Smartychris

My computer cannot read CD-ROM or read the restore CD; however, it can read DVD disk. When I insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive, the indicator light starts blinking for the first 15 seconds, then the light went off. I open My Computer ---> [D:]----> which open a box that says: "D:\ is not accessible The device is not ready."

The next step, I open My Computer -> Control Panel -> System, which send me to the "system properties", and under the "Device Manager", I found a "!" symbol on the "Mitsumi CD-ROM Controller with Double Speed Drive" under the "CD-ROM controllers." I open the "Mitsumi CD-ROM Controller with Double Speed Drive" in the Device status it says: "This device is either not present, not working properly, or does not have all the drivers installed. [Code 10.]" "Try upgrading the device drivers for this device." I tired updating the Driver, but it did not fix my CD-ROM problen, instead, it says "The best driver Windows found is already installed for device." This "!" symbol still remain there.

May someone help me fix this problem. I need the CD-ROM to work in order for me to reboot my computer because there is also other problems like my
"Add/Remove Programs Properties" do not list all the programs. The computer time often loose time. And after two weeks the internet connection speed became slow.

Just to let you know my computer is 6-7 years old.

dai

if it is the original drive it's getting a bit long in the tooth
in the device manager uninstall it
then right click nd scan for hardware changes
then see if the problem is fixed

Smartychris

I'm a bit confuse. I removed the CD-ROM controllers in the device manager, then I right click on the device manager, but there is no scan option, instead there are refresh, print and properties options. I am using Window 98.

dai

sorry i missed the 98
reboot the computer

Smartychris

I rebooted my computer.

Smartychris

I think I made a mistake in my first post. I said "I need the CD-ROM to work in order for me to reboot my computer." What I am trying to say is that I need the CD-ROM to work in order to use the Restore CD on my computer.

dai

i understood that is the problem still there after the reboot which will cause windows to reinstall the controller
if not run your m/b setup disk

Jlp1928

Hi, Get a 98 boot disk or make one. Windows will make it for you at Control Panel, Add/Remove, StartUp Disk. Or borrow one from a buddy or down load one. Mad Boot will do, but there are many. It will set up the CD and let you run the recovery CD from DOS.

Good Luck, Jim

Smartychris

Today, I bought a floppy disk and download the StartUp Disk. I used the StartUp Disk, but didn't understand how to use it. Here what it said on the computer's screen:

Preparing to sart your computer.
This may take a few minutes. Please wait...

The diagnostic tools were successfully loaded to drive D.

MSCDEX Version 2.25
Copyright (C) Micosoft Corp. 1968-1995. All rights reserved.
Drive E: = Driver MSCD001 unit 0
To get help, type HELP and press ENTER

A:\>


---------------------------------
My CD-ROM is not working. dai, what is a m/b setup disk?

OldGrayGary

Hi all


Smartychris - it sounds like you downloaded a Win98 Startup Diskette that included a "RAM Disk" (a "RAM Disk" is an area of system memory set aside to act like a drive). It mentions in the message that the RAM disk is drive "D" [that's the "diagnostics" part of the message] -- and that your CDROM is now drive "E".

I'm not sure how your Recovery procedure is going to behave with the RAM disk present, it might prove to be somewhat in-the-way. Recovery procedures vary a lot, too - so you'll want to follow the steps your system vendor provided carefully. If the Recovery can be started from a DOS command prompt [that's what the A:\> is ] - you'd probably switch to the drive letter of your CDROM drive and type the command that starts your Recovery procedure. If that command is something like restore.exe, and if it's in the 'root' folder of the Recovery CD, and if your CDROM drive letter is E:, here's how you'd start:

A:\> cd E:\
E:\> restore

I think I'd recommend reading up on your recovery procedure from your vendor's materials as a first step. Then, if you need to start things from DOS, try using a Win98 Startup Diskette that doesn't include the RAM Disk (your CDROM will then likely get the drive letter "D"). Such diskettes are available at http://www.bootdisk.com

A Recovery isn't likely to be successful, however, if there is an underlying hardware problem [somewhat likely in a 7 year old system]. Why not run a few tests to see if the system's hardware is in good shape.
Check Your Hardware:
1) Check the Bios. Check in your computer's Bios Setup screens to make sure that the settings are correct [To enter Bios Setup, press the key mentioned in the banner message or splash screen that appears when you first turn on the PC - "Press F1 (or F2, F10, or DEL, etc.) to Enter Setup"] . Have your system/motherboard manual handy for this [your vendor's website, or a quick Google search, should yield a manual, if you haven't one nearby]. You can also refer to Adrian's famous Bios Optimization Guide --- http://www.techarp.com/freebog.aspx --- for Bios setting guidance. If overclocking, return to defaults while troubleshooting. If your system's bios has a temperature and voltage readings screen, be sure to check that your readings are within tolerable ranges. In your Bios Setup main screen, make sure that the date/time setting is correct: if this setting has slipped backwards by several years, it’s likely the CMOS battery needs to be replaced. If so, let us know if you need instructions on how to do that.
2) Test your system's memory ( http://www.memtest.org )
3) Test your hard drive ( http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287 )
_________

