IDE problems

what does this error mean:

Pirmary IDE channel no 80 conductor cable installed

???

I have four devices, two hard drives and two drives (CDRW and DVDRW)....sometimes i have a problem with my CDROM drive which has been acting intermitently, like saying there is no CD in the drive when there is one, etc.

yet all four drives are recognized both in the bios where i get the message and in windows.

 

It's telling you that you don't have the correct cable installed on Primary IDE channel, OR that you are mixing two different speed devices on the same cable and controller.

EG Optical drives (CD and DVD drives) are far slower than hard drives.

Some controllers can cope and adjust accordingly, but others won't.

Try having your hard drive/s on the primary controller, in the correct master/slave hierarchy, and your optical drives on the secondary controller, again with the correct master/slave hierarchy.

 

thats the way i have it, but im thinking its the cable, is this wha ti need:
http://www.connexions-pw.com/category.html?i=87.162.970&Refer=PW

if not they are hooked to the mb and it looks like ill need a new one..

 

If you have installed them correctly, then it's more than likely the cable.

They all have 40 pins, so look for an 80 conductor cable.

The one you linked looks okay.

 

is it best to just buy two, one for each set of drives?

 

You shouldn't need two, as the one for the optical drives should be okay.

Just get at least one for the hard drives.

They aren't expensive though, so if you are unsure, then replace both.