Hi weecosse,

Welcome to Dell community!

There are four SATA connectors numbered 0, 1, 2, and 3 on the motherboard. The computer's hard drive will be connected to the SATA-0 connector. You can use any of the remaining three SATA connectors to plug in the SATA cable from the DVD/CD drive.

Please refer the following link for XPS 630 service manual: http://bit.ly/TWCYFJ

Do let me know if you have any further questions.

The last sentence should read; Can someone tell me where I connect "the" plug for the drive to the motherboard?

Kalyan, thank you for your response.  The four SATA connectors on my motherboard are taken up by three hard drives and one DVD/CD drive.  I took a photograph of the connections before I removed the broken DVD/CD drive and it appears that the data plug for the old drive was plugged into the internal S/PDIF component on the motherboard.  I plugged the data cable into that port and my PC shut down so I am thinking that it could be the correct port but I did not have the plug configured/aligned correctly on the port.  Do you have any suggestions?

S/PDIF  is Digital Audio out not Data from the Drive.  Its been a very long time since drives were used to play audio stand alone without need of the computer.

http://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_xps_desktop/xps-630_owner's manual_en-us.pdf

The original 630 has an 40 pin 80 wire IDE Connector for the optical drives.

System board Connectors

S/PDIF Toslink optical connector
IDE drive one 40-pin connector
Serial ATA four 7-pin connectors
Floppy drive one 34-pin connector
Fan three 4-pin connectors

Speed Step, thank you for your response.  I guess the best route to take is to return the LG GH24NS72 drive and try to get another Phillips DH-16A6S drive.  Thanks again. Weecosse.

Hi weecosse,

Since the SATA connectors are occupied with other devices, you will need an IDE DVD/CD drive. Interface type for the Phillips DH-16A6S is listed as SATA.

Do revert for any clarifications.

Kalyan, I shall try that route.  Thank you again for your help,  weecosse.

Hi weecosse,

You're welcome. Do let us know how it goes.

Kalyan, will do. weecosse.

Hi weecosse,

Thank you.

Kaylan, I talked to my son, and IT pro, and he advised against the IDE route.  I solved the problem by consolidating the data on two hard drives, disconnecting the SATA plug on one, and using the port for the SATA DVD/CD.  Thanks again for your help and interest in getting my problem solved.  weecosse.