How to test IDE cable

Hi,
Is there a software that check rounded or ribbon IDE cables health and
show results that it's damaged or not?

As you know, it's very difficult to say IDE problems occur because of
IDE cables, but it's possible.

Or is there another way to test as hardware as cheap?

Regards...

"kimiraikkonen" wrote in message
ps.com...
Hi,
Is there a software that check rounded or ribbon IDE cables health and
show results that it's damaged or not?

As you know, it's very difficult to say IDE problems occur because of
IDE cables, but it's possible.

Or is there another way to test as hardware as cheap?

Just spend the $3 and replace it if you suspect that it's faulty.

On 3 Aug 2006 01:48:48 -0700, "kimiraikkonen"
wrote:

Hi,
Is there a software that check rounded or ribbon IDE cables health and
show results that it's damaged or not?

As you know, it's very difficult to say IDE problems occur because of
IDE cables, but it's possible.

Or is there another way to test as hardware as cheap?

Regards...

Slow:
just check if wires are broken.
wire, battery, light, two pins...

Faster:
swap cable, see if works. If so: 1st cable bad.

Fastest:
if suspect, throw away: peace of mind.

Most complicated (if at all possible):
Buy (get) software, install (on working IDE drive ? haha), study
manual. Interpret results.

kimiraikkonen wrote:

Is there a software that check rounded or ribbon IDE
cables health and show results that it's damaged or not?

Nope, but its trivial to try another and see if that makes any difference.

As you know, it's very difficult to say IDE problems
occur because of IDE cables, but it's possible.

Or is there another way to test as hardware as cheap?

Yep, try another cable.

Just spend the $3 and replace it if you suspect that it's faulty.


indeed, but for some kids that is a weeks pocket money ;-)

The absolute cheapest solution would be to swap cables with your
dad/kid.

Yep, but i know some hardwares can check physicially Ethernet cable, i
just wonder if there is a checking hardware for IDE cables.

Additionaly, Could you write the sypmthoms of a faulty IDE cable?

I mean, in which cases can i suspect of ide cable faulty?
Regards.

On 3 Aug 2006 03:25:39 -0700, "kimiraikkonen"
wrote:

Yep, but i know some hardwares can check physicially Ethernet cable, i
just wonder if there is a checking hardware for IDE cables.

Additionaly, Could you write the sypmthoms of a faulty IDE cable?

I mean, in which cases can i suspect of ide cable faulty?
Regards.

try a program that looks at the HD, like HD Workbench or ActiveSMART
or some other S.M.A.R.T. utility.
Maybe that says something.
But I suspect a faulty cable will just make your HD look dead.

Suspect the cable if another cable makes the thing work right.

Yes Osiris, S.M.A.R.T. is an option HDDs but what about for optical
drives?


Osiris yazdi:
On 3 Aug 2006 03:25:39 -0700, "kimiraikkonen"
wrote:

Yep, but i know some hardwares can check physicially Ethernet cable, i
just wonder if there is a checking hardware for IDE cables.

Additionaly, Could you write the sypmthoms of a faulty IDE cable?

I mean, in which cases can i suspect of ide cable faulty?
Regards.

try a program that looks at the HD, like HD Workbench or ActiveSMART
or some other S.M.A.R.T. utility.
Maybe that says something.
But I suspect a faulty cable will just make your HD look dead.

Suspect the cable if another cable makes the thing work right.

On 3 Aug 2006 05:56:24 -0700, "kimiraikkonen"
wrote:

Yes Osiris, S.M.A.R.T. is an option HDDs but what about for optical
drives?


Osiris yazdi:
On 3 Aug 2006 03:25:39 -0700, "kimiraikkonen"
wrote:

Yep, but i know some hardwares can check physicially Ethernet cable, i
just wonder if there is a checking hardware for IDE cables.

Additionaly, Could you write the sypmthoms of a faulty IDE cable?

I mean, in which cases can i suspect of ide cable faulty?
Regards.

try a program that looks at the HD, like HD Workbench or ActiveSMART
or some other S.M.A.R.T. utility.
Maybe that says something.
But I suspect a faulty cable will just make your HD look dead.

Suspect the cable if another cable makes the thing work right.

swap the CD/DVD drive for an HDD that you know is good, then see
earlier suggestions.

kimiraikkonen wrote:

Yep, but i know some hardwares can check physicially Ethernet
cable, i just wonder if there is a checking hardware for IDE cables.

The hard drive manufacture's diagnostic does some basic checks,
but its a lot better to try another cable and those are dirt cheap.

Additionaly, Could you write the sypmthoms of a faulty IDE cable?

They can be surprisingly variable, depending on where the fault is.

You can often see them in the SMART report if the cable
isnt too bad. They show up as Ultra ATA CRC errors there.

I mean, in which cases can i suspect of ide cable faulty?

When the drive model number is corrupted in the BIOS list of
hard drives, when drives arent detected reliably by the bios,
when the drive is stuck in PIO mode, you cant use DMA etc.