Re-installing Windows 95 and can't get cd-rom drive to work.

[Cat]

I am a newbie to this forum and am hoping someone out there much more knowledgeable out there can help me.  I'm am pretty un-informed when it comes to this stuff.  My old computer is being pressed into service for the kids, and something went so wrong I decided to re-install windows 95 in an effort to fix it.  The other option is to give the computer to the E-cycle station, but I have three kids and could really use another computer.  Anyway, here is the thing.  I have created a Windows 95 startup disk when I started this, and I have the Windows 95 CD-rom Setup Boot Disk and the Windows 95 CD.  I am trying to rebuild the computer, but cannot get it to recognize or use the CD-rom to complete the install.  I have copied down some info that I see on the dos screens and hope it will give some clues.  I have tried several things that are on the forum but don't seem to be getting further.

Here is some of the screen info:

HDD Primary Master :Maxtor 84000A6
HDD Secondary Slave :Matshita CR-585

Pentium - MMX CPU 166 MHZ
Memory 32768K OK
ATC-5000 BIOS Ver: 1.0   002
Award Modular BIOS V 4.51 PG

Secondary Slave Disk :  CDRom Mode 3

I get to the point in the install where it gives the A:\ prompt and I am to put in the Windows 95 CD to complete the install, however it doesn't recognize the CDROM drive, so of course this doesn't work.

I have checked and the computer seems to be recognizing the installed CD-rom as it lists it as the Secondary Slave Disk as above.  I have also checked the autoexec.bat and config.sys and don't see any rem statements and the device name matches up between the two.  The C drive has the following files:

command.com
autoexec.bat
config.sys
\DEV <dir> which contains
atapi_cd.sys
mscdex.exe

The autoexec.bat file contains the following line:

C:\dev\mscdex.exe /D:mscd000 /V /M:12

The config.sys file contains the following line:

Device = C:\Dev\Atapi_cd.sys /D:mscd000 /i:0

Don't know if upper/lower case are an issue but I think they are the same even if I didn't type them as such. 

I have also got a disk for CD-ROM Device Drivers Version 97.03.17 and Monster 3D Windows 95 Drivers Version 1.00 but don't know if these drivers are for this computer as it seems we get a new computer every couple years and I don't really keep track of what goes with what.  Usually we don't need this stuff as everything is already installed and I don't really have the first clue of what to do.  Also my DOS commands are pretty much all forgotten and getting this far has been a challenge, so if there is anything I should try in dos, please send the command and how to use it. 

I know I'm asking alot, and hopefully there is someone out there who can give me a clue, and perhaps some of this info will be useful.

[Zylstra]

After reading your post, I think the problem you are having is with the locations of the called driver.

If you are looking to reinstall Windows:
go to http://www.bootdisk.com/
Put the created boot disk in the 95' computer
also put the CD in the 95' computer
Restart it

Then once the boot disk loads, type:
R:\setup.exe

This should do it. (CD ROM drive turns into R:\ with a http://www.bootdisk.com/ bootdisk)

[GX1_Man]

Or better yet use a Win98SE bootdisk as more CD drives are supported with it. Format c:\u, then use the setup routine as mentioned by Zylstra.

[Cat]

 

Hey, you guys are great!  I downloaded the boot file from the website you mentioned and things went better after that.    The install wizard did get a little confused about halfway through as it couldn't find the path using the R drive and so I had it skip some files as I didn't realize it had re-mapped the drive to E somewhere along the process.  Makes you wonder why Microsoft's install wizard is capable of correctly finding 95% of the stuff but can't find the rest.  I didn't even think of downloading another boot disk because I had the original microsoft stuff, but really i should know better.  Anyway, I remember the directory it had problems with so I am going to take a look and see if I can manually copy the missing files, otherwise I will re-do the install.  At least I have confidence it will work now!

I really appreciate the help.  I just couldn't see spending $100 to get someone else to install this stuff when this computer isn't really worth that much.  Now I need to figure out my display stuff.  I noticed that it installed with 16 bit color and I think changing that was what got me into trouble last time.  I don't know if it is the chip that is limiting the color or if the monitor is so old it only allows it.  I need to do some looking I guess.  I have two older monitors, one older than the other, and frankly alot of the reader rabbit software I want for my 3 and 5 yr olds are from the oldest who is now 12, so perhaps this isn't a problem.  Reader Rabbit Learn to Read taught my son to read by himself when he was 5 and he loved it, so I am hoping for the same success with the girls.  Unfortunately being home the last 5 years with them has perhaps caused some dry-rot to settle in and the old gears aren't turning as fast as they used to be! (Perhaps I am just looking for an excuse not to get the taxes done!)