If there is any data on the hard drive that you want to save -- make backups before you run any Recovery procedures, since many such procedures erase all data from the hard drive. You'll want to scan those backups for malware before you copy any of them back onto a freshly restored system. And remember to disconnect from any networks (esp. the Internet) - while running your Recovery procedure. Don't reconnect to networks until you have a firewall and antivirus installed and active. Then you'll visit Windows Update and download the Critical Updates up to mid-2006 (when support ended).

Best of luck
. . . Gary

Smartychris

I typed: A:\> cd E:\
then I press [enter]
the result is: A:\> Not: E:\>
then I added "restore" in the A:\> "A:\> restore", then I press [Enter], which showed a message: "CDR101: Not ready reading drive E"

Smartychris

I read the [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2931...139&sid=globa] article, and now I'm following the steps to fix the CD-ROM. In the first step, I opened "C:\WINDOW\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE" then a message saying: "This MS-DOS program has terminated" Is there anything wrong with my MS-DOS program?

Smartychris

How does the floppy startup disk work? I am wondering does the floppy startup disk require the CD-ROM to work? I tried using the floppy startup disk, but the results are always "CDR101: Not ready reading drive E". I believe the drive E is the CD-ROM.

Is my computer missing files or programs that required to use the CD-ROM. Does anyone know?

Smartychris

OldGrayGray, thanks for helping me. Does the CMOS battery affect the CD-ROM from working propery?
I believe the battery is dead because the computer time often loose time. If I replace a new battery will that fix my CD-ROM problem?

OldGrayGary

Hi again


Let's see if I can answer some of your questions.

Get to the E:\> prompt & Try to read the CD
To change to the E: drive, see if you can just type E: at the A:\> prompt. Then, if you do get the E:\> prompt, type the "directory" (dir) command to see if you can read the disk from DOS --- like this:

E:\> dir

The result should be a list of folders and files on the CD in your CD-ROM drive. Don't worry if it scrolls by much too fast to read - that's normal. Computers weren't quite so fast back when DOS was first born.

Note that the drive letter of the CDROM drive can vary, depending on what startup floppy you use. Most of the DOS startup floppies are nice enough to show the drive letter assigned to the CDROM somewhere in the messages that show on screen as the computer boots from the floppy. [When you used the Win98 floppy with the RAM drive, your CDROM drive was assigned drive letter "E"] .

When I mentioned typing a command such as "restore", I was only using it as an example. I don't know the details of the Recovery procedure for your PC - that information would be somewhere on your PC-maker's website. If your computer is a major-brand, post it's make/model here & we can take a look to find the details for your Recovery procedure. Remember --- if you have anything on that drive you want to keep, make your backups first (since things could go wrong, and Recoveries can erase data).

Most Win9x startup floppy diskettes have generic CDROM drivers that work for most CD drives. Most drives can use these generic drivers OK - the exceptions are very old or very different types of CDROMs than are usually found inside of most PCs. In such cases, the DOS drivers have to be manually added to the startup floppy diskette - (I doubt that you're going to want or need to do that). If you use a standard Win9x startup floppy, and your drive is the standard IDE (ATAPI) type, you shouldn't have to go through all the fuss in that Microsoft Knowledge Base article that you mention.

CD/DVD drives do fail from time-to-time, and often quite suddenly. If you can borrow another drive, try that -- or try your DVD drive in another computer. If your DVD drive has trouble on every PC that tries to use it, it likely has failed, and will have to be replaced.

_________

CMOS ("Bios") Battery
The CMOS battery helps your computer keep certain settings: the time, date, and several special settings that help to best use and also to keep track of the hardware parts that your computer is made of. It causes all sorts of trouble when the battery can't keep the settings - it certainly can't help anything.

Here are a couple of links that provide plenty of detail about determining if a CMOS battery needs to be replaced, and how to replace one --- http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...cname=bph03560 --- http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...cname=bph05702 [this guide includes pictures showing each step]

Try a few Diagnostics
Definitely see if you can manage a few diagnostics - it helps a lot to know if the main parts are in good working condition. Usually, full instructions are right there on the same page as the download. They are usually very easy to run.

Post more info:
Especially the make/model of the system. Let us know what disks you have, too (Recovery disks, etc.).

_________

I'll check back on you tomorrow (after I get a little sleep), to see how you're doing.
. . . Gary

Smartychris

I tried E:\>dir but it didnt work. My computer cant access the CD-ROM drive, so how can I use E:\>?

