Tech Question

[Der Nister]

I recently tried to install a cd-rw into my pc. I have an old system but this model was supposed to be compatible.

So I took out the old one (after installing the new one's driver's ect) and the new one refused to work properly (even though the device mgr said it was ok).

Well then I tried re-installing the old one and now it won't work at all and I get this message "this device is either not present, not working properly or does not have the right driver installed".

I've checked the driver and it says the right driver is installed so I check further and find this....

Compatibility mode paging reduces overall system performance.

Windows was unable to identify a real-mode driver or memory-resident program loaded in your Config.sys or Autoexec.bat file. You will see another message that lists the name of the driver or program causing the problem.

Because Windows could not identify the driver or program, it has switched to MS-DOS compatibility mode to ensure the program will run. However, this decreases overall performance. To improve performance, remove the program or driver causing the problem, or contact its manufacturer for an upgraded version.

Master boot record has been modified.

The master boot record has been modified by some program. This may be caused by disk manager software used to add large hard disk drives to older computers, or encryption or other security software. It may also be caused by a virus on your computer. If you do not have disk-management or security software installed, scan you computer for viruses.

Important

Viruses can cause data loss. Check all the disks on your computer immediately for a virus by using any virus-checking software.

I checked for a virus and none were found so I'm stumped.

Does anyone here know how this can be fixed?

[Draco1958]

Wish I could help. I'm still running Win98 on my tower and I have the cab files loaded on the HD. Never had that come up. I never load the driver disk with any cd rom. You might want to uninstall it from the device manager then unplug it and boot the computer, then plug it back in, reboot and use the windows cd to get a driver for it. That might help.

[SuZQZ]

What operating system are you running?

[Der Nister]

Win98 is what I'm running.

[SuZQZ]

Ack! Been years since I worked with that OS. Ok, first, never believe the device manager. I never do.

Is the driver you downloaded for the new device compatible with Win98? (sorry, have to ask)...

In the device manager, uninstall the the device (If I remember correctly you should be able to right click on it to get the shortcut menu). Then do a scan for new hardware and see if Windows finds it. If it does, try loading the driver for it. For the old device, driver's/firmware are usually all stored on C:\WinNt\system32. For the new device, point to where ever you saved the driver/firmware.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Uninstall what ever driver you installed. Windows 98 and higher do not use drivers for CD-Roms. The driver you loaded is conflicting with the Filter driver Windows does use.

[SuZQZ]

Gaf, doesn't Win98 handle loading hardware differently that XP and up though? I can't remember all that well. Like I stated above, been many years since I've worked with it.

[Der Nister]

In the device manager, uninstall the the device.

Well, that was all i had to do - after I removed it from the list my computer restarted its self (I dunno why) and when I got it up and running again, the cd-rom was working just fine.

That was crazy.

Thanks everyone - you solved the problem. =)

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Suz, sorta. It's kinda half assed. In "native" mode.. the cd-rom uses the filter driver... but if you "restart in DOS mode" it uses the old 16bit DOS drivers and you have to put mscdex in the... crap.. it's a batch file in the windows folder... it's the autoexec.bat used when you restart in DOS mode... and the driver for the cd-rom in the config.sys.. 98 loads it but ignores it till you go into DOS mode... If you make a DOS boot disk with 98 it puts the needed files on the floppy so you ahve a cd-rom at the DOS prompt.

98 uses DOS mouse drivers much the same way.

[SuZQZ]

Suz, sorta. It's kinda half assed. In "native" mode.. the cd-rom uses the filter driver... but if you "restart in DOS mode" it uses the old 16bit DOS drivers and you have to put mscdex in the... crap.. it's a batch file in the windows folder... it's the autoexec.bat used when you restart in DOS mode... and the driver for the cd-rom in the config.sys.. 98 loads it but ignores it till you go into DOS mode... If you make a DOS boot disk with 98 it puts the needed files on the floppy so you ahve a cd-rom at the DOS prompt.

98 uses DOS mouse drivers much the same way.

Ahhhh, yeeeesssssss... Autoexec.bat... that jogged the noggin! I figured out it's been 5 years since I've worked on a 98/98SE OS. All I could remember was that Add Hardware took more shmoozing. LOL

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

I had to add a modem to an old 386SX running MS-Dos 6.2 a few weeks ago. It took forever to find a true hardware based modem and cost a small mint... and then it took most of the day to get it working...most ofthat time was remembering how to do it.