Cat 

[patio]

In order for the graphics to work properly you need to install the correct drivers....
Did you re-install the MBoard drivers after installing Win98 ? ?
Is it onboard grapiics or a video card ? ?

[Cat]

   Okay, so I am back to where I start.  Here is the deal.  I should really just turn off my computers so that I don't break anything else.  I got the cd-rom working and all, but I wanted to make things better.  I have two old computers, both pentiums, one our old one and one an old work put together one with an old monitor.  Ours is about 8 years old now, but it was decent at the time, and the monitor is an Acer 54E.  I got ours working with the ancient monitor and it only had 16 bit color, so I wanted to get it going with our newer monitor.  I changed the display to 256 color because I am pretty sure the VGA card allows it, and then it needed to re-boot.  When it came back it was just a black screen with green lines.  I tried changing to the Acer monitor because I thought it might handle it, but it just gives me the black screen.  So now I can't see anything to change back to 16 bit color, so I did a re-install again and customized it to use Acer 55 as the monitor as I couldn't find 54E on the list.  I needed to hook up to the old monitor while doing this as I still get a black screen with the occaisional flicker on the Acer.  Still nothing when I hook up the Acer, and when it re-boots at the end of the re-install I still get the black screen with green lines on the old monitor as well, presumable because the color display hasn't changed.  I don't know how to change the display so it seems I am back to square one and need to re-install after formating the hard-drive again to wipe everything out.  I know the Acer monitor works as I have been using it with the older computer just fine, but I don't know if the older computer's VGA card is good enough to handle more than 16 bit display, so I wanted to swap monitors.  

Here is the real question!  Does anyone know how I can find out what Video cards I am using and what monitors are setup on my computer, preferably in dos?  Then perhaps I could change the settings.  Also, anyone know how one undoes changes like this to display when you can't see anything because you buggered your display?  

I hope I am not too confusing!!  My best advice, never have more kids than computers in your house, or you will be spending your Saturdays trying to bring old things back to life!!!

Cat

[Cat]

Patio:

I know you are trying to ask me something but I have no idea what.  I have disks for drivers, but it doesn't tell you in the read-me files what the drivers are for ie. what particular piece of hardware.  I have some Monster 3D drivers, plug and play drivers etc, but I don't know what I need.  I don't know what Mboard drivers are, and I also don't know if it is onboard graphics or a video card or what the difference is.  Sorry to be so clueless. 

Here is one hint that may help.  On the back of this computer there is a little jumper cord from the monitor plug that goes down to the next slot and plugs in there and you plug the monitor in beside it.  We think it means there is a Video card that you take the display through?  Does that sound right?  As you can see I am way out of my league here.

Cat

[2k_dummy]

Try booting to safe mode and change the display back to its original setting.

[patio]

DLoad and install Everest Home and save a log of what it shows for video components....post it here and we can continue...

[Raptor]

You should obtain Windows 98SE, it's a lot more versatile and reliable than Windows 95. Not to mention its still a wee-bit compatible with nowadays hardware/fads.

[Cat]

First question...what is Everest Home?

Anyway, the update.  I formated the harddrive and re-installed windows 95 (I have the disks and don't want to buy new).  I did some digging and found references to ATI VGA Wonder and ATI Graphics Pro Turbo PCI (mach 64 Rage/GT)  I went to ATI's website and found my hardware too old to download drivers, and that is when I twigged.  I remembered seeing an ATI disk for something in the disk bin and pulled it out and installed drivers.    I re-booted and now have 256 bit color.  yeah.   

Anyway, I tried to swap monitors again, still have a blank screen on the Acer, but at this point don't really care as both oldies are now running 256 bit color.  I have selected the Acer Monitor in the system, but still nothing so I think I will leave well enough alone.

Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions.  I couldn't have done it without you!!! (but none-the-less I am still proud of myself for perservering. ) Would I be dating myself too badly if I admitted that I started my career working on computers that filled rooms bigger than alot of city blocks?

Cat 

[2k_dummy]

Those were the days when we actually spent in the computer instead of using it. But don't worry, I won't spill the beans.

[patio]

You worked on Univac ? ? ?