How to test IDE cable

[kimiraikkonen]

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...

 

[Noozer]

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.

 

[Osiris]

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.

 

[Rod Speed]

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.

 

[Osiris]

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.

 

[kimiraikkonen]

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.

 

[Osiris]

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.

 

[kimiraikkonen]

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


Osiris yazdi:

 

[Osiris]

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


Osiris yazdi:

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

 

[Rod Speed]

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.

 

[Alan Kakareka]

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

SMART atribute "Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate"

------

Q: What is "Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate"?

A: UDMA controller performs an error checking on data it receives from HDD,
ensuring that data was not damaged while transmitted over the cable. Each
time the error is detected, controller requests a retransmission, thus
slowing down the overall transfer speed. Lower values of "Ultra ATA CRC
Error Rate" correspond to higher number of errors, usually indicating a
cabling problem.

--
Alan Kakareka
Data Recovery Service
786-253-8286 cell
http://www.247recovery.com
--

 

[Osiris]

Lower values of "Ultra ATA CRC

Error Rate" correspond to higher number of errors, usually indicating a
cabling problem.

Cool, but the "usually" nags me...
and "cabling" might also imply "connector" ?
Or the PCB on the disk (last copper traces before connector)?
Just guessing, but...
Nevertheless: cool

 

[Osiris]

Also: seems that the MEANING of the different SMART parameters differs
from manfactuter to manufacturer.
Only 1-9 seem to be universal.

See:
http://www.siguardian.com/products/siguardian/on_line_help/s_m_a_r_t_attribute_meaning.html


Does every drive maker have an inspection program ? Or publish their
SAMRT definition ?
don't think so...

 

[Rod Speed]

Cool, but the "usually" nags me...
and "cabling" might also imply "connector" ?

In theory, yes. In practice they dont fail very often at all
except in the sense that you can see the metal prongs that
bite into the ribbon cable get bent when the cable is made.

Or the PCB on the disk (last copper traces before connector)?

Yes, thats certainly possible, a dry joint in that area, usually where
the connector is soldered onto the card, or a cracked trace. That
will normally produce more than JUST Ultra ATA CRC Errors tho.

 

[Rod Speed]

Also: seems that the MEANING of the different SMART
parameters differs from manfactuter to manufacturer.

Yes, some certainly do.

Only 1-9 seem to be universal.

The Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate doesnt vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

See:
http://www.siguardian.com/products/siguardian/on_line_help/s_m_a_r_t_attribute_meaning.html

Does every drive maker have an inspection program ?

Yes. Not all of them make it publicly available tho.

Or publish their SAMRT definition ?

Most dont do that.

don't think so...

That doesnt mean that say Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate can mean anything at all tho.

 

[John McGaw]

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...

There are certainly testers on the market but the (relatively) cheap
ones are pretty limiting and the expensive ones require that test
fittings be made or purchased.

http://www.trianglecables.com/ribcabtestes.html

Or one can do a continuity check from each pin on one end to the
corresponding pin on the other end. Of course then you must check for
shorts between each pin and each of the adjacent pins. Very time
consuming not to mention confusing. And even then there might still be
high frequency faults that wouldn't show up in DC testing.

Damned sight easier to swap a known-good cable for the suspected-bad one
to see if the problem goes away.