IDE Drives
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IDE Drives
Your Toshiba CD-ROM drive is an EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics) drive,
also known as an ATAPI (ATA Packet Interface) drive. Most personal computers now
use IDE or EIDE to control their disk drives. Your CD-ROM drive will work with any
EIDE controller and will work with some older IDE controllers. Performance will be
better with a newer EIDE controller.
You must now check that your computer has an IDE controller. If you don’t have an
IDE controller or if the cable connected to your controller has no free connectors, you
will need a new one.
Remove the Computer’s Case
Every computer casing is different, but the casing is usually attached to the frame by a
number of screws at the back. Turn the computer’s case right round so you can see the
back and look for four or six screws around the edge of the casing.
Remove the screws and put them somewhere safe. The outside casing will now either
slide or lift off. Put it safely out of your way so you have room to work.
Find Your IDE Controller
The disk drives in your computer are probably controlled either by a plug-in IDE or
EIDE card or by an EIDE controller built in to the motherboard. Check the user manual
supplied with your computer for details of how the disk drive or drives in your computer
are connected.
Newer controllers have two channels, that means two EIDE cables can be attached to the
controller and each one can have two storage devices attached to it. For your disks drives
and your CD-ROM drive to provide their best performance you should use one channel
for hard disks and the other for your CD-ROM drive.
Find Your Primary Cable
Find the hard disk drive in your computer; the flat, 40-core cable connected to it will
lead either to a plug-in card or lead directly to a socket on the motherboard. There may
be two hard disks attached to this cable, or just one - with a free plug on the cable for a
second hard disk - this is your controller’s primary cable.
Find Your Secondary Cable
Follow the primary cable back to your computer’s motherboard or the plug-in controller
card. Next to the place where the cable attaches to the controller there may be a second,
identical cable or a connector where one can be attached. This is your secondary
channel. If a cable is already attached, this is your secondary cable. If there is a
connector but no cable is attached to it - you will need to contact your supplier to ask for
a 40-core EIDE CD-ROM cable.
