Tom,
    I think I know what you are talking about since Dell seemed to
have the a connector like you are describing.
Would something like this be what you are trying to achieve?  (picture
link below)

http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=X&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1280&bih=833&tbm=isch&tbnid=URGLBeJU4kbbBM:&imgrefurl=http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/265077-32-possible-swap-pata-sata&docid=nf5HtJYtnPbRkM&imgurl=http://www.cooldrives.com/ep.yimg.com/ca/I/cooldrives_2074_37542403.jpg&w=800&h=463&ei=nAAVUYyAL6je0gGtlYHoBA&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:0,s:0,i:84&iact=rc&dur=1934&sig=110509108396358557849&page=1&tbnh=167&tbnw=293&start=0&ndsp=22&tx=139&ty=101

Derek Buchanan

              The NOSPIN Group is now offering Free PC Tech
                         support at our website:
                          http://freepctech.com