Boot CF

As a CF card is an IDE device (like a hard disk, CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drive), it can be connected up just like a hard disk, and used as such. This avoids the need to have a noisy, power-hungry and unreliable hard disk.

To connect a CF card, you simply need an adapter or cable that has a CF socket at one end and an IDE connector at the other. For a desktop, this is easy, as adapters are widely available for under £20. For a laptop, this can be more tricky.

If you have the hard disk caddy, you will be presented with a 2.5 inch IDE connector. CF adapters for these are easily sourced. If you do not have the caddy, you will need to build your own. This is quite simple, but extremely hard work as the soldering is difficult and plentiful.

First, you need to locate a pinout table for your laptop or a diagram enabling you to trace pin-to-pin. Google (http://www.google.com) is your friend here. Once you've worked out what pin connects to what, you can break out your soldering iron.

There are a couple of ways to do this part. Firstly, you can break the CF card apart and solder directly to the PCB. The pins are extremely small, so this will be hard work. Secondly, you could buy a desktop adapter, and solder an IDE cable to the laptop. Thirdly, you could solder a CF socket to the laptop. Your skills and the laptop in question will help you decide which to go for. In any case, you will have to solder to the laptop IDE connector, which will be hard work.

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