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No CD-ROM found

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by arichart 1 view

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I am trying to re-format and install WIN98 on an older machine (75 MHZ or so), but when I fdisk the machine, it says that there is no CD-ROM found. I have tried to swap the CD-ROM's and the cables, but to no avail. Any ideas why this is happening?

22 replies

by jrodri1636

Check your configuration for slave of master. Do you have the driver's loaded. In the bios, do you have boot from floopy drive and floppy controller enabled?

by arichart

These were the first things that I looked for, but none of it worked, but if you have any more ideas, I'm still fishing...it keeps giving me the "CDR101 - Not reading the drive" error.

by mptechonline

If you have the W98 Start Up disk it will load the drivers for the CD Rom to be able to work. I just did the same thing recently....Fdisked the machine and then couldn't run CD Rom. Put in the W98 Start Up disk and let that run to load the files. Then it was off to reloading the software.

Hope this helps.

by arichart

This was the first thing that I looked at, but was unsuccessfull, but if you have any more ideas, I'm still fishing...it keeps giving me the "CDR101 - Not reading the drive" error.

by arichart

This was one of the first things that I looked at, but was unsuccessfull, but if you have any more ideas, I'm still fishing...it keeps giving me the "CDR101 - Not reading the drive" error.

by csmith

Which type of IDE cables are you using?
If old style, put CDROM on second IDE , and jumper as slave.
IF ATA100, jumper as cable select (CS) , and put on secondary IDE channel.
Regards, Chris

by arichart

I tried to do this, but whether it is set to primary slave or secondary master, it keeps giving me the "CDR101 - Not reading the drive" error.

by jrodri1636

Then try this:

This error has many causes. It could be that the disc was just inserted and has not had time to "spin up." In this case, wait a few seconds and hit "R" to retry. If it still does not work, the disc could be unreadable-an audio disc, a CD-i or CD ROM XA disc-or there may be no disc in the drive, an upside down disc, or a damaged disc.

If you are certain that the disc is in the right format, try cleaning it. Look for scratches. When you reinsert it, make sure that the caddy is closed completely and is not damaged and that there are no foreign objects (such as labels) stuck in the caddy or the drive. Try another caddy, then try another disc. If the second disc cannot be read, there may be a problem in the software setup.Restart your computer. If it still doesn't work, reinstall Microsoft Extensions.

by arichart

Thanks for the input. I really appreciate yourcomments, but wouldn't you know it - I had two bad CD-ROMS and the 3rd one worked!

by csmith

Again.
Do not use primary slave or secondary master.
If a ATA100 IDE cable, use CS.
If legacy IDE cable, use secondary slave.
Regards, Chris

by cglrcng9

If the CD ROM Drive is NOT installed correctly you will get that Not Found message rather than the normal Boot computer with CD Rom Support / Boot computer without CD Rom Support to choose from. (The boot menu) Do make sure the CD Rom Drive is listed in the CMOS setup settings, clear the CMOS back to "setup defaults" and choose F10 to save the settings and exit. Then try it again booting from a Win98 ESU disk. If it still gives you the message, make sure the proper end of the IDE cable (usuallyblue on the newer cables) is attached to IDE channel 1 on the system board, the middle connector is attached to the hard drive (red stripe edge toward the 12 volt poewer connector edge), and the black end is connected to the CD ROM (same red stripe edge toward the 12 volt connector). Then try again to boot w/ a Win98 ESU disk. (boot floppy disk). Still fails to get you to a choice of booting w/ or without CD ROM Drive? Then I'd try another CD ROM Drive, as that one seems like it's bad.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

by cglrcng9

Also make sure that that red striped edge is plugged into pin #1 of the system boards IDE channel 1 connector. Can also always try another cable and hooking the CD ROM Drive alone on channel #2 jumper set @ master(use the cable ends only), & w/ HDD on IDE Channel #1 (jumper set @ master also). Just make sure the CMOS BIOS boot order is FDD (floppy), HDD (Hard Drive), then CD ROM.

Also is your HDD settings set to auto and have you run the auto drive settings utility in CMOS to try to allow the BIOS to locate and recognize the drives? Some of the older units are real finicky setting up the drive discovery, but once there they hold the settings if you use F10 to save and exit, then choose "Y" for yes to save the settings.

by cglrcng9

One question though, as it boots can you use the switch to open the drive bay and/or is there a light on, on the front of that CD ROM Drive? If not, snatch & install another drive or check the 12 volt power connector till you get both. Until you do,you can have the IDE cables & jumpers, and CMOS settings set totally right, but you won't have an installed working drive.

by donmars

Yeah I never heard of running FDISK on a cd-rom, however did u try switching the cable connections on the motherboard? in other words, make sure the CD ROM drive is plugged into the secondary spot on the Motherboard and the H/D is in the primary.

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