Connecting 2 HDDs on a single IDE cable

[Gazoya]

Now bare with me, I might be asking a bad question, but I'm not sure. I would connect my main HDD to the end IDE plug and a second one to the middle IDE plug. When I would boot up, it would list the 2nd HDD I plugged in, but not both. Naturally my computer won't go any farther because my OS is on the first HDD. When I go into BIOS, it won't even detect either HDDs. A friend told me to connect the 2nd HDD with a separate IDE cable, but I only have one slot on my motherboard. How do I get my computer to detect both HDDs?

 

[gorobei]

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ide.htm/printable

Masters and Slaves

 

[NoQuarter]

Now bare with me, I might be asking a bad question, but I'm not sure. I would connect my main HDD to the end IDE plug and a second one to the middle IDE plug. When I would boot up, it would list the 2nd HDD I plugged in, but not both. Naturally my computer won't go any farther because my OS is on the first HDD. When I go into BIOS, it won't even detect either HDDs. A friend told me to connect the 2nd HDD with a separate IDE cable, but I only have one slot on my motherboard. How do I get my computer to detect both HDDs?

There's a jumper on the back of the hard drive and usually a diagram right above it. One hard drive needs to be set to 'Master' and the other to 'Slave' using those jumpers. Alternatively you can set them both to 'Cable select' and then their position on the cable determines master/slave.

 

[rudeguy]

:sniff;
I kinda miss the IDE days. Master/slave/cable select. There should be a sticker on the drive with the jumper settings.

 

[Gunbuster]

Use cable select.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Remember when someone in California launched a lawsuit against computer makers for using the terms "Master" and "Slave"? Wonder what the outcome was.

Edit: Perhaps it wasn't a lawsuit. I think it is this: http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/11/26/master.term.reut/index.html

 

[rudeguy]

Remember when someone in California launched a lawsuit against computer makers for using the terms "Master" and "Slave"? Wonder what the outcome was.

Edit: Perhaps it wasn't a lawsuit. I think it is this: http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/11/26/master.term.reut/index.html

LOL...I remember that. I'm pretty sure there was an epic ATOT thread about it.

 

[Gazoya]

Now I fully understand how this works.

Thank you guys.