hi, i have to admit i dont really know much about computers but please bear with me. what does it mean when you say you set the drive as " Master " or " Slave ". could someone please put it in laymens terms for me.

thanks guys

2 Drives connect to a cable in your computer. Think of master and slave as priority. Master is first, then slave. Hope this helps...

*There are two IDE channels on a computer
*Each channel can have two drives
*The drive set to master will controll both
*The drive set to slave will be controlled by the baster.
*IF both are set to master, or both are set to slave, neather will work.

*This applies only for drives on the same channel
*You can have two masters on two diffrent channels
*If only one drive is on a channel it must be set to master.

All harddrives have 6 or more pins at the backside where the ide cable and power connector are (some very old drives may have these jumpers on the underside). There they have one, sometimes 2 jumpers that allow you to set the drive to master - slave and cable select (CS) (and some more things with some manufacturers). Normally the correct settings ar printed on the label of the drive or you can check them on the manufacturers webside.

But be careful, some manufacturers like Western Digital use the master setting only if there is a secand drive as slave present. If you use that drive as the only drive you have to set the jumper in "spare" or "only" position!
It's also explained on the label or in the web!

Master and slave are just designations. It has nothing to do with control or precedence. They could have just as well used the terms `A' and `B' or`Red' and `Green'.