Round IDE cables not long enough

[agoodpop]

I have an additional harddrive to add but the round cables are not long enough to connect HD to CD/DVD then MB. If the jumpers are set for master on HD and slaveon CD, can I reverse the IDE cable. The label that says system into CD, label that says slave in HD, and label that says master into MB. Will HD be the master and CD be slave and things work?

 

[corkyg]

You can reverse them as long as you are not using Cable Select. Keep in mind that there are round cables 24 inches long. However, longer than 18-inches is not recommended for stability.

Long

 

[RGPHNX]

Hi agoodpop,
If the cable "reaches" both drives one way & not the other the simplest (&safest/best)
solution is to move/re-arrange the drives so the cable "reaches" both drives correctly.
That is.. move the physical position of the drives so the cable fits the way it was intended to be used. Reversing the cable is NOT a good idea.. even if you can get it to fit/work.
Your other option is toi buy a longer/extended IDE cable.. they're VERY cheap.
Hope this helps
RGPHNX

 

[unpolloloco]

what if u plug the hdd into the other ide channel?
i.e. hdd('s) on first ide channel and optical(s) on secone ide channel?
would require another cable, assuming yer not already using both ide channels.

 

[corkyg]

I agree with crazy chicken - Use the primary channel for the HDD (Master) and a second cable for the CD (Master) and what ever else you have in the upper area.