Take it one step at a time. 7.1 Hints Before you can load Linux , you must assemble the hardware. And this is Issue-One, all about doing that. It's easy - really. Match pin-1 on the card, the cable and drive.
Most ribbon cables have an ink line following wire-one.
Think it out. Many connector-plugs are 'tag keyed' so that they only fit one way into their sockets. Make sure that this agrees with the pin-1 layout, and decide how the cable will twist as it goes from card to device. Power connectors have two plastic corner cut away, but it can still be confusing, as they are a tight fit, and need a bit of push, even when thay are the right way round. Take your shoes off.