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***glc*** · 12-02-2004, 09:28 AM

Windows has builtin 32 bit drivers for CD drives. In order to access a CD in DOS, you need an actual driver loaded in config.sys (such as OAKCDROM.SYS) and the enabler in autoexec.bat (MSCDEX.EXE - MicroSoft CD-rom EXtensions). The Win98 startup disk does exactly that. The standard Win95 startup disk does not, it has to be modified manually.

OAKCDROM.SYS is a fairly universal CD driver for most modern CD drives, which is why it's on the 98 startup disk - back in the days of Win95, there were a lot of drives that required a specific driver. My 1997 vintage laptop, for example, does not work with the Oak driver - it requires TEAC-CDI.SYS. My Win95 bootdisks have quite a collection of drivers that I've had to add.

12-02-2004, 09:28 AM	#3
*glc* Forum Administrator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 37,734	Windows has builtin 32 bit drivers for CD drives. In order to access a CD in DOS, you need an actual driver loaded in config.sys (such as OAKCDROM.SYS) and the enabler in autoexec.bat (MSCDEX.EXE - MicroSoft CD-rom EXtensions). The Win98 startup disk does exactly that. The standard Win95 startup disk does not, it has to be modified manually. OAKCDROM.SYS is a fairly universal CD driver for most modern CD drives, which is why it's on the 98 startup disk - back in the days of Win95, there were a lot of drives that required a specific driver. My 1997 vintage laptop, for example, does not work with the Oak driver - it requires TEAC-CDI.SYS. My Win95 bootdisks have quite a collection of drivers that I've had to add.