Secondary IDE controller

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Secondary IDE controller

Allows you to connect a CD-ROM, zip drive, tape drive or other IDE device to the system. Usually a hard drive is connected to the IDE0/Primary connector on the IDE cable (Picture of IDE cable) and the IDE cable is plugged into the primary IDE controller, but you can have one connected to the secondary IDE controller.

The location of the secondary and Primary IDE controllers are usually on the center edge of the motherboard towards the front of the computer. IDE0/Primary is usually the first slot and the secondary is behind it. They are both the same size. You will have a floppy drive connector usually by these also but it is smaller. The locations vary depending on the motherboard.

This is not always the case however. Some people has a controller card connected to a PCI slot and the CD-ROM will be connected there. Some networked systems does not have a CD-ROM connected to the system.

People usually use the secondary slot on the IDE cable that is plugged into the secondary IDE controller for a second CD-ROM, tape drive, zip drive or nothing at all.

for troubleshooting you can switch the primary and secondary IDE cables and IDE devices around. The primary and secondary IDE controllers are interchangeable.

The location on the motherboard varies depending on the motherboard that you have. In general the connector is usually on the front portion of the motherboard and along the edge of the motherboard.

Some boards have the secondary IDE controller behind the primary. Other boards have them lined up side by side. Majority of time the primary IDE controller is blue and the secondary is black or brown (not always the case)

For a picture of a motherboard and what the controller may look like click here.

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