In Search Of The IDE Ribbon

The PATA interface was originally designed as a 40-pin system and still is. The ribbon cables were originally 40-wire cables. A special type of cable with 80 wires was then created to improve data throughput rates. Note that the number of pins remains 40, with a special type of ribbon connector connecting ground to 40 wires internally. The ground connections are placed between each of the data carriers to reduce cross-talk and allow up to 3 times faster operation. ATA33 is supported by 40-wire connection, ATA66 & ATA100 require 80-wire. Motherboards can check the speed of the data throughput to determine if a 80-pin cable is being used. Some BIOS setup options allow for this feature to be turned off. The HDD or DVD must support ATA66 or higher to work at the higher speed of a 80-wire cable.If you connect a slow hard disk or DVD drive on the same ribbon as a fast hard disk then the system will default to the slower speed. You also need to make sure the master and slave are connected to the correct connectors on the cable.
Firstly try each drive separately to see if the 80-pin error goes away.
Rather than master/slave on one cable, try each hard drive as a master on separate cables (IDE1 & IDE2).
Secondly, the boot partition may have corrupt data preventing boot. You should check both hard drives for errors by connecting to another PC if possible. This would also allow you to back up any important files so that you can re-install the operating system if required.

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Product/Product_Detail.aspx?DetailID=106&MenuID=24&LanID=0

The ECS P6STP-FL motherboard uses IDE (PATA) harddrives, and optical drives. (CD/DVD drive)

IDE 1 is for the Harddrive.
IDE 1 is the 40-pin connector that is closest to the Ram Memory slots.
(Only 39-pin are used, however)

IDE 2 is used for the optical drive/s.
IDE 2 is next to IDE 1, and is further away from the Ram Memory slots.

The IDE connectors on the motherboard, have a Cut-Out on one side. A small square cut-out.
This is for the Locating Lug, on the flat IDE ribbon cable's, connector.
This makes sure that Pin 1 in the motherboard connector, is lined up with Wire 1 in the flat IDE ribbon cable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PATA-cable.jpg

The Locating Lug shown in this example, is two 'ridges' that are separated. Some designs just use one solid block.

IF, there is no Locating Lug;
Look for the faint Red stripe, on the side of the flat IDE ribbon cable,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nappe.svg

This stripe denotes the side, that number 1 wire is on.
Motherboard installed in computer case, the red stripe on that flat IDE ribbon cable, goes DOWN.
Down towards the Bottom of the motherboard.

When connecting to the Harddrive, and there is no Locating Lug on flat IDE ribbon cable, the Red stripe goes towards the power cable connection.

This applies to the optical drive (CD/DVD drive), and Floppy Disk Drive.
(34-pins for a Floppy Disk Drive. Cable is smaller in width)

Now, there is a different method of connecting a Harddrive, or optical drive, in relation to the flat IDE ribbon cable.

Depends on if the flat IDE ribbon cable is a 40-wire cable, or an 80-wire cable. You can use Cable Select setting on Harddrive/Optical drive; OR you can just connect the Harddrive, or Optical drive the correct way,

http://mikeshardware.com/howtos/howto_connect_ide_hd.html

Is the Harddrive recognized in BIOS Setup?
If your question relates that the Harddrive is not recognized, post back in a Comment.

Also post the manufacturer ID information off of the Harddrive's label.

Example for one type of Western Digital harddrive;

WD800AAJB

Western Digital 80 GB harddrive, and IDE (PATA)

With this information I can find the Cylinders, Heads, and Sectors.
Then guide you in entering it in BIOS Setup, IF needed.

"Press DEL to run Setup"
Press the Delete key to enter BIOS Setup.

AS SOON AS you press the Power On button, start tapping on the DELete key.
Tap in 2 second intervals.
You will hear beeps. These are Stuck Key Error Code beeps, and it is YOU that is doing it. Ignore the beeps.

Best method for entering BIO Setup.
(The window of opportunity for entering BIOS Setup, goes by F-A-S-T! The above method will get you in)

Your problem statement leaves a hole in the time/space continuum.
Does not exactly state what your problem is

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

You cannot use a SATA (serial ATA HDD in this machine. You need a PATA (parallel ATA) HDD, also known as IDE, ULTRA IDE, ULTRA ATA. This has a 40-pin ribbon connector & a 4-pin power connector.
Sizes generally available would be 80GB up to 250GB, although very few PATA drives are now sold since SATA is the new standard.

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

this will depend on HARD DRIVE whether ide the ide will have 40 pins or sata the sata will have 8 copper slat type also PSU power supply unit ide or sata power connecters these days they usually supply both next MOTHERBOARD if has ide and sata plugs the ide will be a flat ribbon type with 40 pin plug ends the sata will be 8 copper slat type usually a bit thicker
hope this helps

I don't know where the trouble is without more information.
Some tips/information I will list, however,

1) The master harddrive that came with the computer, and has the operating system on it, is a SATA unit.

Therefore any harddrive installed along with it has to be installed as a Slave drive.

