CD-ROM is working but system can't access info on it

[jjorama]

I am in desperate need for expert advice since my knowledge has plateaued and I am entangled in an infinite number of cables and wires!
My CD-ROM is working fine: the tray opens and closes and the green light comes on. I even checked the connenctions...no problems there. The problem is the following: I lost my CD-ROM ICON under "My computer" and I can not access my CD-ROM, even when I insert a CD. I may have deleted a command file which lets the system recognize the CD-ROM when I was deleting all files infected by the worm virus, since before this incident, my CD-ROM was working fine and I was able to access the information on it. How can I fix this problem without access to A CD ( for example my Windows 98 CD!)

I tried the following but wiht no success: Unplugging my CD-ROM ,booting it, shuting it off, plugging my CD-ROM then rebooting again.
Change certain commands in the BIO SETUP but since nothing work , I kept the originals setting

[sea69]

I dont understand.... it works but u cant "access" it????

What does this mean? Do u mean that when inserted a cd doesnt play automatically??

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"re-inventing the hammer.. why I oughtta..."

[hiredgoonz]

There's always the old standby: reformat the drive and start over...that will fix any windows problems...

If the drive functions physically, but isn't recognized by windows, it could be that the ide cable is bad, or the ide controller on the mb is burned out...it happens...

Do you happen to have a new ide cable lying around? They're only a couple bucks if you don't and if the drive doesn't work after that, then you know it's not the cheapest possibility...you could try a new cd drive...

[jjorama]

Regards to sea69 reply.... that is exactly what I mean, I can hear the CD turning but my system is not reading the CD!?! I'll try hiredgoonz suggestions..I doubt it is a cable problem or even hardware!

[sea69]

this may sound 'elemental'.. but have u tried: start, programs, entertainment, cd player?? You may have corrupted the software or drivers.. if this doesnt get it we can try other things.. I like to start from simple to complex.....The Windows cd player will sometimes work when no other apps do.>> also, is this with audio and data cd's both??

all of this of course is also assuming ur speakers and soundcard r working properly as well

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"re-inventing the hammer.. why I oughtta..."



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 01-16-2001).]

[jjorama]

Regards to sea69...when I do start,programs,entertainement,deluxe CD player ...I get a window saying the following: "no CD-Rom is attach to the computer!". My soundcard and speakers are working fine.The answer is yes to your second question for both audio and data cd's!

[sea69]

ok, I would try this: go to control panel again.. "Add New Hardware" wizard.. follow instructions there.. reboot and see if that works.. cant hurt http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

if it still Windows still does not 'recognize' ur cd-drive then we shall see...

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"re-inventing the hammer.. why I oughtta..."

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 01-17-2001).]

[kuby]

I also lost my cd rom in settings bay. I rebooted with floppy and reinstalled windows and the cd-rom icon was back. maybe that'll work

[Paleo Pete]

Reinstalling Windows is a LAST RESORT only.

Boot into Safe Mode, remove the CD ROM from Device Manager, and remove ALL CD ROM's listed, reboot and either let Windows find it or run the Add New Hardware Wizard.

IF windows doesn't find a CD ROM, check or replace the ribbon cable.

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If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!
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[bassman]

I have also lost my CDROM. I got an older Compaq from a renter, reformated with a win 95 floppy, copied mscdex to c: and cannot access D: ( invalid drive specification). I reboot and hit F10, come to Compaq diognostic area, run test and find no problem with CDROM.
Any ideas?:

[Reid]

One thing I'd try is to boot to DOS with a Windows 98 Startup disk. It has a generic driver for most CD ROM drives. If the CD drive works from DOS (try DIR on a disk), then you know that the drive, IDE controller, and cable are OK and you probably have a problem with Windows.

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reido@my-deja.com

Not quite right since 1948

[bassman]

Regards to Reid, I was told that older compaq stuff was extremely propriatary. I have a genaric driver from Oak technologies. When I load it, it tells me "No device found at specified location". I have tried many different drive letters from c:> and all I get is "invaled drive" notices. If I do a "dir" of c: all I get is "command.com" and "mscdex.exe". Please help. I am about to throw it thru the window.

[sea69]

hi

I have compaq cd drivers if u need them.

