>On 12 Nov 98 at 9:58, Ashok Bhiman wrote:
>
>>   I have an old CD Drive which is not working properly. When the
>> data cable is plugged in, there is no display at all i.e. I cannot
>> boot the system. If the data cable is removed, the system boots and
>> the CD Drive is energised i.e. the light comes on and I can both
>> open and close it. Of courseit cannot be used since the data cable
>> is not connected. I am stumped. Any help would be welcome.
>
>  Unfortunately, the IDE/EIDE/ATAPI standard is not the only 40-pin
>interface used on CD-ROM drives.  It's about all you'll find *now*,
>but you describe this as an "old" drive and so it may have a
>proprietary interface from Sony, Mitsubishi, Panasonic or others.
>When such a drive is connected to an IDE/EIDE controller, the
>machine's refusal to boot is about the best result you could hope
>for.
>  Your best bets are either (a) find an old sound card that offers
>three or four interfaces, and determine which one your drive actually
>needs, or (b) donate the drive to some worthy cause.
>
>David G
>
Is there a listing of the pin-outs for these "other" connector types. I too
have an
"old" CD-drive (Sanyo) that I paid $15 for. A simple cross over cable I can
do or
very minor electronic circuits.
I've been visiting 2 or 3 of the local 'puter parts stores and have yet to
see one of these
older sound card interfaces in their "junk" boxes.

Winston

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