CD--ROM

[Sludge]

Hi
I have DOS 6.22 installed on my computer
Below are the Autoexec and Config files
What do I have to insert into each of these file so, the computer will recognized the CD-ROM Drive, so I will be able to use it?
Also if it's not to much trouble, If someone can explain what each line
line in both files, mean. I have some idea, but I need some reinforcement.
ie.. what the computer does in response to each line/command.
(In plan english)
Thanks
Sludge
---------------------------------------------

AUTOEXEC.BAT

C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /X
@ECHO OFF
PROMPT $p$g
C:\MOUSE\MOUSE
PATH C:\DOS;C:\dBase
SET TEMP=C:\DOS
Mouse
Dosshell
---------------------------------------------

CONFIG.SYS

DEVICE=C:\DOS\SETVER.EXE
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH
files = 40
buffers = 15


------------------
If it isn't broken, fix it anyway

[Cliffh]

If you've got a standard IDE CD-ROM drive, you could try this:

Get ahold of a Win98 boot (startup) disk. If you don't have one handy, you can download one from WWW.BOOTDISK.COM

Put the Win98 boot disk in the floppy drive (assuming A: drive) and use the following command to copy a file to the DOS directory:

COPY A:\OAKCDROM.SYS C:\DOS

Edit the Config.sys and add this line:

DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOS\OAKCDROM.SYS /D:MSCD001

Edit the Autoexec.bat file and add this line:

LH C:\DOS\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD001

That should be all it takes. If the CD-ROM drive is attached to a sound card or any other controller than the IDE controller, you'll have to install the correct drivers for the proprietary controller.

I'd make a couple of changes to both files:

Config.sys -

DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE RAM
DOS=HIGH,UMB
DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOS\SETVER.EXE
DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOS\OAKCDROM.SYS /D:MSCD001
files=40
buffers=15

Autoexec.bat -

@ECHO OFF
C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /X
LH C:\DOS\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD001
PROMPT $p$g
C:\MOUSE\MOUSE
PATH C:\DOS;C:\dBase
SET TEMP=C:\TEMP
SET TMP=C:\TEMP
Dosshell

And, create a new directory named C:\TEMP.

[Sludge]

Hi cliffh
Thanks
I'll try it, and let you know if it works.
The autoexec.bat and config.sys file in your reply, you added and deleted some lines.
What do they do? a brief explanation?
Thanks
Sludge



------------------
If it isn't broken, fix it anyway

[Cliffh]

In the Config.sys, the changes were to help optimize the conventional memory and to enable expanded memory (the EMM386.EXE line). And, of course, to add the CD-ROM drivers.

In the Autoexec.bat, the @Echo Off command tells the system to not display the commands. Moving the Smartdrv line below Echo Off will clean up the start screen a bit.

If both of the Mouse lines are actually loading mouse drivers, well, you don't need to load the same driver twice.

The Set Temp & Set Tmp variable tells the system & programs where to create their temporary files. I've always felt it was a good idea to not use the DOS directory as this area, 'cause a lot of programs don't clean up after themselves and will leave the temp. files in the DOS (or Temp) directory. It's a lot easier to clean up these program's mess if the only thing in the directory they're using is temporary files - and not mixed up with critical operating system files. Just don't forget to create the Temp directory or the programs won't be able to put the files where you've told them to.

The MSCDEX command is the second driver required for the CD-ROM drive.

[Vernon Frazee]

Sludge> Also if it's not to much trouble, If someone can explain what each line line in both files, mean.

CONFIG.SYS:

• device=c:\dos\himem.sys
  
  "HIMEM is an extended-memory manager--a program that coordinates the use of your computer's extended memory, including the high memory area (HMA), so that no two applications or device drivers use the same memory at the same time." (...continues...)
  
• device=c:\dos\emm386.exe ram
  
  "EMM386.EXE provides access to the upper memory area and uses extended memory to simulate expanded memory. This device driver must be loaded by a <DEVICE> command in your CONFIG.SYS file and can be used only on computers with an 80386 or higher processor.
  
  EMM386 uses extended memory to simulate expanded memory for programs that can use expanded memory. EMM386 also makes it possible to load programs and device drivers into upper memory blocks (UMBs)." (...continues...)
  
• dos=high,umb
  
  "Specifies that MS-DOS should maintain a link to the upper memory area, load part of itself into the high memory area (HMA), or both. You can use this command only in your CONFIG.SYS file." (...continues...; Also see the two "...continues..." links above)
  
• devicehigh=c:\dos\setver.exe
  
  "Loads the MS-DOS version table into memory. This device driver must be loaded by a <DEVICE> or <DEVICEHIGH> command in your CONFIG.SYS file.
  
  SETVER.EXE loads into memory the MS-DOS version table, which lists names of programs and the number of the MS-DOS version with which each program is designed to run." (...continues...)
  
• devicehigh=c:\dos\oakcdrom.sys /d:mscd001
  
  This line will attempt to load (high) a third-party device driver named oakcdron.sys located in the C:\DOS directory. (Assumably, because of the filename, this must be a CD-ROM device driver).
  
• files=40
  
  "Specifies the number of files that MS-DOS can access at one time. You can use this command only in your CONFIG.SYS file." (...continues...)
  
• buffers=15
  
  "Allocates memory for a specified number of disk buffers when your system starts. You can use this command only in your CONFIG.SYS file." (...continues...)

AUTOEXEC.BAT:

• @echo off
  
  "Displays or hides the text in batch programs when the program is running. Also indicates whether the command-echoing feature is on or off.
  
  When you run a batch program, MS-DOS typically displays (echoes) the batch program's commands on the screen. You can turn this feature on or off by using the ECHO command." (...continues...)
  