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ok... now what ??

[Reid]

Bassman, this Microsoft link (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q137/5/80.asp) lists Compaq computer models that may require updates for Windows 95. You will have to search Compaq's library for the actual files.

Jjorama, what make and model is the CD drive? One person I helped got the CD going by running an executable driver program that was downloaded from the manufacturer.

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reido@my-deja.com

Not quite right since 1948

[This message has been edited by Reid (edited 01-26-2001).]

[sea69]

ok.. stand bi

I'm thinkin that u need a Compaq start up disk. I have that, also a compaq "Rescue Disk' w/ the compaq cd drivers and virtual drivers.. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

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ok... now what ??

[bassman]

Thanks to all for your info. I recently got a Quick Restore CD from Compaq for my laptop with Windows ME. I need to try the drivers first to see if I can even get the CDROM noticed.

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I want to be like Pete

[sea69]

WAIT!!!!!!!!!!

u dont want to do that !!

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ok... now what ??

[Reid]

Oh no, not ME! Drop it and run!

Here are a few links for the Compaq guys:
Boot disk info (http://members.nbci.com/vmsc/boot.htm)
CD ROM drivers (http://www.uforesources.com/dlldownload.html), Cdgod 5.5 boot disk has drivers for Compaq.

(If your CD is controlled by the sound card, then these might not work)


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reido@my-deja.com

Not quite right since 1948

[sea69]

I fear I was too late...... only 4 minutes went by but......oh well, tomorrows another day ... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

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ok... now what ??

[Paleo Pete]

Hmm...now why would anybody want to be bald, broke, have arthritis setting in and have CRS too?

I agree with the above, don't even think about using ME on the older machine. Not only is ME a bad idea, the restore disk is designed for a specific machine, and probably won't even work on a different setup. If the machine had 95 on it to begin with, you need the original restore disk, and a Compaq start up disk to match.

Compaq's have always been highly proprietary, I have a Deskpro 386 here, (junker) that has a power supply plug that must have been dreamed up by someone who just watched Buck Rogers in the 23rd Century, a motherboard that won't bolt into any other case I've ever seen, and a floppy drive that refuses to recognize the setup disk I downloaded from Compaq just to try the thing and see if it would actually run. It reads any other floppy, but says wrong setup disk every time...on BOTH setup disks for that machine...I got it only out of curiosity, never planned to actually use it...it's a 16MHz 386, non upgradeable, and I already have a running 386-25 anyway. The Compaq runs, and if it would read the setup disk I could probably get it working right, but why bother...about the only thing in it that can be swapped with anything else is the hard drive, which now resides in an XT machine. Yes, it had an MFM drive!! And a 5 1/4" floppy...On a 386?? come on guys...get a grip!

The links posted above by Reid might just get you running. Bootdisk (http://www.bootdisk.com) may be worth a try too.



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If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[bassman]

HA HA HA, you guys are killing me. NO I DON'T intend to try to use ME on the older machine. I would like to get rid of it on my laptop but as you said, the machine and the disk were made for each other. I have a win 95 cd that I will use if I cure the CDROM prob. I am fixing this one for my mother (how sweet) for Internet and word processing mainly. Not a bad machine, Pent.75,1gig, 8mgs, nothing in the slots yet.Thanks for all the help and I will be watching for someone I can help.

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I want to be like Pete

[Ranman]

I had the same problem building a back-up system.As I took the Rom-Drive out of the case I noticed the pins on the IDE cable Insert were bent all to Hell.I had been plugging it in,but at the same time bending them out of the way.I.E. bad connection...then as i was straightning those out I noticed the jumper had fallen off the Master/Slave/CS setting.After retrieving jumper from bottom of case(whew!),and settign it back to master,I was in Buisness.It did exactly the same thing before I noticed this.Windows either said there was no CD-ROM drive,Or no CD in player.Nothing would make it work and if you can believe it,I put this drive in 3 other machines to see if it worked.Live and Learn........ http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[bassman]

Thanks Ranman. Sea69 sent me drivers for compaq CDROM. I am extreamly inexperianced in DOS, so as soon as I figure out how to install I will try that first. I have checked my connections but as you said, maybe a closer look at all the pins and jumpers is in order. I am afraid that if I open it up again it will be to make sure I get lighter fluid in every orifice.The notice I get is not necessarily Disk or Drive not found, but I only have DOS and any drive letter I use it says "invaled drive specification".

