[Foley471]

I get that message during boot up ("Secondary IDE no 80 conductor cable installed"). What does it mean, how is it/could it be affecting my system, and how do I fix it?

 

[Elvandil]

UDMA (Ultra Direct Memory Access) requires a 40-connector, 80-conductor IDE cable for your hard drive. UDMA cannot be enabled in XP without it.

Your drive performance will greatly improve.

 

[dustyjay]

Do you possibly have a hard drive that is not at least ata66 attached to the IDE port? In other words, do you have an ata33 drive attached? You will get the same message if that is the case.

 

[Foley471]

HOw do I know if my drive is ata33 or ata66?

 

[dustyjay]

You can check the manufacturers web site using the model number of the drive to find the drive specs. You can feel fairly safe if the drive is less than 6 years old that it is probably at least an ata66 (if not faster) drive. though this is not a garaunty.

 

[Foley471]

OK, My HDD is an ultra ata 133. however, my secondary IDE (DVD-ROM, and CDRW) are both at ata 33. IS that possibly the problem?

So, does the 40-pin 80-conductor cable replace the normal IDE cable (the wide flat cable)? or is it a separate cable? if so, where does it hook up to?

 

[dustyjay]

It is connected that same as any ide cable. Blue to Mobo, Master drive at other end Slave in the middle. And if it came with the mobo or Hard drive it is a 40/80 or UDMA cable.