Dead CD and mouse

**whistle** · August 16th, 2004, 03:23 PM

My 1st post----
I just got a "pre-owned" Toshiba notebook-- Win98 OS-with an InterVideo WinDVD--- CD/ DVD combo drive. The CD icon is in the system tray but does nothing if clicked. When a CD is inserted, it "whirrs" like it is trying to read it, but -nothing else happens. In Windows Explorer-"D:\is not accessible".....It also had an "add-on" mouse with it and it says there is a mouse on the ps/2 port, but it also doesn't work. I tried another "known to be good" mouse and it won't work either. The other symptom is that when booting up-- the win 98 pic comes up for about 2 minutes and then the prompt C:\> stays for another 2 minutes (yes I have timed this). Then it will load Windows quickly from there on. Something tells me that all 3 problems are tied together, but I am lost......Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

**Archer** · August 16th, 2004, 03:43 PM

Format,reinstall and work from there as you dont know what inbuilt software problems its got at the moment.If the CDRom is broken then you might pick up a replacement on ebay.Do you have USB ports on the laptop?

**whistle** · August 16th, 2004, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Archer

Format,reinstall and work from there as you dont know what inbuilt software problems its got at the moment.If the CDRom is broken then you might pick up a replacement on ebay.Do you have USB ports on the laptop?

Yes I have USB ports.. I am so green, but how do I go about reinstalling if I have no CD drive to install from??

**whistle** · August 16th, 2004, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by Archer

Format,reinstall and work from there as you dont know what inbuilt software problems its got at the moment.If the CDRom is broken then you might pick up a replacement on ebay.Do you have USB ports on the laptop?

Sorry, what I was meaning is --will formatting it allow the CD to operate if it is a software problem?

**Archer** · August 16th, 2004, 04:01 PM

If youve got a network card you can perform a network install if not remove the drive and slave it to a desktop with a 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 adaptor [couple of dollars] copy all windows files,drivers bootable system files and slap it back in to install from the drive.

**Archer** · August 16th, 2004, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by whistle

Sorry, what I was meaning is --will formatting it allow the CD to operate if it is a software problem?

Easiest way of finding out if the system has inbulit floppy and CDRom is to boot up with a windows start up disk and try and access the cdrom from dos.

IF you install windows 98SE or above you will also be able to use a USB mouse.

**whistle** · August 16th, 2004, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by Archer

Easiest way of finding out if the system has inbulit floppy and CDRom is to boot up with a windows start up disk and try and access the cdrom from dos.

IF you install windows 98SE or above you will also be able to use a USB mouse.

Thanks so much-- I will see what I can do with this thing!

**NooNoo** · August 17th, 2004, 11:31 AM

Was it supplied with any sort of warranty?

**whistle** · August 17th, 2004, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by NooNoo

Was it supplied with any sort of warranty?

No warranty-- I got it too cheaply to worry about that. I knew it had a problem or 2 but thought I would attack it as a challenge. I have never formatted before, so am doing further research before the "attack" starts. Any suggestions are certainly welcome.

**whistle** · August 18th, 2004, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by whistle

No warranty-- I got it too cheaply to worry about that. I knew it had a problem or 2 but thought I would attack it as a challenge. I have never formatted before, so am doing further research before the "attack" starts. Any suggestions are certainly welcome.

Well, I did get the formatting done! Thanks! I got Win98 loaded. *At least my CD ROM is OK* It showed that a few of the files were not found on the CD...
One of those files may have been for the screen area settings-- I have it now at 640X480 and it can't be changed ?? Is there a solution to my latest problem?? Thanks

**Archer** · August 19th, 2004, 01:23 AM

You'll need the Toshiba drivers for that model including the graphics card hence the screen resolution problem as windows has just installed a vanilla driver.

**NooNoo** · August 19th, 2004, 06:06 AM

toshiba drivers are here

**whistle** · August 19th, 2004, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by NooNoo

toshiba drivers are here

I think I have most of the screen issues resolved (hope) for now-- Thanks! I am getting the message that I have files missing-- secur32.dll *** ndis.vxd *** ndis2sup.vxd *** ndiswmi.sys ** vnetbios.vxd and it is trying to copy these files from windows\options\cabs
also, I guess this used to have an infrared communications device and is wanting drivers for it which I can't find. Is this a necessary device? I never heard of that one.
Thanks for the patience !

**NooNoo** · August 20th, 2004, 04:44 AM

Nope, not necessary - you can disable the device in device manager

If you don't have the cab files on the hard drive, then put in your windows cd and browse to the win98 directory on it - the cab files are there. You can copy them to the options\cabs directory using explorer.

**whistle** · August 20th, 2004, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by NooNoo

Nope, not necessary - you can disable the device in device manager

If you don't have the cab files on the hard drive, then put in your windows cd and browse to the win98 directory on it - the cab files are there. You can copy them to the options\cabs directory using explorer.

Well, I went thru the directory folder by folder and if there are cab files or any file like the ones I listed that I am missing, I can't find them. ???