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I want to be like Pete

[Paleo Pete]

OK, installation should not be that difficult in DOS, you just have to pay attention to what you type, DOS has no idea if you know how to spell or not, and assumes you do.

The driver files have to be unzipped first, unless they already are...

Boot to a Start Up disk, an once you get to the A:\> prompt pop in the driver floppy. It better be on a floppy, since you can't use the CD ROM...

The command dir will display a directory listing, and show you all files on the A drive. Look for one that is setup.exe, or install.exe. Whichever you find, type it. The extension is not necessary, if it's install.exe just type install, and press [Enter]. The rest should be simple, just follow the onscreen prompts. You should get a message saying the drivers were successfully installed, then you can reboot the computer.

If you see a readme.txt or readme.1st file, type edit_readme.txt using a space in place of the underscore, and it will open the DOS editor, it should have installation instructions. If it's readme.1st, use that extension.

type_readme.txt_|more will do the same, and let you scroll through the document, any key will scroll to the next page. Only difference is it doesn't open the DOS editor, it displays the text on the same DOS screen. I added this because type is an internal DO command, while edit requires the DOS edit program to be loaded into memory. If the edit command says "Bad command or filename" then the edit program isn't available, the type command will still work.

And go get a DOS book. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I'd bet your local library will be glad to let you check one out...check your other posts, I think I also posted some good DOS links in one. DOS is not that difficult, but you have to make sure you type the right commands, DOS assumes you know what you're doing, and interprets everything literally. Some commands give you the chance to change your mind, such as format, delete...but some don't. When you type the command to make a directory or rename a file, DOS just does it. So you have to be careful.

On the flip side, if I can learn it, at the age of 40, anyone can...No, I'm not 40 any more...that was a few years ago...the only difference is now I have even LESS HAIR!! Sorry, couldn't resist..

While I'm at it...change that signature, I don't want you to be like me, I want you to be like YOU...Besides, I don't think you want to be bald, broke, nerves shot to hell, arms getting too short, arthritis setting in, CRS and lying under a van in drizzling rain trying to bleed a hydraulic clutch that refuses to work right... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

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If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[bassman]

OK OK Pete. I will figure out a diff. signature later. Thanks for the links and the other help. As far as the drivers I got from Sea69, there is no "setup" or "install" in the DIR of the disk. If I format from a win95 boot disk, should it transfer everything from the disk to the HD? In a DIR of the c: drive, I only have "command.com" and "mscdex.exe". I do a format this way; "from a:>format c:/s" restart sys, then "a:>copy mscdex.exe c:" then restart. Does this sound right?

[sea69]

Bass,

u have mail... I sent the emergencey boot disk that I made from my Compaq pc.. this includes a new read me file that WILL help (if this is the problem).. take care

*ps- see most of these guys here.. Pete, Reid, mjc, "GH", all know much more about this than I do.. (would venture to say they have forgotten more than I ever knew) http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif
so I dont want to circulate 'bad' information.. this disk IS what u should need..

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ok...so now what ??

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 01-29-2001).]

[Paleo Pete]

OK, try the boot disk sea sent, and see how it works. If you have nothing on the hard drive but command.com and mscdex, you doan't have an operating system installed, so booting to a win98 boot disk should install CD ROM drivers long enough to run a restore CD.

You would need the proper restore CD from Compaq, they usually store part of the BIOS on the hard drive, so installing windows from a factory CD would not replace that BIOS info.

It might work differently on an older machine, but on every Compaq Pentium I've seen, the only way to install windows without problems is from the factory restore CD, which you have to get from Compaq. You can call them and they'll send you one, I don't know if it will cost you or not, but it probably will. Once you get the proper restore CD the installation is pretty simple, boot to a win98 boot disk so you can get the CD ROM to work, change to the CD drive and look through the files, you should have a setup, restore or autorun option listed somewhere that will initiate the installation.

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If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[bassman]

thanks Pete, that should do the trick. I talked to Compaq, they will send CD for free.