The computer only came with one CD called Restore CD (Bootable CD) Ver.1.7

My computer is Microsoft Windows98 Second Edition 4.10.2222A
Computer:

• emachines
  emonster 600
  Genuinelntel
  x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 1
  64.0MB RAM

History
The last time I used my CD-ROM is when I am installing WindowXP. With the WindowXP version, I can't get access to the internet, so I decided to uninstall WindowXP. My computer went to Window 98. I didn't use my CD-ROM drive for 2 to 4 months after I uninstalled the WindowXP. When I started receiving pop-up ads on my computer, I decided to use the restore CD to renew my computer, but it didn't work because my computer cant read the CD-ROM. In July 2005 the pop-up ads has stoped, but the CD-ROM drive did not work.

Smartychris

This is what see on my computer screen when I use the Startup disk

Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu

1. Start computer with CD-ROM support
2. Start computer without CD-ROM support.
3. View the Help file.

Enter a choice: 1 (I entered 1)



This driver is provided by Oak Technology, Inc..
OTI-91X ATAPI CD-ROM device driver, Rev D91XV352
(C) Copyright Oak Technology Inc. 1987-1997
Device Name : MSCD001
Transfer Mode : Programmed 1/0
Number of drives : 1


AIC-6260/6360/6370 ASPI Manager for DOS
Version 3.68S
Copyright 1990-1997 Adaptec, Inc.

AIC-78XX/AIC-75XX ASPI Manager for DOS
Version 1.32S
Copyright 1994-1997 Adaptec, Inc.

PCI bus scan complete.

AHA-1540/1542/1640 ASPI Manager for DOS
Version 3.36S
Copyright 1909-1997 Adaptec, Inc.

AIC-7890/91 ASPI Manager for DOS
Version 1.00S
Copyright 1994-1997 Adaptec, Inc.

PCI bus scan complete.

ASPI CD-ROM Driver for DOS
Version 4.01S
Copyright 1990-1996 Adaptec, Inc.
Microsoft BAMDrive version 3.06 virtual disk D:
Disk size: 2,048k
Sector size: 512 bytes
Allocation unit: 2 sectors
Directory entries: 64


--------------------------------------------
(Next screen)

Preparing to start your computer.
This may take a few minutes. Please wait…

The diagnostic tools were successfully loaded to drive

MSCDEX Version 2.25
Copyright © Microsoft Corp. 1986-1995. All rights reserved.

To get help, type HELP and press ENTER.

A:\>E:

E:\>dir


CDR101: Not ready reading drive E
Abort, Retry, Fail?_

Smartychris

Here is the Startup Disk help file:

What's New for the Windows 98 Startup Disk?

The Startup Disk has changed significantly for Windows 98.
The following items are new:

- MULTI-CONFIG START MENU
- REAL-MODE CD-ROM DRIVERS
- EBD.CAB FILE
- RAMDRIVE
- WINDOWS 98 STARTUP PROBLEMS
- USING THE TOOLS AVAILABLE ON THE STARTUP DISK

Multi-Config Start Menu
==========================
If you boot your computer using the new Windows 98 Startup Disk,
a boot menu appears allowing you the option to load drivers for
the most common CD-ROM drives or perform a normal clean boot.

After you make your selection, the Config.sys file loads the appropriate
CD-ROM driver (if selected) and then loads a 2MB RAMDrive. The RAMDrive is
used to store all the diagnostic tools necessary to troubleshoot the most
common problems.


*Note*
The RAMdrive may cause your CD-Rom to pushed back 1 drive letter. If your
CD-Rom is usually drive D:, it will now be Drive E:.


Real-Mode CD-ROM support
=================================
The Windows 98 Startup Disk includes generic ATAPI IDE & SCSI CD-ROM
drivers that allow your CD-ROM to function at MS-DOS when the Windows 98
GUI is not available.

*Note*, not all CD-ROM drives are supported. If your CD-ROM drive does
not function with these drivers, you must use the drivers that came with
your CD-ROM drive.


EBD.CAB file
=================================
The Ebd.cab file is a compressed file whose contents are extracted to the
Ramdrive during the startup process. The table below identifies the files
in the Ebd.cab file.

File Function
Attrib.exe Add or remove file attributes
Chkdsk.exe A simpler and smaller disk status tool
Debug.exe Debugging utility
Edit.com Real-mode emergency text editor
Ext.exe New, simple file extract utility
Format.com Disk format tool
Mscdex.exe Microsoft CD-ROM file extension for MS-DOS
Scandisk.exe Disk status tool
Scandisk.ini Disk status tool configuration file
Sys.com Transfers system files and make disk bootable


Creating a RAMDrive
=================================
The RAMDrive is created during the processing of the Config.sys file and is
2MB in size. The Ramdrive is created using system RAM to emulate a physical
Hard Disk. Without creating the RAMdrive, we would not have enough space on
a single 1.44 meg floppy disk to contain all the diagnostic tools as well
as the CD-Rom drivers.

