I have a new mobo and I have only one IDE connection and I have about seven SATA connections. I have two IDE harddrives and two IDE CD/DVD-RW drives which are using the IDE connection on the MOBO. I purchased two IDE-to-SATA adapters and connected them two the HDD's and now I cannot seee the drives. I am not sure what to do now. can you help? Elise

Look inside of your tower, you will have a few different cords connecting to your DVD/CD drive.

It should either have a 4 pin Molex connector and an IDE or a Sata connector and power.

The IDE cable looks like this:
http://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/officedepot/311075_vw_etz00_10055684?$OD%2DLarge$

The Molex connector looks like this:
http://assets.hardwarezone.com/2009/img/data/articles/2004/1215/tutorial-4pin_molex_power_conn.jpg

IDE is an older tech that uses a 4 pin molex to connect it.

Now, if you have something that looks like this:
http://www.sierra-cables.com/Cables/images/SATA-Signal-Cable-1.jpg

It uses Sata, and the power cable looks like it as well, it's just longer.

To make sure the DVD drive you're working will work with the current DVD/CD's you have, just look on the front of the CD you are going to use, in truth it usually should work with anything. It's even RW so you can re-write data to RW CD/DVD types.

Pretty much, just make sure that it uses the same power type and data connector as your current one. Power type being the 4pin molex or the Sata power plug. Data type being the IDE cable or the Sata cable.

If it matches, it will work :) I hope this helps.

Check that jumper settings are done correctly, also check how devices are shown in BIOS.

Check BIOS.It must show there first.

1) IDE {PATA} DVD burner drive:

For an IDE { PATA } DVD burner, connect to the 40-pin IDE header on the motherboard. This is located to the right side of the Ram Memory slots.
It is the longer header that has 40 contact pins. {39 actually}

( The shorter connector on the motherboard is for a Floppy Drive.
{34 pins} It is above the IDE 40-pin connector )

NOTE*
The IDE connector on the motherboard should be keyed. Should have a cutout on one side. This is so the Number 1 pin in the flat IDE ribbon cable, will line up with Number 1 pin in the motherboard connector.

Some flat IDE ribbon cables, do not have a Locating Lug on the connector. (Small rectangular 'bump')

Number 1 pin on the IDE ribbon cable will be on the side that has a faint RED stripe on it.

Number 1 pin in the motherboard connector is at the Bottom, with the motherboard installed.

The side of the flat ribbon IDE cable that has the faint red stripe on it, goes DOWN, when installed in the motherboard connector.

If the DVD drive does not have a cutout for it's circuit board, the faint red stripe of the flat ribbon IDE cable, goes towards the power cable connection.

2) SATA DVD burner drive:
You have 4 Serial ATA headers (Connectors) on the motherboard.
Your SATA harddrive should be plugged into the SATA1 header.

You can choose any open available SATA header, to plug your SATA DVD burner drive into.
BIOS will see it once you turn the computer on.

3) If you somehow have been using an IDE {PATA} harddrive, and have it connected to your IDE connector on the motherboard, you SHOULD not use a DVD drive on that flat IDE ribbon cable, also.

BIOS has to find which device has the Operating System on it, (Windows), and then hand the computer over to the Operating System.

To state again, BIOS will look at both devices connected to that flat ribbon cable. The Harddrive, and the DVD drive.
It will then determine that the Harddrive, is the device that has Windows on it, not the DVD drive.

This slows the computer down, and could result in a blue screen.

If you have an IDE harddrive plugged into the motherboard, it would be best to use a SATA DVD drive.


For additional questions please post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

There are IDE to SATA adapters and cables, such as this one linked below. IDE to SATA Adapter
You would simply plug this adapter into the available IDE connection on your motherboard, then use the SATA data and power cable to connect from the adapter to the CD/DVD drive. You can look around online for similar products, but they should get the job done!

This model DVD/CD writer is a SATA drive and unless your motherboard has a SATA connector then you have a slight problem. You will need to purchase a SATA controller and install it into your PCI expansion slot, then connect your new DVD/CD drive to this SATA controller. You will also need a SATA adapter power cable converter which plugs into the 4 pin power connector.

id try a different ide ribbion first ,but sounds like your ide port is on the way out mite be time to replace the mobo

you have a few options

1) buy a sata harddrive (faster then ide), use the ide for the second harddrive (backup) and cd/dvd rom

2) buy a sata cd/dvd rom use the ide on both harddrives (1 set to slave)

3) depends on your budget, buy a sata drive + sata cd/dvd rom so your main drive is on sata (faster than ide) then you only have your second drive as your backup drive on ide.

i had the same problem when i rebuilt mine, i went for the seperate harddrive and cd/dvd rom and my 320 gb ide as my backup drive

sorry to jump on this post aswell, see what others think

the only way i know is to buy a convertor like the 1 from the link

http://www.cooldrives.com/serial-ata---ata-atapi-ide-interface-adapter.html

might be easier to just swap the drive you have if youve just bought it or buy a new ide drive

set the hard drive to master and the dvd to slave