Hi, my PC's 2 IDE channels are both in use leaving me unable to
connect anything further to them. So here's my problem, does a 4 way
IDE cable exist as opposed to the regular 3 way?
Basically i'm trying to fit a slave HDD to up the capacity as opposed
to upgrading my existing HDD. Are my attempts futile? Cheers, Bob.

"bobs" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi, my PC's 2 IDE channels are both in use leaving me unable to
connect anything further to them. So here's my problem, does a 4 way
IDE cable exist as opposed to the regular 3 way?
Basically i'm trying to fit a slave HDD to up the capacity as opposed
to upgrading my existing HDD. Are my attempts futile? Cheers, Bob.


This was the 3rd hit when I googled "4 ide card", but you may have to search
a bit more extensively to find a card with user configurable address so you
can use it alongside the onboard IDE!

http://www.nextag.com/Adaptec-189120...RE-PRICES-html

On 1 May 2006 15:25:12 -0700, "bobs" wrote:

Hi, my PC's 2 IDE channels are both in use leaving me unable to
connect anything further to them. So here's my problem, does a 4 way
IDE cable exist as opposed to the regular 3 way?
Basically i'm trying to fit a slave HDD to up the capacity as opposed
to upgrading my existing HDD. Are my attempts futile? Cheers, Bob.

What abouting using firewire/usb instead?

In article . com,
bobs wrote:
Hi, my PC's 2 IDE channels are both in use leaving me unable to
connect anything further to them. So here's my problem, does a 4 way
IDE cable exist as opposed to the regular 3 way?
Basically i'm trying to fit a slave HDD to up the capacity as opposed
to upgrading my existing HDD. Are my attempts futile?

You need to fit an expansion card. Common ones allow 4 devices.

--
*Failure is not an option. It's bundled with your software.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 1 May 2006 15:25:12 -0700 "bobs" wrote in Message
id: . com:

Hi, my PC's 2 IDE channels are both in use leaving me unable to
connect anything further to them. So here's my problem, does a 4 way
IDE cable exist as opposed to the regular 3 way?

Nope. The reason being that a standard IDE port can only handle 2 devices.

Basically i'm trying to fit a slave HDD to up the capacity as opposed
to upgrading my existing HDD. Are my attempts futile? Cheers, Bob.

Add-in card. I'd go with a SATA card and SATA drives.

"bobs" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi, my PC's 2 IDE channels are both in use leaving me unable to
connect anything further to them. So here's my problem, does a 4 way
IDE cable exist as opposed to the regular 3 way?
Basically i'm trying to fit a slave HDD to up the capacity as opposed
to upgrading my existing HDD. Are my attempts futile? Cheers, Bob.


If you already have four devices on your IDE chanells then you will have to
use a PCI expansion card or USB external unit. If you go for the PCI
expansion card then you may have trouble with the PSU which is undoubtedly
already struggling with the existing four devices. The best route would be
an external USB device that has it's own power.

Yeah but USB is so slow compared to having the drive hooked up the the IDE
bus..

- Mike

"Pete" wrote in message
...

"bobs" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi, my PC's 2 IDE channels are both in use leaving me unable to
connect anything further to them. So here's my problem, does a 4 way
IDE cable exist as opposed to the regular 3 way?
Basically i'm trying to fit a slave HDD to up the capacity as opposed
to upgrading my existing HDD. Are my attempts futile? Cheers, Bob.


If you already have four devices on your IDE chanells then you will have
to use a PCI expansion card or USB external unit. If you go for the PCI
expansion card then you may have trouble with the PSU which is undoubtedly
already struggling with the existing four devices. The best route would be
an external USB device that has it's own power.

Most computers have two IDE channels (Primary and Secondary), each of
which can handle two devices (Device 0 and Device 1). Have you used up
all four device positions?

Bill
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JW wrote:

On 1 May 2006 15:25:12 -0700 "bobs" wrote in Message
id: . com:


Hi, my PC's 2 IDE channels are both in use leaving me unable to
connect anything further to them. So here's my problem, does a 4 way
IDE cable exist as opposed to the regular 3 way?


Nope. The reason being that a standard IDE port can only handle 2 devices.


Basically i'm trying to fit a slave HDD to up the capacity as opposed
to upgrading my existing HDD. Are my attempts futile? Cheers, Bob.


Add-in card. I'd go with a SATA card and SATA drives.

Michael Kennedy wrote:
Yeah but USB is so slow compared to having the drive hooked up the the IDE
bus..

- Mike



USB 2.0 is pretty quick, probably just as fast as the IDE on an old
motherboard. I would say go with SATA though.