How to Attach a Ribbon Cable

A computer uses ribbon cables inside the case to connect IDE-based drives such as hard drives and optical drives to the motherboard. The drives send the data along the ribbon cable interface to the motherboard. The cable is called a ribbon cable due to its long, flat appearance. When you install a new drive inside the computer, you need to attach the ribbon cable to the drive. Reattaching the ribbon cable sometimes helps in troubleshooting a device as well.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips screwdriver

Instructions

1. Power the computer off. Unplug any cables from the back of the computer tower.

2. Remove the case cover from the computer tower. You may need to unscrew the panel from the back, press a button or pull a latch to get the side panel off the computer.

3. Turn the ribbon cable so the red strip faces the power supply interface port on the drive. Press the ribbon cable into the drive with even pressure. You do not need a lot of force to fully insert the cable. If you need to reseat a ribbon cable, pull it straight out of the drive, then push it back in.

References

• Help with PCs: Install Hard Drive - A Guide to Installing an IDE Hard Drive