BIOS will look for the harddrive with the operating system on it. This harddrive has to be set as a Master drive. (Primary Drive in BIOS)

Installing a harddrive that is a PATA (IDE) unit, AND a PATA optical drive on the same flat ribbon cable, has to be done accordingly;

A) It depends on what flat ribbon cable you have.
There is a 40 wire cable with a 40 pin connector. (39 actually. One socket hole is not used)

There is an 80 wire cable with a 40 pin connector. (39 actually)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ATA_cables.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_ATA#IDE_and_ATA-1

Proper method of connecting,

http://www.mikeshardware.com/howtos/howto_connect_ide_hd.html

2) Proper method of using jumpers on an IDE (PATA) harddrive, and connecting the flat ribbon cable,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4inX3nC6M1E


Regards,
joecoolvette

this will depend on HARD DRIVE whether ide the ide will have 40 pins or sata the sata will have 8 copper slat type also PSU power supply unit ide or sata power connecters these days they usually supply both next MOTHERBOARD if has ide and sata plugs the ide will be a flat ribbon type with 40 pin plug ends the sata will be 8 copper slat type usually a bit thicker
hope this helps

this will depend on HARD DRIVE whether ide the ide will have 40 pins or sata the sata will have 8 copper slat type also PSU power supply unit ide or sata power connecters these days they usually supply both next MOTHERBOARD if has ide and sata plugs the ide will be a flat ribbon type with 40 pin plug ends the sata will be 8 copper slat type usually a bit thicker
hope this helps

The beep you hear is a BIOS Beep Code. The computer's method of informing you something is wrong, and the area to look into for it.

The code is similar to what you may be used to.
(Afghanistan, Army? If so, hello brother/sister. 1st Cav, 13th Sig. Corp)

The BIOS Beep Code is similar to a Morse Code.

Examples:
Two short beeps followed by a long beep, a pause of silence, then the pattern repeats, over, and over.

One short beep indicates everything is okay.
This is an indication that BIOS has concluded the Ram Memory count, and everything is 5 By.

According to my sources, the eMachines T2682 desktop computer uses an Imperial GV motherboard model, made by TriGem.

The front plastic cover of your computer is the Front Panel.
The area on the motherboard that the cables, (Wires), attach to on the motherboard, is the Front Panel header.

This is the Front panel header pinout, for the TriGem Imperial GV motherboard,

http://www.e4allupgraders.info/dir1/ecase/support/front_panel_support.shtml

On this page I would like you to scroll down to the heading -
Imperial GV Front Panel Motherboard Pinouts

Looking at the pinout;

1) Pin 1 is Not used. NC = No Connection

2) Pins 2 and 3 are for the Power On LED light
[Light Emitting Diode]

Pin 2 is for the Ground wire. (GND) ( - )
Pin 3 is for the LED light power wire. ( + )

3) Pin 4 is not used. NC

4) Pins 5 and 6 are for the Harddrive Activity light. (LED)
HDD is HarDDrive

Pin 5 is for the LED power wire
Pin 6 is for the HarDDrive signal wire
(If after attaching the wires the HDD LED light is dim, reverse the wires)

5) Pins 7 and 8 are for the Power On switch.
Pin 7 is for the Ground wire.

Attaching the Peripheral cables;

1) You have an IDE harddrive. Uses a 40-pin IDE ribbon cable.
(39 actually. One pinhole is blocked off)

There is a Locating Tab on one side of the IDE ribbon cable's connector.

To wit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Drive_Electronics

Left-click on the blue IDE connector in the photo to the upper right.
At the top middle of the connector you will see two ridges.
This is the Locating Lug.

Now left-click on the IDE connector on the motherboard, shown in the photo to the upper right.
(To the right of the blue IDE connector)

Looking at the blue IDE connector on the motherboard, you will note there is a cutout on one side of the connector.
This is a Locating Slot.

Lining the Locating Lug up to the Locating Slot, puts the pins of the IDE ribbon cable's connector, in the correct position for the pinholes in the motherboard's IDE connector.

IF, your ribbon cable's connector does Not have a Locating Lug;

Look at the outside edge of the ribbon cable. You should see a faint Red stripe.
The Red stripe is always next to Pin 1.

Next to the motherboard's IDE connector should be a printout.
It will state PRI 1, (Stands for Primary 1), or IDE 1.
This is for the Harddrive.

[ If you see PRI 2, or SEC, (Secondary), this is for the optical drive.
(CD/DVD drive). Using this information, you will know the other IDE connector on the motherboard is for the Harddrive ]

That printout is always next to where Pin 1 is.
Therefore on the motherboard, the side of the IDE ribbon cable that has a Red stripe, will go next to the printout.

If your harddrive does not have a Locating Slot on it's IDE connector, Pin 1 is always towards the 4-pin IDE power pins.

To wit:

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html#peripheral

The above is a webpage from Playtool.com, discussing the various power cables used in a PC, and more specifically the standard 4-pin Peripheral power cable.

I linked it to show you a standard 4-pin Peripheral power cable, plugged into an IDE harddrive.

(A Peripheral power cable's connector, has been misnomered as a Molex connector, repeatedly through the years.
This was the name given to the first connector of this design.
It's kind of like referring to an adjustable open-end wrench, as a Crescent wrench )

Here in the photo of the rear view of an IDE harddrive, (Photo to the far left), you will see the 4 power pins.

To the left of the power pins are the Jumper pins.
To the left of the jumper pins, is the IDE interface for the 40-pin IDE ribbon cable.

The Red stripe of the IDE ribbon cable goes towards those 4 power pins.

To be continued in an additional comment.

Ok, I have seen some recorders that do use IDE cables, but sorry about that. I saw this model listed at http://www.partstore.com but I did not see the cable. I bet if you call them at 1-866-925-PART, they can get it for you. Good Luck and sorry about the misunderstanding. Ps Please dont forget to rate this thread.