Warning
Since the RAMDrive is created during the processing of the Config.sys file
and uses System RAM, it is only temporary. It will disappear if you restart
your computer normally.


List of all components on the EBD
====================================
The following table describes the function of each file copied to the EBD.

File Function
Aspi2dos.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Aspi4dos.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Aspi8dos.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Aspi8u2.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Aspicd.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Autoexec.bat Startup batch file
Btcdrom.sys Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver
Btdosm.sys Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver
Command.com Command interpreter
Config.sys Loads the device drivers
Drvspace.bin Microsoft DriveSpace compression driver
Ebd.cab Cab file containing extract utilities
Ebd.sys File identifying the ESD
Extract.exe File to expand the Ebd.cab file
Fdisk.exe Disk partition tool
Findramd.exe Utility to find the RAMDrive during startup
Flashpt.sys Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver
Himem.sys XMS Memory Manager
Io.sys System boot file
Msdos.sys Boot option information (paths, multiboot, and so on)
Oakcdrom.sys Generic device driver for ATAPI CD-ROM drives
Ramdrive.sys Creates a Ramdrive during startup
Setramd.bat Searches for first available drive to be a Ramdrive


WINDOWS 98 STARTUP PROBLEMS
============================
This section includes some common troubleshooting steps that can be used
when it's necessary to use the Windows 98 Startup Disk. These steps are
designed to get the user at least into Safe-Mode where you have access
to Windows 98 Help to further troubleshoot any issues.

Starting Your Computer in Safe Mode
-----------------------------------
There are several reasons why Windows 98 may fail
to start properly. The first step in troubleshooting
is to try starting your computer in Safe Mode. If
Safe Mode works, you can then use the extensive Help
system and troubleshooters located in the Start
menu/Help option.

>>>To start your computer in Safe Mode:

1. Remove the Startup Disk and restart your computer.
After the computer restarts but before Windows begins
to load, hold down the CTRL key until the Microsoft
Windows 98 Startup Menu appears. (If you are running
Windows 95, press the F8 key at the "Starting
Windows 95" prompt.)

2. From the Startup menu, select Safe Mode.

If you can start your computer in Safe Mode, use
Windows 98 Help to resolve your original issue.

Setup Fails and the Computer Will Not Start
-------------------------------------------
There are a few common reasons why Windows 98
Setup may fail to complete successfully. The following
section explains what you can do to recover from these
situations. For more information on other Setup problems,
see the Setup.txt file in the Win98 folder of your
Windows 98 CD or Setup Disk #1.

If you encounter any of these error messages while
running Setup:

* Invalid System Disk
* Incorrect MS-DOS Version
* Missing or Corrupted Command.com
* Compression Driver errors

It is likely that your computer's startup drive may
need updated system files. You can use the SYS command
to copy the needed files to your computer.

NOTE: If you are currently loading compression software,
you will need to know your host drive letter. This is
typically H. If you are not loading any compression
software, then you will need to SYS your C drive.

>>>To use the SYS command to copy system files to your
computer:

1. Restart your computer using the Windows 98 Startup
Disk, select option 2 on the Startup menu, and then
press ENTER.

2. At the A:\ prompt, type: SYS X: (where X is your
Host or Startup drive).

3. If the procedure is successful, a "System transferred"
message appears. If it is not successful, check to be
sure you are typing the correct drive letter for your
Host Drive.

IMPORTANT: If you have installed software that came with
your hard drive, be sure to read the documentation that
describes how to start your computer using a floppy disk.

Antivirus Software
-------------------
If antivirus programs are left running during Setup,
they may prevent Setup from properly updating the system
files. If this occurs, disable or uninstall the antivirus
program, and then run Setup again.

NOTE: Some computers have built-in antivirus software.
This built-in software should also be disabled before
running Setup. If the software is left enabled, you
may receive a warning message informing you that the
Master Boot Record has changed. If you see such a
message, you MUST accept these changes or Setup may
stop responding.

Setup Stops Responding During Hardware Detection
------------------------------------------------

If Setup stops responding while it is detecting the
hardware in your computer, turn your computer off and
wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. You may need
to do this several times, because Setup could stop
responding during several different detection modules.

NOTE: Use the power switch to turn your computer completely
off. Do not use the reset button or press CTRL+ALT+DELETE
to restart your computer.

If Setup still fails to complete successfully, it may be
necessary to start your computer in Safe Mode so that
you can view the Help topics associated with hardware
detection.

