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How to Adjust Ribbon Cables

Turn off your computer and then unplug the power cord from the rear of the computer. Put on an antistatic bracelet to protect against damaging the computer with static shocks. Unscrew the side panel of the computer with a Philips screwdriver or, with some newer <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computers</A>, by hand.Look for any cables, not just ribbon cables, that are not needed. Remove the extra cable to give you more routing options for the ribbon cables and to improve the computer's airflow. Remove the ribbon cables you want to adjust from the computer by hand; they are held in by snug fits in their respective ports. A gentle tug should be all that is needed.Fold the ribbon cables in half along the middle, stopping 2 inches before the cable ends. Use a razor to cut the middle of the fold, only cutting the plastic that secures the wires together, not the wires themselves. Tape the folded part down with electrical tape; one to two wraps should be sufficient. This reduces the width without unduly increasing the EMF crosstalk between the wires. If you need it to be even smaller, then go to the next stepTwist the ribbon cable until the middle part is round, being careful not to over-twist and tear the wire ends from the plastic ends of the ribbon cables. Tape the middle part with two to three wraps of electrical tape. This is the smallest you can make the ribbon cable but it also greatly increases the cross talk between the wires and may slow down any of the components attached by this cable.Plug the ribbon cables back in by hand, routing the cable to avoid the areas around fans, exhausts or heat sinks.

How to Adjust Ribbon Cables

Turn off your computer and then unplug the power cord from the rear of the computer. Put on an antistatic bracelet to protect against damag...

Turn off your computer and then unplug the power cord from the rear of the computer. Put on an antistatic bracelet to protect against damaging the computer with static shocks. Unscrew the side panel of the computer with a Philips screwdriver or, with some newer <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computers</a>, by hand. 
Look for any cables, not just ribbon cables, that are not needed. Remove the extra cable to give you more routing options for the ribbon cables and to improve the computer's airflow. Remove the ribbon cables you want to adjust from the computer by hand; they are held in by snug fits in their respective ports. A gentle tug should be all that is needed. 
Fold the ribbon cables in half along the middle, stopping 2 inches before the cable ends. Use a razor to cut the middle of the fold, only cutting the plastic that secures the wires together, not the wires themselves. Tape the folded part down with electrical tape; one to two wraps should be sufficient. This reduces the width without unduly increasing the EMF crosstalk between the wires. If you need it to be even smaller, then go to the next step 
Twist the ribbon cable until the middle part is round, being careful not to over-twist and tear the wire ends from the plastic ends of the ribbon cables. Tape the middle part with two to three wraps of electrical tape. This is the smallest you can make the ribbon cable but it also greatly increases the cross talk between the wires and may slow down any of the components attached by this cable. 
Plug the ribbon cables back in by hand, routing the cable to avoid the areas around fans, exhausts or heat sinks.

How to Adjust Ribbon Cables

Turn off your computer and then unplug the power cord from the rear of the computer. Put on an antistatic bracelet to protect against damag...