System for coupling communication link to port connector including predefined ground pin when peripheral is connected to port connector and not mounted in compartment

摘要

A computer system has a housing and a central processing unit located inside the housing. The computer system also has a peripheral unit mounted in and removable from the housing and a communication port connector exposed on the outside of the housing for connection of and communication with external devices. The computer system has a dedicated communication link in the housing for communication with the peripheral unit. The computer system also has a device for connecting the peripheral unit to the port connector when the peripheral unit is removed from the housing and circuitry for coupling the dedicated communications link to the port connector when the peripheral unit is connected to the communication port connector. The computer system has a device for holding a portable disk drive constructed for insertion into an internal drive bay of a computer unit having a shell for covering and protecting the disk drive. The device has a cable assembly including a parallel port connector for connecting to the computer unit and a non-parallel port connector for connecting to a connector of the disk drive.