CDRom in 486DX33 - How do I do it??

Hi Everyone!

I have a 486 DX33 running Win 3.1 on DOS 6.0.
The machine has 20 MB Ram and 2 small hard drives. One is 215 MB and the other a 115 MB. I want to install a CDRom and have used up both ends on the IDE cable running from the I/O card. Now, there is a pin connector for what looks like an IDE cable on a Creative Sound Blaster. Is that where I'd hook up the CDRom cable? I have never done this before.... After hook-up do I have to change CMOS settings or anything like that?
Will the machine automatically assign drive letters and so on? Help! I'm plunging into unknown territory here!

Hi Enjay,

Though I've never hooked a CD to a sound card in the manner you've mentioned, I have indeed run into the limit of two IDE devices. I have an old clunker 486 just like that sitting here. I managed to use a larger hard drive, so took out the two small ones and hooked the CD to the freed up connector that this gave me. You may need to dump one of the hard drives and do the same thing if it is really imperative for you to get the CD in there...

However, since you note that you have a likely looking connector on the sound card, you've got nothing to lose by trying it.

Yes, I would indeed see if the drive "auto detect" scan in the BIOS will come to your aid once you have it hooked up. The OS will assign the CD device the next highest drive letter, so no problem with that. All the best to ya in this project!

Cheers!
-Squonk

the connectors you are referring to on the sound card are cdrom controllers all right.
there might be 3 of them labeled S (Sony) M (Mitsimi) P (Panasonic)
I have an old sound card like that here & the IDE cable does fit (I just checked) Im thinking it will work but you are taking me back a few years.
theres nothing in CMOS that needs to be changed. CMOS isnt going to see the cd anyway since its a 486/33
plug it in & load the drivers. Pin 1 is typically facing up on the card. if its a Mitsumi drive run SETUPD. In any case mscdex will assign the drive letter to the next available letter (E in your case)
If you have a LASTDRIVE statement in config.sys you may have to edit it. Set lastdrive to one drive letter greater than the last physical device (F in your case). Each drive letter above that consumes 2k of memory & is a waste of resources

Hi Enjay!
It probaly won't work. Usually if the card and CDROM were part of a multimedia kit, that cdrom would work with that card. My Sound Blaster 16 cards have that, but I have never seen the correct drivers for it.

You could buy a EIDE Card and add 2 more channels on for less than 20 bucks I hear. Check Murph's post near the end. This would allow a much bigger Hard drive is you wanted, also.

Dennis