A question with an IDE connection

[t_jay17]

I recently was building a pc and it has a sideways ide connection on the motherboard and it is a little tough to get the cable in. Do I need to force it in or is there a problem with it?

[redwudz]

A motherboard IDE connector should be a bit hard to plug into, otherwise it could fall out. But make sure you are orienting the plug the right way. There is a notch on the connector that should line up with the tab on the plug. And make sure you aren't trying to plug into the floppy connector. But they are considerably different.

[t_jay17]

Yes it is the right connoctor and it is lined up right one I did had it faceing up and that one did fine and now this one is faceing to the side and it is rather hard to push it in it goes and then it feels like it is stuck I wanted to make sure before I tried again because I didnt want to break it since it wasnt for me it was for my brother.

[redwudz]

I've used both hands on some of those, a thumb and forefinger one each side to squeeze them in evenly and not put too much force on the motherboard. I prefer to put the connector on those types before putting the motherboard into the case. Sometimes their location ends up right next to part of the case and makes it difficult to get the connector in.

[halsboss]

yes, please do treble-check that the connector is the right way around. I forced one in once and it was the wrong way around and it pushed the "offending" pin back into the receiving socket ... a bad bad thing to happen.

Also, check that all the pins are straight, too, if one is bent you need to do something about it.

[t_jay17]

Ok I'll have to check it because right now when I try to load the os it says to check the cable.

[t_jay17]

Ok I see one is bent I guess I have to bend it back.

[halsboss]

Do it VERY VERY VERY slowly and gently in warm conditions. Sudden force WILL break it.

If it's the middle one then you had the connector the wrong way around - match up the absence of a pin to the absence of a hole in your IDE connector