Compressed Drives Not Mounted
-----------------------------
There are several reasons why compressed drives may
not be accessible. If your Windows directory is on a
compressed drive that is not mounted, you will not be
able to start Windows. If you suspect problems with your
compressed drives, try using Scandisk to fix them.

From the A:\ prompt, type:

Scandisk /Mount X:

where X is the drive letter of the compressed drive.
ScanDisk will then attempt to repair any errors and
mount the drive.

If there is not enough memory to check your compressed
drives, see "Installing Windows from MS-DOS," in the
Setup.txt file on Setup Disk 1 or the Windows 98 CD.


USING THE TOOLS AVAILABLE ON THE STARTUP DISK
==============================================
This section decribes how to use some of the utilities
included with the Windows 98 Startup Disk. To run each
program you should do the following:

1. Put the Windows 98 Startup Disk in the floppy disk
drive, and then restart your computer.

2. At the Startup menu, select option 1 or 2
(depending upon whether you need CD-ROM access),
and then press ENTER.

3. At the MS-DOS command prompt (A:\), type the name
of the utility you wish to run, and then press ENTER.


SCANDISK.EXE and CHKDSK.EXE
----------------------------

These two programs are useful for checking your hard
disk for errors. If you suspect there may be file
corruption or other problems with your hard disk(s),
run ScanDisk to check for and repair errors.

To check all your hard disks for errors, type:

Scandisk /all

To perform a full surface scan of your hard disk(s) for
maximum protection against data loss, type:

Scandisk /all /Surface

NOTES:
You may receive errors about Long File Names. The MS-DOS
version of ScanDisk can only detect problems with long
file names, it cannot fix them. To correct these types of
errors, you must run ScanDisk from within Windows 98.

If you have any compressed drives, you may receive an
error message stating that there is not enough memory
to check your compressed drives. To solve this problem,
try starting your computer with the Windows 98 Startup
Disk, as described in Step 1, earlier in this section.
Select option 2. This may allow ScanDisk enough memory to
check your compressed drives.

If ScanDisk is unable to check your drives, try using
CHKDSK.EXE instead. CHKDSK will check for cross-linked
files and lost allocation units.


SYS.COM
=======
The SYS command is used to copy system files from one
disk to another. Your computer needs these system files
to start.

>>>To SYS your C drive, type:

SYS C:

and then press ENTER. After a few seconds, a
"System Transferred" message appears.

The following files are copied to your hard disk during
the SYS procedure:

* IO.SYS
* MSDOS.SYS
* COMMAND.COM

If the SYS C: command does not work and you have a
compressed drive, you may need to type the drive letter
of your host drive. With the DblSpace or DrvSpace programs,
the host drive is typically designated drive H. If you are
not sure of the drive letter, run ScanDisk and see if it
prompts you about your compressed drive.


FDISK.EXE and FORMAT.EXE
------------------------

FDISK and FORMAT are utilities necessary for installing
a new hard disk in your computer or for starting over
fresh with a clean disk. FDISK is used first to create
a partition and then FORMAT is used to make the partition
available for use.

WARNING: Using FDISK incorrectly can destroy all data
on your hard disk. If you are unsure of how to use FDISK,
consult your computer documentation.

You can use the Windows 98 version of FDISK to create
FAT32 partitions on drives over 512 megabytes in size.
FAT32 reduces the cluster size for large drives and allows
you to create single partitions on drives over 2 GB.

To view your current drive status, type FDISK /STATUS
at the MS-DOS command prompt.

After you have partitioned a drive using FDISK, you will
need to use the FORMAT command. To format a newly
partitioned drive, type:

FORMAT X:

Where X represents the letter of the drive that you
want to format.

If you want to format drive C, you need to make this
disk a system disk so that your computer can start. To
do this, type /s at the end of the FORMAT command. For
example:

FORMAT C: /s

System Startup files will be automatically copied after
your drive is formatted.


CD-ROM Drivers
--------------
The Windows 98 Startup Disk includes a set of generic
CD-ROM drivers. These drivers work with most IDE ATAPI
and SCSI CD-ROM models.

If your particular CD-ROM drive does not work with
these drivers, you will need to use the drivers that
came with your CD-ROM drive.

Following are some known issues about the CD-ROM drivers:

1. CD-ROM drives connected to sound cards may not work
properly.

2. Early proprietary CD-ROM drives (for example, Mitsumi,
Panasonic, Sony) may not work with these drivers. Some
older IDE controllers may fail as well.

3. The SCSI drivers on the Startup Disk support most
Adaptec, Buslogic, and Mylex adapters. Some other
SCSI CD-ROM drives may not work with the drivers on
the Startup Disk.

4. If your SCSI controller is configured for a non-default
I/O range, the drivers may not detect your SCSI card.
Consult your SCSI driver documentation for the default
I/O ranges for your card.

