diff --git a/Documentation/ide/ide.txt b/Documentation/ide/ide.txt
index 486c699..829a618 100644
--- a/Documentation/ide/ide.txt
+++ b/Documentation/ide/ide.txt
@@ -224,11 +224,6 @@
 
  "idex=reset"		: reset interface after probe
 
- "idex=ata66"		: informs the interface that it has an 80c cable
-			  for chipsets that are ATA-66 capable, but the
-			  ability to bit test for detection is currently
-			  unknown.
-
  "ide=doubler"		: probe/support IDE doublers on Amiga
 
 There may be more options than shown -- use the source, Luke!
@@ -251,6 +246,16 @@
 You also need to use "probe" kernel parameter for ide-4drives driver
 (support for IDE generic chipset with four drives on one port).
 
+To force ignoring cable detection (this should be needed only if you're using
+short 40-wires cable which cannot be automatically detected - if this is not
+a case please report it as a bug instead) use "ignore_cable" kernel parameter:
+
+* "ide_core.ignore_cable=[interface_number]" boot option if IDE is built-in
+  (i.e. "ide_core.ignore_cable=1" to force ignoring cable for "ide1")
+
+* "ignore_cable=[interface_number]" module parameter (for ide_core module)
+  if IDE is compiled as module
+
 ================================================================================
 
 Some Terminology
diff --git a/drivers/ide/ide-probe.c b/drivers/ide/ide-probe.c
index a4b65b3..4a33100 100644
--- a/drivers/ide/ide-probe.c
+++ b/drivers/ide/ide-probe.c
@@ -1518,13 +1518,20 @@
 	int i, rc = 0;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < MAX_HWIFS; i++) {
-		if (d == NULL || idx[i] == 0xff) {
+		if (idx[i] == 0xff) {
 			mate = NULL;
 			continue;
 		}
 
 		hwif = &ide_hwifs[idx[i]];
 
+		ide_port_apply_params(hwif);
+
+		if (d == NULL) {
+			mate = NULL;
+			continue;
+		}
+
 		if (d->chipset != ide_etrax100 && (i & 1) && mate) {
 			hwif->mate = mate;
 			mate->mate = hwif;
@@ -1621,6 +1628,7 @@
 
 void ide_port_scan(ide_hwif_t *hwif)
 {
+	ide_port_apply_params(hwif);
 	ide_port_cable_detect(hwif);
 	ide_port_init_devices(hwif);
 
diff --git a/drivers/ide/ide.c b/drivers/ide/ide.c
index bced02f..6cd112c 100644
--- a/drivers/ide/ide.c
+++ b/drivers/ide/ide.c
@@ -1239,6 +1239,38 @@
 	put_device(&hwif->gendev);
 }
 
+static unsigned int ide_ignore_cable;
+
+static int ide_set_ignore_cable(const char *s, struct kernel_param *kp)
+{
+	int i, j = 1;
+
+	if (sscanf(s, "%d:%d", &i, &j) != 2 && sscanf(s, "%d", &i) != 1)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	if (i >= MAX_HWIFS || j < 0 || j > 1)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	if (j)
+		ide_ignore_cable |= (1 << i);
+	else
+		ide_ignore_cable &= (1 << i);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+module_param_call(ignore_cable, ide_set_ignore_cable, NULL, NULL, 0);
+MODULE_PARM_DESC(ignore_cable, "ignore cable detection");
+
+void ide_port_apply_params(ide_hwif_t *hwif)
+{
+	if (ide_ignore_cable & (1 << hwif->index)) {
+		printk(KERN_INFO "ide: ignoring cable detection for %s\n",
+				 hwif->name);
+		hwif->cbl = ATA_CBL_PATA40_SHORT;
+	}
+}
+
 /*
  * This is gets invoked once during initialization, to set *everything* up
  */
diff --git a/include/linux/ide.h b/include/linux/ide.h
index f0af504..f80d303 100644
--- a/include/linux/ide.h
+++ b/include/linux/ide.h
@@ -1222,6 +1222,8 @@
 
 void ide_undecoded_slave(ide_drive_t *);
 
+void ide_port_apply_params(ide_hwif_t *);
+
 int ide_device_add_all(u8 *idx, const struct ide_port_info *);
 int ide_device_add(u8 idx[4], const struct ide_port_info *);
 int ide_legacy_device_add(const struct ide_port_info *, unsigned long);