need Nec cdr1400a drivers and cdreader

The driver that you downloaded from Driver Guide, is most likely the DOS mode driver.
You ONLY need this driver if you need DOS mode access to the CD drive.

In Windows, the driver function for ALL CD drives is handled by the IDE buss driver for the chip-set on the motherboard.
I usually use the chip-set manufactures reference drivers.
The chip-set is the 2 large ICs soldered onto the motherboard.

As to the cdreader;
Are you attempting to read a CD-RW disk?
If so, you need to install software to do so. You should download the reader software from the manufacture of the CD burner program used to create the CD-RW.

If the CD-RW was written on a XP machine without any burner software installed, use the reader software from Roxio.
The NEC 1400a is old enough that it is near the transition point for reading CD-RW disks.

Chas

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you.

The best way to install the DOS mode drivers is to boot Windows to the DOS prompt.
This is different than a DOS window.

While booting, when the screen switches from the POST screen to Loading Windows, press F8 to bring up the boot menu.
(you may need to use TweakUi or msconfig to modify the boot options to allow the boot menu to appear)
Choose Command prompt.

When the command prompt appears, insert a floppy with the extracted NEC driver and run the executable.

When you re-boot, the DOS driver should be there.

Make sure that the drive is properly detected in BIOS settings.
Double check the master slave jumper and the cable connection.

As a test, if you boot from a W98 startup floppy, can you access the CD drive?
If not, you may have a hardware problem.

If you still have a DOS book around, take a look at the syntax for the MSCDEX command.
MSCDEX is the DOS mode CD driver that needs to have a command line in Autoexec.bat to load.

Chas