Not enough IDE connectors

[puggit]

I have 2 IDE cables, each with 3 connectors (one motherboard, 2x drives).

I have 2 HDDs, DVD, CDW - I want to attach a 3rd IDE drive.

How?! (apart from swapping )

[Plotloss]

You can get an extra IDE controller card that plugs into a PCI slot.

Should give you another 2-4 IDE slots...

[pdV6]

How large are the existing drives?
Might make sense to buy a big MF drive & migrate on or both onto it. If the existing drives are getting on a bit, it might also save you from future hassle when one of them dies unexpectedly...

[puggit]

Actually I'm buying this drive as a backup drive

Both drives are currently 40Gb, new drive is 80Gb. Not sure whether to mirror or use Backup Exec... (I am a BE expert)

[pdV6]

puggit said:

Actually I'm buying this drive as a backup drive Both drives are currently 40Gb, new drive is 80Gb. Not sure whether to mirror or use Backup Exec... (I am a BE expert)

Buy two, migrate both onto one and then mirror it!

[roop]

Sling in a Highpoint 404 RAID controller that will allow up to 8 IDE devices in JBOD configfuration. Good little controller - about £80 worth I think.

[Bodo]

Buy a case for an external HDD with FireWire or USB 2.0 interface. Backup, then remove and store somewhere in a safe place.

This appears to be the safest method for low cost

[agent006]

You can only have 2 drives on each IDE cable.

[pdV6]

agent006 said:

You can only have 2 drives on each IDE cable.

Er, I think that's where we came in, Alec!