5. Drivers are not included for any PC Card (PCMCIA)
CD-ROM drives.


EXT.EXE
-------
The EXT command is used in conjunction with the Extract.exe
utility to make it easier to extract Windows 98 files to
your hard disk. You can use this to replace missing or
damaged files.

This utility is extremely useful if you are receiving errors
during startup about missing files, or execution errors such
as General Protection Faults or invalid page faults.

>>>To use Ext.exe to extract a file, perform the following
steps:

1. Use the Startup Disk to start your computer. Select
option 1, and then press ENTER.

2. Make sure the Windows 98 CD is inserted in the drive.

3. Type EXT at the MS-DOS command prompt, and then
press ENTER.

4. Follow the prompts to indicate the location of the
Windows 98 Setup files, the files you wish to extract,
and the location in which you want to place the extracted
files.

NOTES:
If your CD-ROM drive letter is E, then type the location
to the Setup files as E:\WIN98.

If you wish to extract more than one file at a time, you
can use wild card characters.

Smartychris

Here is the Startup Disk help file:

What's New for the Windows 98 Startup Disk?

The Startup Disk has changed significantly for Windows 98.
The following items are new:

- MULTI-CONFIG START MENU
- REAL-MODE CD-ROM DRIVERS
- EBD.CAB FILE
- RAMDRIVE
- WINDOWS 98 STARTUP PROBLEMS
- USING THE TOOLS AVAILABLE ON THE STARTUP DISK

Multi-Config Start Menu
==========================
If you boot your computer using the new Windows 98 Startup Disk,
a boot menu appears allowing you the option to load drivers for
the most common CD-ROM drives or perform a normal clean boot.

After you make your selection, the Config.sys file loads the appropriate
CD-ROM driver (if selected) and then loads a 2MB RAMDrive. The RAMDrive is
used to store all the diagnostic tools necessary to troubleshoot the most
common problems.


*Note*
The RAMdrive may cause your CD-Rom to pushed back 1 drive letter. If your
CD-Rom is usually drive D:, it will now be Drive E:.


Real-Mode CD-ROM support
=================================
The Windows 98 Startup Disk includes generic ATAPI IDE & SCSI CD-ROM
drivers that allow your CD-ROM to function at MS-DOS when the Windows 98
GUI is not available.

*Note*, not all CD-ROM drives are supported. If your CD-ROM drive does
not function with these drivers, you must use the drivers that came with
your CD-ROM drive.


EBD.CAB file
=================================
The Ebd.cab file is a compressed file whose contents are extracted to the
Ramdrive during the startup process. The table below identifies the files
in the Ebd.cab file.

File Function
Attrib.exe Add or remove file attributes
Chkdsk.exe A simpler and smaller disk status tool
Debug.exe Debugging utility
Edit.com Real-mode emergency text editor
Ext.exe New, simple file extract utility
Format.com Disk format tool
Mscdex.exe Microsoft CD-ROM file extension for MS-DOS
Scandisk.exe Disk status tool
Scandisk.ini Disk status tool configuration file
Sys.com Transfers system files and make disk bootable


Creating a RAMDrive
=================================
The RAMDrive is created during the processing of the Config.sys file and is
2MB in size. The Ramdrive is created using system RAM to emulate a physical
Hard Disk. Without creating the RAMdrive, we would not have enough space on
a single 1.44 meg floppy disk to contain all the diagnostic tools as well
as the CD-Rom drivers.

Warning
Since the RAMDrive is created during the processing of the Config.sys file
and uses System RAM, it is only temporary. It will disappear if you restart
your computer normally.


List of all components on the EBD
====================================
The following table describes the function of each file copied to the EBD.

File Function
Aspi2dos.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Aspi4dos.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Aspi8dos.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Aspi8u2.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Aspicd.sys Real-Mode Adaptec CD-ROM driver
Autoexec.bat Startup batch file
Btcdrom.sys Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver
Btdosm.sys Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver
Command.com Command interpreter
Config.sys Loads the device drivers
Drvspace.bin Microsoft DriveSpace compression driver
Ebd.cab Cab file containing extract utilities
Ebd.sys File identifying the ESD
Extract.exe File to expand the Ebd.cab file
Fdisk.exe Disk partition tool
Findramd.exe Utility to find the RAMDrive during startup
Flashpt.sys Mylex/BusLogic CD-ROM driver
Himem.sys XMS Memory Manager
Io.sys System boot file
Msdos.sys Boot option information (paths, multiboot, and so on)
Oakcdrom.sys Generic device driver for ATAPI CD-ROM drives
Ramdrive.sys Creates a Ramdrive during startup
Setramd.bat Searches for first available drive to be a Ramdrive


WINDOWS 98 STARTUP PROBLEMS
============================
This section includes some common troubleshooting steps that can be used
when it's necessary to use the Windows 98 Startup Disk. These steps are
designed to get the user at least into Safe-Mode where you have access
to Windows 98 Help to further troubleshoot any issues.

