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I have an Intel D845GVSR motherboard:

enter image description here

This motherboard does not support SATA drives, but I have a spare SATA drive with me which my father unknowingly bought without remembering that the motherboard doesn't support it.

I've bought a 2-in-1 SATA-to-IDE/IDE-to-SATA converter, since I want to use it as additional storage.

Can I plug this converter into the slot where the DVD writer's cable is plugged in (the white/cream slot in the picture). It's directly behind the slot where the hard drive's cable is plugged in - the converter fits well in this slot.

Can I use this slot for using this new converter?

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Cables do not plug into "slots"; an IDE cable would plug into a male header (that usually also has a shroud). Since there are also SATA adapter PCI boards that do plug into a PCI slot, your description can be confusing without careful reading and viewing of the photo. cmorse's patronizing misuse of the term doesn't help. – sawdust Dec 5 '11 at 2:18
A photo or link to the converter you obtained would be helpful. Some of these converters have their own power connection (usually just +5 volts) and a black&red-wires power cable. – sawdust Dec 5 '11 at 2:44
Ah, those pictures help a lot. Now I see what you were asking originally. It does look like you can just plug the converter directly into the white slot you mentioned. You also need to plug the smaller of the two power cables you had in your hand in the picture (the converter needs power too). – cmorse Dec 5 '11 at 6:17
ok..1.I have placed the converter into the 40-pin white slot after removing the parallel cable from the dvd drive..2.Connected the 4-pin female line to the 4-pin male slot on the converter(for the power)..3.Have connected the data cable to the sata drive,but i have a doubt regarding which slot on the converter i should connect the other end..both the ports on the converter look same,except that both of them are placed on the converter with backs opposite each other..will any slot do?? – Jim Dec 5 '11 at 6:56
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You should absolutely be able to use that slot. Alternatively, you can plug it in parallel with the existing hard drive if the ribbon cable has a free connector.

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i have seen the extension that you mentioned but didnt really think about its use..i just tried that and found that even though my motherboard doesnt support sata,that extension coming from the old hard disk fits perfectly into my new sata disk..so does that mean i can use it..i mean,how come its like that..so have i wasted money in buying that new converter..also,i dont know what to do with the little 4-pin female cable along with the extension??..where do i connect it..could you help – Jim Dec 5 '11 at 0:33
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I think you may have mistaken the power cable for the data cable. The cable you're looking for should look something like this one: IDE Ribbon Cable. Also, you do not need to plug in the small 4-pin female cable, that is for analog audio (Unless it is a Molex 8981 connector) – cmorse Dec 5 '11 at 0:42
What is the model of the drive? If it's SATA, the only connector that fits your old drive that would fit the new one as well is (possibly) the 4-pin power connector (with 4 separate wires going into it). Some SATA drives will accept that connection, some won't. If the ribbon cable fits the new drive then the drive is IDE not SATA. – fencepost Dec 5 '11 at 0:42
No..the ribbon cable doesnt fit..so that does mean its sata..the power cable..with 4 seperate wires going into it..2 black,a red and a yellow fits into my new sata.. – Jim Dec 5 '11 at 0:57
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These types of converters typically have two SATA ports, but they are not identical and only one of them can be used at a time. One SATA port is intended to connect to the motherboard and the converter is for an IDE drive. The other SATA port is intended to connect to a SATA drive and the IDE port connects to the motherboard. All you have to do is RTFM. – sawdust Dec 5 '11 at 8:00
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