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Installation of CDRW

PostPosted: Sun Dec 22, 2002 12:51 pm
by stazzo
I tried to install my new LG GCE-8480B today on my Dell Dimension XPS T500. Already have Hard Drive, DVD-ROM and Zip100 attached to EIDE cables and cannot figure out how to make the one available EIDE connector stretch across to the CDRW. The Hard Drive is over to the left and the 5" and 3.5" drive bays are over to the right. The DVD and Zip share one of the EIDE cables and the Hard Drive the other (with a spare connector).

Can I buy a 6" extension for the EIDE ribbon cable? If so will that cause a problem as the cable will then be longer than the 18" maximum specified in the LG Installation guide? Any ideas? I don't really want to lose the Zip or the DVD.

Help please!!!! (and happy Christmas to all :P )

PostPosted: Sun Dec 22, 2002 1:32 pm
by EdT
Just go out and buy a 24" IDE 40 pin cable with 2 IDE device connectors, they are under $5

PostPosted: Sun Dec 22, 2002 1:39 pm
by cfitz
The EIDE standard dictates a maximum cable length of 18". Although 24" and 36" cables are sold and some people are able to use them successfully, I don't recommend using them. You are asking for trouble.

If you absolutely must use a longer cable then at least buy a complete, pre-made cable that is 24" long rather than buying a 6" extension (I've not even heard of such a thing being sold).

Is there no way to rearrange the placement of your drives to make everything fit physically? My XPS R400 has a slot for a second hard drive right under the 3.5 inch bay. If you have the same setup, then move your hard drive to that position.

Another alternative would be to see if you can purchase (or have a friend who is handy with electronics make for you) an EIDE cable that has the drive connectors spaced further apart. Typically the cables are laid out something like this:

C----------------------------------------------S------------M

(C = controller connector, S = slave connector, M = master connector)

Maybe you could fit everything if you moved the slave connector closer to the middle of the cable like this:

C-----------------------------S-----------------------------M

Of course, you could also buy another EIDE controller and put your hard drive on it alone.

If all else fails, dump the Zip drive. The media is expensive, low capacity, and unreliable anyway. Your new CD burner can take over its function.

cfitz

PostPosted: Sun Dec 22, 2002 2:06 pm
by stazzo
Thanks for the thoughts - I don't think a 24" cable would necessarily stretch anyway unless the middle connector was in the right place.

Seems to me I'd better buy an EIDE card to go into the motherboard. I assume the computer will be able to cope with this.

Incidently, I'm now advised (Dell Forum) that it's best not to use the same EIDE cable to connect the burner and the Hard Disc to the motherboard.

PostPosted: Sun Dec 22, 2002 9:38 pm
by EdT
Incidently, I'm now advised (Dell Forum) that it's best not to use the same EIDE cable to connect the burner and the Hard Disc to the motherboard

You don't need to buy a controller card, just get a longer cable, you should connect the HD(Master) and DVD(Slave) on IDE1 and the CDRW(Master) and zip(Slave) on IDE2 Your HD will be limited to UDMA33 because of any of the optical drives. I'am using the same setup without any problems.

PostPosted: Sun Dec 22, 2002 10:13 pm
by Inertia
I agree with cfitz on this one. I would not recommend using an IDE cable longer than the specified 18 inches. Using a longer cable can result in errors and in the worst case, data corruption. If the errors can be successfully repaired by UDMA CRC checking, it will at best slow down the data transmission.

Your idea of adding a controller card is a good one if you want to retain all of the devices and it will solve the cable length problem. They are relatively inexpensive and will add flexibility to your setup. It is usually best to use the controller card for the hard drive(s) and use the motherboard connectors for other devices.

If it were my choice, I would remove the Zip drive. They have a well deserved reputation for causing conflicts, especially with DMA and CD-RW devices. The discs are expensive, data throughput is slow, they hold only a fraction of a CDR, and the Zip drive is obsolescent at this point. With a CD-RW drive, you really don't need the Zip.

EdT wrote:Incidently, I'm now advised (Dell Forum) that it's best not to use the same EIDE cable to connect the burner and the Hard Disc to the motherboard

You don't need to buy a controller card, just get a longer cable, you should connect the HD(Master) and DVD(Slave) on IDE1 and the CDRW(Master) and zip(Slave) on IDE2 Your HD will be limited to UDMA33 because of any of the optical drives. I'am using the same setup without any problems.


There is no problem in connecting the burner and hard drive on the same cable unless you get buffer underruns with this configuration. You can try experimenting with different configurations to see which works best for you.

Your hard drive will not be limited to UDMA 33 if it is connected to an optical drive. It will run at its full rated speed and so will the ATAPI drive. Modern computers use separate device timing for each device sharing an IDE cable.

PostPosted: Sun Dec 22, 2002 11:04 pm
by TheWizard
I agree with cfitz as well, although on a different point. :) Move your hard drive to a 3 1/2 inch bay below your ZIP and floppy drives. Most cases have at least one hidden 3 1/2 inch slot below the ZIP and floppy bays. I say hidden because you can only see it from inside the case, it is not visible on the outside like the ZIP and floppy bays are.

PostPosted: Mon Dec 23, 2002 12:23 am
by cfitz
If I make enough different suggestions, then surely there will be something to please everyone... :lol: :D

cfitz

PostPosted: Mon Dec 23, 2002 1:28 am
by dodecahedron
hey, cfitz, congrats on the (new) avatar!!!

CDRW Installation on Dell XPS T500

PostPosted: Mon Dec 23, 2002 4:44 pm
by stazzo
TheWizard wrote:I agree with cfitz as well, although on a different point. :) Move your hard drive to a 3 1/2 inch bay below your ZIP and floppy drives. Most cases have at least one hidden 3 1/2 inch slot below the ZIP and floppy bays. I say hidden because you can only see it from inside the case, it is not visible on the outside like the ZIP and floppy bays are.


Lots of good ideas - thanks and Merry Christmas to all of you. I have asked the same question on the Dell Community as well with the same answer.

I'll start off by disabling the Zip and connecting the CDRW beneath the DVD. If this works ok I'll look into moving the Hard disk below the Zip.

8)

PostPosted: Wed Jan 08, 2003 4:51 pm
by stazzo
Just to say thanks for advice - the LG is working excellently in tandem with my Samsung DVD - I've disabled the Zip Drive and will think about connecting it when/if I need it. CDR and CDRW both seem to work very well and quite quickly enough. This is a most friendly and informative Bulletin Board.

8)

PostPosted: Wed Jan 08, 2003 7:00 pm
by BuddhaTB
dodecahedron wrote:hey, cfitz, congrats on the (new) avatar!!!

DOH!
I must have missed it while I was in class all day.

PostPosted: Thu Jan 09, 2003 2:47 am
by TheWizard
stazzo wrote:Just to say thanks for advice - the LG is working excellently in tandem with my Samsung DVD - I've disabled the Zip Drive and will think about connecting it when/if I need it. CDR and CDRW both seem to work very well and quite quickly enough. This is a most friendly and informative Bulletin Board.

8)


We're glad to help, stazzo. :) Ya'll come back now, ya'hear?

PostPosted: Thu Jan 09, 2003 3:43 am
by UALOneKPlus
Ditch the Zip!! I've tossed my parallel zip in the closet since 2000, and have not looked back. I'm amazed people still buy those crappy "clicks of death" storage devices!