so I make my own; works much better, and it's not
difficult to do, with a little care.

Tom, are all the pin connections you mention done in the connector? Then
that also shouldn't be difficult to do.

In the past, I've also purchased and used 80 wire leads with the master and
slave connectors in reverse placing (i.e. black connector in the middle and
grey at one end) and that configuration works fine, so if you're looking to
run a hard drive near the board and an optical drive further away on one
lead, that's a possible solution.

patrickp<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Can I connect IDE cable in reverse (distance between conne.. 

the cables and connector ends I have worked with, the connections are little
metal tangs with "v" shaped slots in them that are built into the top of the
connector itself. when the ribbon is firmly and uniformly (usually by
machine) pressed into the top of the connector and metal tangs, the
individual conductors, insulation still in place, move down into the v's and
the v's cut into the insulation and then make contact with the conductor
itself. a cap of some kind is snapped into place to keep the cable from
being flexed back out of the connections that have been made.

--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://geerynet.d2g.com" target="_blank">ftp://geerynet.d2g.com</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://68.98.180.8" target="_blank">ftp://68.98.180.8</a> Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP
This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!...
over 120,000 FTP users served!
^^^^^^^




"patrickp" <patrickp.RemoveThis@5acoustibop.co.uk - take five to email me> wrote in
message news:%Ee4c.3843$1h7.25833@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...
 > "Amir Facade" <amir_facade.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
 > news:G-OdnSrzr-eu2Mzd4p2dnA@comcast.com...
  > > Guess I won't try that one then.
  > > Just a thought. LOL
  > > back to the sheep.
  > >
  > >
  > > "TomG" <tgeery-NOSPAM-.RemoveThis@cox.net> wrote in message
  > > news:be84c.13793$fD2.11319@lakeread02...
   > > > most of these types of connectors are crimped through the insulation
 > onto
   > > > the conductors in the cable. you *might* be able to get them off
 > without
   > > > destroying them, which is highly unlikely, but then getting them back
on
   > > > with *good* connections is just as highly unlikely since they aren't
  > > really
   > > > intended to be multiple use crimps anyway...
   > > >
   > > > the first time they are used, the slot where the insulation goes in
and
  > > gets
   > > > cut down to the actual conductor gets slightly opened and then the
next
   > > > time, there is that much less pressure to cut the insulator and grab
 > wire.
   > > >
   > > > --
   > > >
   > > > Thomas Geery
   > > > Network+ certified
   > > >
<font color=brown>   > > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://geerynet.d2g.com</font" target="_blank">ftp://geerynet.d2g.com</font</a>>
   > > > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://68.98.180.8" target="_blank">ftp://68.98.180.8</a> Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP
   > > > This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!...
   > > > over 120,000 FTP users served!
   > > > ^^^^^^^
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
   > > > "Amir Facade" <amir_facade.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
   > > > news:Au-dndHaOYpHn8zdRVn-gg@comcast.com...
   > > > > OK, Accepted.
   > > > > However, could he unsnap the connectors themselves and switch their
   > > > > locations on the cable?
   > > > > As long as his drives were not jumpered to Cable Select?
   > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > >
   > > > > "*Vanguard*" <no-email.RemoveThis@post-reply-in-newsgroup.invalid> wrote in
 > message
   > > > > news:ZNudnTlYJbHRVM3dRVn-ig@comcast.com...
   > > > > > "viktor" said in
 > news:946871c0.0403110703.b1c9c96@posting.google.com:
   > > > > > > Hi All,
   > > > > > > Sorry for the silly question but I'm new in this.
   > > > > > > I need to connect 2 IDE devices that are not close to each other
 > (HD
   > > > > > > and a CD)
   > > > > > > (my second ide controller already got 2 devices connected to
it).
   > > > > > > My question is: Can I connect the cable in reverse (as the
  > > connectors
   > > > > > > on the cable ends looks the same).
   > > > > > > Basiclly what I'm asking is if some of the 80 wires of the IDE
 > cable
   > > > > > > are crossed in some way. Or is there is anything special on the
 > one
   > > > > > > next to the red strip on the cable.
   > > > > > > Regards,
   > > > > > > Viktor
   > > > > >
   > > > > > Pin 34 in the mobo connector (blue) on the 80-wire/40-pin ribbon
 > cable
   > > > > > is:
   > > > > >
   > > > > > - Shorted to ground within the connector. This makes the mobo see
 > pin
   > > > > > 34 on its header shorted to ground to let the mobo detect that an
   > > > > > 80-wire ribbon cable is installed.
   > > > > >
   > > > > > - Open to the other connectors, so pin 34 on the mobo connector is
 > not
   > > > > > connected to pin 34 on the middle or end drive connectors. Pin 34
 > on
   > > > > > the middle and end drive connectors are connected to each other
but
  > > just
   > > > > > not to pin 34 on the mobo connector. I believe this line is used
in
 > a
   > > > > > 2-drive master/slave relationship to let the master know when the
  > > slave
   > > > > > is ready (so the master can then report to the mobo when both
drives
  > > are
   > > > > > ready).
   > > > > >
   > > > > > So I really doubt you can reverse the ribbon cable. You would be
   > > > > > shorting pin 34 on the drive attached to the blue connector (which
  > > would
   > > > > > probably mean it would never see the slave as ready), and pin 34
 > would
   > > > > > be open rather than grounded on the black connector which the mobo
  > > would
   > > > > > then detect as meaning you had a 40-wire ribbon cable and would
 > refuse
   > > > > > to run higher than UDMA-33.
   > > > > >
   > > > >
 > OTOH you might be able to buy _new_ 80 wire cable and connectors, Amir,
and
 > crimp your own leads. I do that for floppy leads, because all the
 > commercially available ones are waaaay too long and have far too many
 > connectors on them - who uses more than one floppy drive or edge
connectors
 > nowadays? But I've never been able to buy floppy leads with just a
 > connector at each end - so I make my own; works much better, and it's not
 > difficult to do, with a little care.
 >
 > Tom, are all the pin connections you mention done in the connector? Then
 > that also shouldn't be difficult to do.
 >
 > In the past, I've also purchased and used 80 wire leads with the master
and
 > slave connectors in reverse placing (i.e. black connector in the middle
and
 > grey at one end) and that configuration works fine, so if you're looking
to
 > run a hard drive near the board and an optical drive further away on one
 > lead, that's a possible solution.
 >
 > patrickp
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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