compaq DVD-ROM SD-608 and IDE-CD R/RW 4x4x24 "working" but not accessible & not ready

[dav8604]

The drives both went out at the same time and have been working fine since '99. When I right click and go to eject it ejects, but when I try to read data it says not ready and not acceccible. I have updated and had windows rebuild the platform but still nothing, any ideas? BTW I just deleted trojin.bootconf and repaired other folders.

[NooNoo]

Welcome to Windrivers dav8604

What windows?
Does device manager display any ! against anything?

[Ruslan]

May be it's just only bad drives?
Compaq DVD (SD-608) is in fact made by Samsung (OEM version) and known as very crappy one... And 4x4x CDRW is also sounds like outdated drive...
May be also wrong jumpers settings - did you try to test them one by one?
Did you check them in DOS? - to see, if you can boot from any of them using bootable disks... If you can boot, it means Windows,(i.e software-related) problem...

[dav8604]

Both drives seem to be working fine, the device manager says it is working properly. The drives light up when I eject. I don't have any experience in working with dos.I will need some step by step instructions if possible. But it is just wierd that both drives register working properly but don't reconize data. I think it is a software problem, not a hardware problem. Sorry for the inexperience.http://forums.windrivers.com/images/smilies/sad2.gif

[dav8604]

I am working with windows 98 2nd edition.

[NooNoo]

ok get your 98 se startup diskette (you can make one in control panel, add remove/programs - last tab) start up the pc with the diskette in the drive, if you are lucky it will look at the floppy for a boot record first - if not, you will have to go into bios setup and change the boot to boot from floppy first.

You will get a menu - you want to start with cdrom support. When it's found the drives and you have a A:\> prompt get a cd with data on it and put it in the drive.

now you have to find which letter is your drive. If you only have a c: hard drive, then the cdroms will be E: and F: (this is because the startup disk makes a little drive for tools and puts it on D:)

so to change to the cdrom type
E:
press enter

you should get an E:\> prompt now type
DIR
hit enter

You should get a list of files on the cd...
Then change to F: by typing

F:
press enter
and type
DIR
press enter

Assuming you put a cd in the F: drive - then again you will see a list of files.

If you get any errors, post the exact message go from there.

Not all startup disks create the same drive letters for cdroms... so watch the screen as it's starting, when it is detecting the cdrom you should see the drive letter that is assigned.

[dav8604]

Well it realized the drives were there. But

ASPI2DOS.SYS
CONFIG.SYS (LINE 26)
ASPI8DOS.SYS
cONFIS.SYS(LINE 27)
ASPI4DOS.SYS
CONFIG.SYS(LINE 28)

are currupted. My Floppy drive also has currupt files because I cannot write data using the drive.

[NooNoo]

err no
sorry, the bootdiskettes are generic, they will attempt to load several different drivers, when the right one loads, thats fine.

Could you explain the bit about floppy drive corrupt files?

Write data from or to where?

Did you get the file list I wrote about?

[dav8604]

When I try to save something onto the floppy it says "cannot replace or create DETLOG: The system cannot read from specified device."

So will I have to reinstall the optical drives so that windows will recreate the files? Or what will I have to do.

No it doesn't show an error when the system disk is in, only when I try to save files to the floppy.

[NooNoo]

Why are you trying to save something?

All I want you to do is to get a directory listing from the cdrom to prove whether it works or not. Please follow the instructions I gave previously.

[dav8604]

I cant get the directory from the CD-Rom and Dvd drives b/c the drivers are gone the viris deleted them. Is There any other way of reinstalling the drivers other than wiping the drive?

[NooNoo]

dav the cdrom drive is what you are testing. The hard drive and its virus problems is another thing altogether.

Please follow the directions in post number 6 and tell me if you can get a list of files as described there. If you cannot, you cdrom needs replacing.

[dav8604]

No, I cannot get a list by typing dir. When I go to the device manager it says they are working properly, everything works with then physically. I was told that trojin.bootconf deleted the drivers and what my friend had to do was reformat the HD through MS-DOS. Is there any other way of reinstalling the drivers, if not, how do i reformat the HD through MS-DOS and then reinstall windows 98.

[NooNoo]

OK
What I wanted you to do was confirm that the cd drive was and is still ok by using the method described above.

You can either let me know the motherboard make and model so I can find out what drivers you need
or you can install 98se over the existing install without formatting. This will keep all your data and programs intact but replace all the system files with the original 98se files. This means that you have to do all the windows updates again.

[dav8604]

Well I can't reinstall win 98 b/c both of the cd-roms wont read. I looked online to download new drivers but I couldn't find one for the IDE r/rw drive and it said the dvd drive doesn't need one. But You know more then I do so I will let you work your magic.

[dav8604]

Is there anyway of getting the make and model of my mother board without taking it apart?

[NooNoo]

yup everest home edition (http://www.lavalys.com/products.php?lang=en) its free.