EIDE connector port problem 1177

That's exactly what I did.

I don't think the CD drive is defective. When connected on EIDE2 both CD drives work fine. When on EIDE1 the 1st drive on the ribbon isn't recognized.

Though I wish the problem was the CD! A CD drive is like 20 bucks.

Will do. BTW, I think one pin is supposed to be missing from the EIDE port. Both of my EIDE ports (the one that works fine and the one that gives me trouble) seem like they don't have one pin in the same place, on the middle. But then the EIDE ribbons don't have a hole to take a pin on that point . Is that the norm?

I really wish. But how can the cable be defective when it works on one EIDE port and not on the other? I'm also sure the CD drive is not defective. When I connected on the end of the ribbon that's on EIDE1 it works fine. It's not recognized only when it's connected on the middle of the ribbon and the ribbon is connedted on EIDE1. If the ribbon is connected on EIDE2 then the CD drive that's connected on the middle of the ribbon worksfine.

I say I wish because I'm afraid the problem is on the motherboard. And I don't know if it makes sense to replace the board.

Thanks Jim