Mike;

The USB option you are describing sounds like the best- if only - option for your particular dilemma!

If it's what I am thinking of, it would be a PCB mounted onto a riser, with the attachment Receptacles connected to a card slot fitting (like the knock-outs / removable plates on the back of an AT type case, where Bus Adapters {"Cards"} poke out the back end, so cables can be connected and the adapter is useful [Linked Image]...).
The adapter interfaces the M/Board via ribbon cable, and typical pin conenctor.

If the option for USB / Serial bus interface is not available, I do believe there's several flavors of USB / IEEE 1394 "Firewire" setups on Bus Adapters / cards - ISA and PCI (maybe more in the PCI flavors, but who knows???).

I have a few books on the topic (USB), so let me know if you need a reference from the manual.

Scott35

Scott " 35 " Thompson
Just Say NO To Green Eggs And Ham!