I have a computer with 5 Hard Drives and 1 Optical Drive. Each drive is bootable with its own OS. Some drives I only use once a week, so I was wondering if it is possible to disconnect the power, using a switch for each individual drive, without disconnecting the ide\sata cable. For the last 6 months I just pulled the 4-pin Molex from the drive (when the computer is powered off) but today someone told me I could damage the controller when I leave the IDE-cable connected. The specifications of my system: Asus P4P800-S 3x 250 Gb IDE 2x 250 Gb SATA 1x DVD\RW Thanks in advance for any replies. -John-

Hi, Look at installing a removable drive caddy and then fit each IDE drive in its own caddy. With the computer shut down you can fit whichever hard disk and Operating system you want to use. You can get removable drive caddies for SATA drives now. I have read that SATA drives are hot swappable. I would however not advise it. Just too risky. Examples on this UK web site http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=removable%20hard%20drive%20caddy&doy=21m3&source=15 hth Ceri

Thanks Ceri, that is certainly an option I will consider. Only its a bit expensive, 6x £19.99 plus a bigger tower. I hoped it was possible to do it the easy (cheap)way by adding 6 switches to my system. Do you think that wil destroy IDE-controller?

>> but today someone told me I could damage the controller when I leave the IDE-cable connected. << Don't see how that could happen, especially when you consider that the controller is actually on the hard disk, not on the the motherboard. Thats what IDE means, Integrated Device Electronics, Integrated with the device itself. The motherboard connection is just an interface between the hard disk and the motherboard chip-set. How can you damage something that has no power going to it? I have often left IDE cables connected and no power plug without any ill effect. Stuart

I'm surprised that Disconnecting the power to a drive and leaving the signal cable connected didn't cause system problems. Every time I've done that, it killed the system. Sorry, I do not check for private messages

Thanks Stuart, that was the answer I was hoping for. Like i said, disconnecting the Molex didn't give me any problems for 6 months. Sometimes i even used a slave without a master. Do you think I only have to switch the yellow and red wire to disable the drive? -John-

Switching the red and yellow wires would be sufficient. The black wires are just the common return wires. Red carries the 5 volts for the logic circuits and the yellow 12 volts to power the spindle motor. Just make sure you don't get them mixed up otherwise the results would be disastrous. Stuart