Starting Your Computer in Safe Mode
-----------------------------------
There are several reasons why Windows 98 may fail
to start properly. The first step in troubleshooting
is to try starting your computer in Safe Mode. If
Safe Mode works, you can then use the extensive Help
system and troubleshooters located in the Start
menu/Help option.

>>>To start your computer in Safe Mode:

1. Remove the Startup Disk and restart your computer.
After the computer restarts but before Windows begins
to load, hold down the CTRL key until the Microsoft
Windows 98 Startup Menu appears. (If you are running
Windows 95, press the F8 key at the "Starting
Windows 95" prompt.)

2. From the Startup menu, select Safe Mode.

If you can start your computer in Safe Mode, use
Windows 98 Help to resolve your original issue.

Setup Fails and the Computer Will Not Start
-------------------------------------------
There are a few common reasons why Windows 98
Setup may fail to complete successfully. The following
section explains what you can do to recover from these
situations. For more information on other Setup problems,
see the Setup.txt file in the Win98 folder of your
Windows 98 CD or Setup Disk #1.

If you encounter any of these error messages while
running Setup:

* Invalid System Disk
* Incorrect MS-DOS Version
* Missing or Corrupted Command.com
* Compression Driver errors

It is likely that your computer's startup drive may
need updated system files. You can use the SYS command
to copy the needed files to your computer.

NOTE: If you are currently loading compression software,
you will need to know your host drive letter. This is
typically H. If you are not loading any compression
software, then you will need to SYS your C drive.

>>>To use the SYS command to copy system files to your
computer:

1. Restart your computer using the Windows 98 Startup
Disk, select option 2 on the Startup menu, and then
press ENTER.

2. At the A:\ prompt, type: SYS X: (where X is your
Host or Startup drive).

3. If the procedure is successful, a "System transferred"
message appears. If it is not successful, check to be
sure you are typing the correct drive letter for your
Host Drive.

IMPORTANT: If you have installed software that came with
your hard drive, be sure to read the documentation that
describes how to start your computer using a floppy disk.

Antivirus Software
-------------------
If antivirus programs are left running during Setup,
they may prevent Setup from properly updating the system
files. If this occurs, disable or uninstall the antivirus
program, and then run Setup again.

NOTE: Some computers have built-in antivirus software.
This built-in software should also be disabled before
running Setup. If the software is left enabled, you
may receive a warning message informing you that the
Master Boot Record has changed. If you see such a
message, you MUST accept these changes or Setup may
stop responding.

Setup Stops Responding During Hardware Detection
------------------------------------------------

If Setup stops responding while it is detecting the
hardware in your computer, turn your computer off and
wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. You may need
to do this several times, because Setup could stop
responding during several different detection modules.

NOTE: Use the power switch to turn your computer completely
off. Do not use the reset button or press CTRL+ALT+DELETE
to restart your computer.

If Setup still fails to complete successfully, it may be
necessary to start your computer in Safe Mode so that
you can view the Help topics associated with hardware
detection.

Compressed Drives Not Mounted
-----------------------------
There are several reasons why compressed drives may
not be accessible. If your Windows directory is on a
compressed drive that is not mounted, you will not be
able to start Windows. If you suspect problems with your
compressed drives, try using Scandisk to fix them.

From the A:\ prompt, type:

Scandisk /Mount X:

where X is the drive letter of the compressed drive.
ScanDisk will then attempt to repair any errors and
mount the drive.

If there is not enough memory to check your compressed
drives, see "Installing Windows from MS-DOS," in the
Setup.txt file on Setup Disk 1 or the Windows 98 CD.


USING THE TOOLS AVAILABLE ON THE STARTUP DISK
==============================================
This section decribes how to use some of the utilities
included with the Windows 98 Startup Disk. To run each
program you should do the following:

1. Put the Windows 98 Startup Disk in the floppy disk
drive, and then restart your computer.

2. At the Startup menu, select option 1 or 2
(depending upon whether you need CD-ROM access),
and then press ENTER.

3. At the MS-DOS command prompt (A:\), type the name
of the utility you wish to run, and then press ENTER.


SCANDISK.EXE and CHKDSK.EXE
----------------------------

These two programs are useful for checking your hard
disk for errors. If you suspect there may be file
corruption or other problems with your hard disk(s),
run ScanDisk to check for and repair errors.

To check all your hard disks for errors, type:

Scandisk /all

To perform a full surface scan of your hard disk(s) for
maximum protection against data loss, type:

Scandisk /all /Surface

NOTES:
You may receive errors about Long File Names. The MS-DOS
version of ScanDisk can only detect problems with long
file names, it cannot fix them. To correct these types of
errors, you must run ScanDisk from within Windows 98.

