installing IDE in new tower.

I thought I had started a "help!" thread on this subject earlier today, but can't find it. Must have had a "senior moment" and not licked the submit button!
Here is my problem:
I see a tutorial on the HP site that explains how to add a PATA to my new machine (Adding or Replacing a Hard Drive HP Pavilion p6347c Desktop PC - HP technical support (Ireland - English)), but it remains a mystery to me how to match any of my connectors to the old drive. I see no parallel cable anywhere! And if I need to go and buy one, where the hell is the connection on the motherboard? The tutorial assumes I know all this, but if I did, I wouldn't need the tutorial.

Look for a blue connector next to the 24pin power connector. I can see it in the manual
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01859455.pdf

Is that the right pic? Did you find it?

I don't have a blue connector there! Your image seems to be of a different motherboard. Mine has 4 RAM slots there, and the blue connector would not have room.

If your optical drive is ide you will see a flat ribbon cable going to the board and simply find the middle connector in order to slave the drive. On some boards the single ide connector is located over near the PCI slots along the edge there. It will still be the same size and shape only diagonally across from the board.

Night Hawk said:

If your optical drive is ide you will see a flat ribbon cable going to the board and simply find the middle connector in order to slave the drive. On some boards the single ide connector is located over near the PCI slots along the edge there. It will still be the same size and shape only diagonally across from the board.

My DVD drive is this: hp DVD A DH16AAL SCSI CdRom Deviceand has no ribbon cable, only wires.

Some newer computers do not have PATA connections on their motherboards. This HP has a Foxconn mobo which does not.
Motherboard Specifications, H-RS880-uATX (Aloe) HP Pavilion p6347c Desktop PC - HP technical support (Ireland - English)

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf-JAVA.../c02431965.jpg

What I think your options are: getting an ide drive enclosure or the drive or getting an IDE to SATA Adapter which should be no more than $20.
http://www.amazon.com/Vantec-CB-IS10...0988246&sr=8-8

If you have an ide cable onhand simply follow the edge of the board around to see if one is present. The plug on the cable itself is keyed with a locking tab and can only go in one way when plugging it into the connector on the board.

Most boards still see one ide channel for use with optical drives. The photos in any guide from HP and other companies simply show how to connect drives and devices without showing any specific make or model board that comes with any particular model. Since the boards are usually a specialty item ordered by them and not sold separately HP only knows offhand the full details.

Night Hawk said:

If you have an ide cable onhand simply follow the edge of the board around to see if one is present. The plug on the cable itself is keyed with a locking tab and can only go in one way when plugging it into the connector on the board.

Most boards still see one ide channel for use with optical drives. The photos in any guide from HP and other companies simply show how to connect drives and devices without showing any specific make or model board that comes with any particular model. Since the boards are usually a specialty item ordered by them and not sold separately HP only knows offhand the full details.

Hi,

There is no IDE ports on this board, only sata. My post contains pictures if you don't believe me...