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Forum: Geek Forum
Topic: Damn IDE cable
started by: t|nt|n

Posted by t|nt|n on Jul. 07 2001,11:25

I am trying to install a second cd-rom drive into a computer at work. There is already a CD-RW installed but I was getting pissed off having to swap discs the whole time

anyway......

I found that all of the IDE connections on the motherboard are taken up so I used one of the other connections on the existing CD-RW IDE cable. What happens is that either the system locks up, or it detects one or other but now both of the CD drives. What is my problem ?? Do I have to chenge something in the bios ??

Another question....

My stupid boss put a password on the BIOS. She thought that she would put a nice long one on it so nobody would guess it and the idiot forgot what it was Is there any way around this ????

Posted by kornalldaway on Jul. 07 2001,12:09

might sound like a stupid question, but did u set one up as a master and one as a slave? a while ago i had problems simmilar to that because both of them were set to master
from what u have described, that seems like the most likely problem

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"Me fail English? That's unpossible!"
- Ralph Whigham

Posted by Observer on Jul. 07 2001,14:08

As for the password, there should be a jumper to clear the CMOS settings in the motherboard. Set that jumper for a few seconds, then put it back. Power it all up and re-configure the BIOS the way it should be.

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When 1337 hax0rs start impaling each other with swords and typing code with a hook on one hand, then they can modify the term "pirate."

Posted by t|nt|n on Jul. 07 2001,14:31

ok, a stupid question from me coming up !!!

Do I set the master and slave from the bios ??????????

Thanks for your help

Posted by incubus on Jul. 07 2001,16:10

Here, let daddy incubus sort it out ...

Master/slave = this is sorted on the actual devices themselves. Read on.

First lets go to base IDE principles.

You see the socket on the CD drive you attach the IDE cable to? On the right of that there should be a power cable. thats good.

First you need to check pin1.

The way you do that is, if you look at the IDE cable, one of the wires should be red, or marked a different colour. make sure that coloured one is at the same side of the socket as the the power connector when you plug it in. tTat's pin 1 sorted.

Scondly, make sure the heirarchy is sorted. the way IDE works, one device (normally the fastest) is set as MASTER, and the other one as SLAVE.

The way to do this is look at the back of both devices. There should be a jumper with several possible configurations.

If you look at the circuitboard directly above the jumpers, you should see markings like MA (master), SL (slave) and CS (cable select). Some times you get DS (drive single) instead of MA.

All you have to do is make one jumper be MA and the other be SL. Then, if you power up, if you have an ok bios, things should be toasty.

If your bios is still nasty to you, there are two ways to clear it to it's base configuration - you will have to set everything up again but the password will be gone.

1. Consult your motherboard manual (you've got one? good...) and find the jumper that clears the CMOS. Switch it over, wait 10 seconds and switch it back. Power up. You can now fuck with the BIOS.

Failing that ...

Get to the motherboard. It's time for some quick-and-dirty solution, so you see the 3v Li-Ion battery? Big round silver thing that looks like a big fuckoff watch battery?

Pull the bastard out.

Wait 15 seconds, and put it back in again. Congratulations, you've achieved step 1.
=)

That's your lot. If this doesn't help, you need brain surgery.

I'm only being this nice 'cos I'm drunk

Mike aka incubus

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-- incubus
As I chase the leaves like the words I never find ...

Posted by L33T_h4x0r_d00d on Jul. 08 2001,00:12

quote:
Originally posted by incubus:
one of the wires should be red, or marked a different colour. make sure that coloured one is at the same

COLOR MOTHERFUCKER COLOR

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Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Jul. 08 2001,00:39

incubus - pulling the battery out doesn't work on some boards. Sometimes the battery is soldered on (ugh), and sometimes the CMOS data turns out to be stored in EEPROM (holds data even without power) instead of SRAM (which needs power).

Posted by incubus on Jul. 08 2001,01:05

Aye, but it's a quick-n-dirty guide taht should work in most instances and not bad when reviewed sober.

And L33T, it's *C-O-L-O-U-R*. Seriously.

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-- incubus
As I chase the leaves like the words I never find ...

Posted by DuSTman on Jul. 08 2001,02:30

It's colour if you're British. Color is the american spelling.

Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Jul. 08 2001,17:40

true that, incubus. you said "if this doesn't help, you need brain surgery" so I had two throw in a little more detail... wouldn't want some newbie going off and getting brain surgery needlessly...

Posted by t|nt|n on Jul. 09 2001,05:00

Cheers Incubus, it works now

It is COLOUR bye the way