If you have any compressed drives, you may receive an
error message stating that there is not enough memory
to check your compressed drives. To solve this problem,
try starting your computer with the Windows 98 Startup
Disk, as described in Step 1, earlier in this section.
Select option 2. This may allow ScanDisk enough memory to
check your compressed drives.

If ScanDisk is unable to check your drives, try using
CHKDSK.EXE instead. CHKDSK will check for cross-linked
files and lost allocation units.


SYS.COM
=======
The SYS command is used to copy system files from one
disk to another. Your computer needs these system files
to start.

>>>To SYS your C drive, type:

SYS C:

and then press ENTER. After a few seconds, a
"System Transferred" message appears.

The following files are copied to your hard disk during
the SYS procedure:

* IO.SYS
* MSDOS.SYS
* COMMAND.COM

If the SYS C: command does not work and you have a
compressed drive, you may need to type the drive letter
of your host drive. With the DblSpace or DrvSpace programs,
the host drive is typically designated drive H. If you are
not sure of the drive letter, run ScanDisk and see if it
prompts you about your compressed drive.


FDISK.EXE and FORMAT.EXE
------------------------

FDISK and FORMAT are utilities necessary for installing
a new hard disk in your computer or for starting over
fresh with a clean disk. FDISK is used first to create
a partition and then FORMAT is used to make the partition
available for use.

WARNING: Using FDISK incorrectly can destroy all data
on your hard disk. If you are unsure of how to use FDISK,
consult your computer documentation.

You can use the Windows 98 version of FDISK to create
FAT32 partitions on drives over 512 megabytes in size.
FAT32 reduces the cluster size for large drives and allows
you to create single partitions on drives over 2 GB.

To view your current drive status, type FDISK /STATUS
at the MS-DOS command prompt.

After you have partitioned a drive using FDISK, you will
need to use the FORMAT command. To format a newly
partitioned drive, type:

FORMAT X:

Where X represents the letter of the drive that you
want to format.

If you want to format drive C, you need to make this
disk a system disk so that your computer can start. To
do this, type /s at the end of the FORMAT command. For
example:

FORMAT C: /s

System Startup files will be automatically copied after
your drive is formatted.


CD-ROM Drivers
--------------
The Windows 98 Startup Disk includes a set of generic
CD-ROM drivers. These drivers work with most IDE ATAPI
and SCSI CD-ROM models.

If your particular CD-ROM drive does not work with
these drivers, you will need to use the drivers that
came with your CD-ROM drive.

Following are some known issues about the CD-ROM drivers:

1. CD-ROM drives connected to sound cards may not work
properly.

2. Early proprietary CD-ROM drives (for example, Mitsumi,
Panasonic, Sony) may not work with these drivers. Some
older IDE controllers may fail as well.

3. The SCSI drivers on the Startup Disk support most
Adaptec, Buslogic, and Mylex adapters. Some other
SCSI CD-ROM drives may not work with the drivers on
the Startup Disk.

4. If your SCSI controller is configured for a non-default
I/O range, the drivers may not detect your SCSI card.
Consult your SCSI driver documentation for the default
I/O ranges for your card.

5. Drivers are not included for any PC Card (PCMCIA)
CD-ROM drives.


EXT.EXE
-------
The EXT command is used in conjunction with the Extract.exe
utility to make it easier to extract Windows 98 files to
your hard disk. You can use this to replace missing or
damaged files.

This utility is extremely useful if you are receiving errors
during startup about missing files, or execution errors such
as General Protection Faults or invalid page faults.

>>>To use Ext.exe to extract a file, perform the following
steps:

1. Use the Startup Disk to start your computer. Select
option 1, and then press ENTER.

2. Make sure the Windows 98 CD is inserted in the drive.

3. Type EXT at the MS-DOS command prompt, and then
press ENTER.

4. Follow the prompts to indicate the location of the
Windows 98 Setup files, the files you wish to extract,
and the location in which you want to place the extracted
files.

NOTES:
If your CD-ROM drive letter is E, then type the location
to the Setup files as E:\WIN98.

If you wish to extract more than one file at a time, you
can use wild card characters.

Smartychris

I inserted the the reboot CD, and when the CD-ROM indicator is blinging, I typed E: at the A:\> prompt. Then in the E:\>prompt, I typed dir. The result is my computer stop responding (I blieve the computer was loading, but there was not loading sound). After 40 seconds has pasted, the indicator light turned off, and the message on the computer's screen says:

CDR101: Not ready reading drive E
Abort, Retry, Fail?
Volume in drive E has no label

CDR101: Not ready reading drive E
Abort, Retry, Fail?

CDR101: Not ready reading drive E
Abort, Retry, Fail?
Fail on INT 24

E:\>