CD-ROM error codes
Below is a listing of what causes CDR 101, 102 and 103 errors when accessing CD-ROM drives. See the CD-ROM help and support page for other questions and answers relating to CD-ROM drives.
CDR 101
Cause:
Driver issue or hardware issue.
Recommendations:
Boot to a: - Attempt to boot from a boot disk that has CD-ROM support. Test the CD-ROM drive. If the drivers are properly loaded on the diskette, however, you still receive a problem, it's a good possibility it is a hardware issue; attempt to reset the cables.
Check cables - If you have moved or installed anything recently into your computer, or booting from A does not detect the CD-ROM, it's a good possibility the cables may not be connected or are loose within your computer. It is recommended that you open your computer and reseat the cables connected on the back of your CD-ROM drive and connected to your Motherboard.
Check drivers - Verify you have the latest CD-ROM Drives
Booting A works, however, without diskette it does not work
- It's a good possibility that the drivers are not being loaded properly
within your autoexec.bat and config.sys. See the CD-ROM drivers page for additional driver installation help.
CDR 102
Cause:
Caused by software driver issues.
Recommendations:
Remove /e from mscdex.exe
Set emm386.exe to auto in the autoexec.bat by adding /auto to the end of the emm386 line within the config.sys
CDR 103
Cause:
CD does not follow the ISO-9660 standard.
Recommendations:
Ensure that the CD is clean. Follow steps on cleaning page.
Extra Information:
If this issue is occurring with one CD, it is a good possibility the CD either does not follow the above standard or that the CD was incorrectly made. It is recommended you contact the manufacturer of the CD. However, if this issue occurs with every CD, it's a good possibility that the CD-ROM drive may physically have issues and it is recommended you contact the manufacturer of the CD-ROM drive.