I just bought two new Sony drives and when I installed them both the computer would not start up entirely and instead went to a blue error screen. I tried unplugging one of them and the computer started up just fine. I also tried installing my new dvd-rom and my old burner and that also worked so I dont understand why with two new drives it wont work. It is not the burner because I unplugged the dvd-rom and just installed the burner and that worked fine also so the drives are not the problem. So what is the problem.

You'll need to set the Master/Slave jumper for each drive correctly. For each IDE channel, you must have 1 drive as Master and another as Slave.

How exactly do you do that??

The jumper normally locates at the back of the drive. There are three 2-pin sets labeled MA (Master), SL (Slave), and CS (Cable Selected). Move the jumper over the 2 pins labeled MA will set the drive to Master, for example.

For Primary IDE, the HD C: should be Master so any other drive connected to the same ribbon cable with this HD must be set to Slave. For Secondary IDE, it's up to you but make sure 1 of the 2 drives connected to this channel must be Master and the other must be Slave or nothing will work. If you have only 1 drive connected to the Secondary IDE, it must be Master. I hope it's clear to you now.

This seems clear to me but I have one other question. Shouldn't all the master and slave connections have already been set and all I would do is just plug in the same connections to my new drives??

I don't really understand your question but I'll give it a try.

You will need to set the jumper on each drive manually and connect them to the mobo via the IDE ribbon cables. There is 1 going from the IDE channel on the mobo to the main HD (C: drive) and this cable has a spare connector (if you have only 1 HD). Set 1 of your CD/DVD drives to Slave and connect it to this spare connector. You'll find another similar ribbon cable and this is for Secondary IDE. Just set the other CD/DVD drive to Master and connect it to this cable. If you do not find this Secondary IDE cable then you'll need to buy one.

I think The_Lza is implying he believes the connectors are a part of the mainboard or cable.

If I'm reading it right anyway!

No, the connectors are a part of the drive itself. On the back where the Cables connect.

I dont think there is any standard conventions but Hard Drives Usually come configured as Masters and CD/DVD Drives Usually come pre configured as Slaves.

You bought two drives, both of which were probably pre configured as Slaves. That is what caused the problem.

Assuming you are placing them both on the secondary IDE then you will only have to change the jumpers on ONE of them to make it MASTER and leave the othe one as SLAVE.

Yeah I figured out everything and now its perfect. Thanks a lot

Whatever you do, just don't put 2 CD drives on the same IDE channel.