• c:\dos\smartdrv.exe /x
  
  "... SMARTDrive can also perform disk caching, which can speed up your computer. To use SMARTDrive for disk caching, add the <SMARTDRV> command to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file." (...continues...)
  
• lh c:\dos\mscdex.exe /d:mscd001
  
  "Provides access to CD-ROM drives. MSCDEX can be loaded from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file or from the command prompt. (The device driver that came with your CD-ROM drive must be loaded from your CONFIG.SYS file. For more information, see Notes.)" (...continues...)
  
• prompt $p$g
  
  "Changes the appearance of the command prompt.
  
  You can customize the command prompt to display any text you want, including such information as the name of the current directory, the time and date, and the MS-DOS version number." (...continues...)
  
• c:\mouse\mouse
  
  This line will attempt to load a third-party program named mouse(.exe or .com) located in the C:\MOUSE directory. (Assumably, because of the filename, this would be a mouse driver).
  
• path c:\dos;c:\dbase
  
  "Indicates which directories MS-DOS should search for executable files.
  
  MS-DOS uses the PATH command to search for executable files in the directories you specify. By default, the search path is the current directory only." (...continues...)
  
• set temp=c:\temp
• set tmp=c:\temp
  
  "SET displays, sets, or removes MS-DOS environment variables.
  
  You use environment variables to control the behavior of some batch files and programs and to control the way MS-DOS appears and works. The SET command is often used in the AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS files to set environment variables each time you start MS-DOS." (...continues...)
  
  Note: Most MS-DOS and third-party programs are hard-coded to use the directory specified by the TEMP or TMP environment variables in which to store their temporary files. If neither environment variable, or the directories they point to, exist, most programs will either use the current directory or halt with an error message.
  
• dosshell
  
  "Starts MS-DOS Shell, a graphical interface to MS-DOS.
  
  MS-DOS Shell is included with MS-DOS 6.0 and earlier; it is not included with MS-DOS 6.22. MS-DOS Shell is available in the MS-DOS Resource Kit. To order the Resource Kit, use the coupon in the back of your MS-DOS User's Guide." (...continues...)

Source of quoted portions: MS-DOS v6.22 Help: Command Reference

[mahoney]

I downloaded the win98 to get the cdrom drive working but when I put copy A in the dos it said invalid drive specs.So from the A drive I typed install.,the blue screen came up and said it was ready to install the cdrom drivers .this is where I don't understand it .it says do you want to modify config? do you want to modify autoexec? then it says please put input MSCDEX.EXE IN DIRECTORY NAME.what drive is for the input source?and where does the input destination driveand directory name? I don't know to much about this stuff .I have windows 95 {or trying to get it in there}

[Vernon Frazee]

... but when I put copy A in the dos it said invalid drive specs.

When you specify a drive letter in DOS you must append a colon (":"). In other words, "A:" (without the quotes) means drive A:.

it says do you want to modify config?

Yes

do you want to modify autoexec?

Yes

then it says please put input MSCDEX.EXE IN DIRECTORY NAME. what drive is for the input source?

A:\

and where does the input destination driveand directory name?

C:\

[mahoney]

I put C:\ .for the input destination drive and directory it said Destination disk error so I tried all the other letters too but it all came back saying the same thing.

[Vernon Frazee]

Did you try just the destination drive?

• C:

(no directory)

[mahoney]

my husband took the case off to see if any wires were lose but none was ,so I don't know what it is unless it is the bios .

[AlaricD]

Originally posted by mahoney
my husband took the case off to see if any wires were lose but none was ,so I don't know what it is unless it is the bios .

You're doing hardware troubleshooting when you should be doing software troubleshooting. Vernon asked you to ensure you typed C: rather than C:\. If you are typing that correctly, exit the installation program, and at the A:\> prompt, type C: and press enter. You'll either see the prompt change to C:\> or you'll get "Invalid drive specification" and be returned to an A:\> prompt.

If you are getting "Invalid Drive Specification", you may have a drive overlay installed, and may need to reboot without a floppy in the drive, and wait for the "Press space to boot from floppy." Then, once at the A:\>, try C: again and see if you get the C:\> prompt. If so, then retry the CD-ROM software installation.

[mahoney]

No that didn't help either but thanks anyway.its either dead or I need to configure it and I was looking for a msdos in the files .I don't have it

[AlaricD]

We won't know if the CD-ROM drive is dead until you get the software for it installed from that floppy.

I suppose we could do it manually, it's really not that hard.
At a command prompt, with that floppy in the drive, type

dir c:\*.sys /a

and press enter. That will list all the files whose extension is .SYS. If you tell me the names of those files, I can tell you the next step in the process.

[mahoney]

I did what you said to to but it came out invalid type reading
drive .what is that?and how do I fix it

[AlaricD]

Originally posted by mahoney
I did what you said to to but it came out invalid type reading
drive .what is that?and how do I fix it

Ooops-- it means I made a mistake telling you what to type so we could find the CD-ROM driver-- but, now we know you are getting an error reading C: that means it is either not formatted, or it is formatted with a filesystem not compatible with the boot diskette, or possibly has a drive overlay installed that needs to load before the drive can be seen (although in some cases a drive using an overlay will not even be assigned a drive letter.) The most likely case is that your drive has an overlay installed.

The command should have been dir a:\*.sys /a, but the command I gave you attempted to find files whose extension were .SYS on the C: drive rather than the A: drive.

If you can boot directly from C: and go to DOS or Windows 3.1, then boot from C:, and then we'll look for all the .SYS files on that floppy of yours again, with the command (and this is the CORRECT command, sorry for goofing up my previous post): dir a:\*.sys /a