What Is a Primary IDE Channel
The most important components of a computer are the ones that allow it to "boot" or start up properly. One of these components is the primary IDE channel.
Identification
The primary IDE channel in a PC is a long 40-pin connector arranged in 20 rows of paired pins and is usually colored blue. There is usually printed text near the connector; such as "IDE-0" or "ATA-1" or the word "PRIMARY."
IDE/ATA History
IDE/ATA hard disks were introduced in 1986 as an alternative to SCSI drive technology. All SCSI adapters controled up to eight devices, which made the adapter expensive. IDE drives had most of the control circuits on the drives themselves, making the controller inexpensive and simple.
Device Assginment
Usually, a PC comes equipped with two IDE channels; one "primary" and one "secondary," making it possible to attach up to four drives. The "Primary Master" is the first drive on the primary IDE channel and usually contains the operating system, if not the whole computer system.
Misconceptions
The primary IDE channel is not always required to boot the system. Add-in cards and device interfaces (such as SATA) can also be used to boot a PC. All that is required on modern equipment is an installed operating system on a storage device and the appropriate BIOS settings to use it as the boot device.
Recommendations
The primary IDE channel typically holds a special role in a PC, not just for booting the system but for having more advanced IDE features than secondary IDE channels. It's recommended that-for PCs using more than one IDE drive-the fastest, most-advanced device should be connected to the primary channel as "master."
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