I was lookign at the IDE pinouts. I am trying to find a way to add buttons to a CD-ROM for Play, Stop, Foreward, and Back. IS there an easy way to do this (i.e. connecting two pins) or a hard way (microcontroller)?
Unfortunately - no it's not that easy. Here's the pinout for ya: http://technick.net/public/code/cp_dpage.php?aiocp_dp=pinconhdd_ata_int I do believe there's some projects that can be found around the web that have done what you are looking to do.
The eject function I beleive is implemented in the ATAPI protocal used by CDROM drives. Have fun working that one out. YOu will need a microcontroller that has an IDE interface on as it is going to have to be protocal layer stuff not just sending a byte code down.
Don't think it would be possible with the IDE pins. You might try it from the PCB. Many cdroms have play, skip already implemented (switch holes in the PCB) but no swtches inserted.