Win95 can't find my CD drive

Win95 has an built in support for cd-rom drives, but sometimes it is helpful to install DOS driver that you should have received with your CD drive. Even if this doesn't help you can still see if the driver is detecting your CD correctly during the boot-up process. This detection starts few seconds after Win95 display its boot logo so you should pres the ESC key to remove the logo if it is enabled. When you see the message stating the manufacturer of the DOS driver for your CD you should press the PAUSE key which will stop the boot-up and read the message displayed (something like : -drives found... -Current drive letter.. and so on). If you receive some error message you will have some idea of what to do next. You should also check in Win95 Device Manager (Right-click on My Computer icon and select properties -> Device Manager Tab) is your CD displayed and does its icon have some mark on it (red X means disabled, yellow circle means device have some problem). There is also possibility that your IDE controler driver is having some problem (in whole or on secondary branch only). If this is the case try to reinstall IDE Controler driver. If all this fails please post some details 'bout your hardware.

1. if your bios can see the cd, it is a good sign that it is working and connected correctly.

2. load a dos-mode cdrom driver and attempt to access the drive from dos only - don't start windows. this will show that the drive is accessible and theinterface works correctly. a windows98 boot disk can be used and has the cdrom driver already setup. if you can access the cdrom this way, then the problem is in windows.

3. boot windows. look at device manager. if there is a cdrom shown and you cannot see it in explorer, then delete the cdrom in device manager and reboot. this will remove the driver and cause windows to redetect the cdrom.

4. if you cannot see the cdrom in device manager, then boot into safe made and delete the hard diskcontroller and reboot. this will cause windows to redetect the IDE interface driver. NOTE: you need to be sure you have the *correct* IDE driver disk in hand before doing this.

i have seen the cdrom get lost and come back after reintsalling the IDE driver. beyond this, you may need to delete all the drivers, motherboard included, and allow windows to completely rebuild all of your hardware drivers. there are interfaces between drivers all around (such as the PCI bridge to IDE) and there may be a 'stuck cog' anywhere along the line.

the other reader's suggestion of using a dos driver may or may not work. if the problem is further up the food chain than just the cdrom driver, then installing a dos driver for use in windows may accomplish nothing. in any case, it is not ideal and would be best to *fix* the problem instead of bandaid-ing it.

Hi Group, thanks for your responses. I was finally able to find a driver that allowed Win95 to recognize the drive. I guess that's a problem installing second hand devices. Thanks to all. -Terry