Should I just get a longer IDE cable?

[TheDL]

My harddrive is IDE and I have a dvd burner, but the motherboard that I got only has 1 IDE slot. So should I just get a long cable and set one as master and one as slave?

 

[ch33zw1z]

If you want to use them both without buying a PCI expansion card..

 

[TheDL]

I've also had some other difficulties with my first build.

3 out of the 4 fasteners for the heatsink can be secured but I'm having troubles with locking the last one in. I repeatedly tried removing it and putting it on again but 1 or 2 would always not fully fasten.

My friend and I tried building it with a plastic mat over carpet, was that okay? We occasionally grounded ourselves by touching a nearby mini fridge, I dunno if that worked but we couldn't connect the power supply to the wall to ground ourselves with the case.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Use a grounding strap:
http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/dynaweb...figures/Playdo.attach.ground.strap.gif

Better yet, get an ESD kit...googled: http://www.google.com/search?svnum=10&h...G=Search&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw

All you are trying to do is minimize the potential difference between you and the computer.
The power cable does not need to be plugged in, but it couldn't hurt.
Don't have power to the computer while wearing the strap.
Never touch any components to your clothing.