CD-ROM in DOS

[Eric H.]

I'm running into some problems with my second build.

It will have a Philips 804K 8x4x32 Internal CDRW and a Artec 12x DVD ROM Drive. Now, how will I get one of these to work in DOS so I can install windows?

Philips I believe won't work in DOS, and Artec I can't find the drivers for. I made a boot disk with 5 generic CD-ROM drivers, so when I build the thing maybe one of those will work?

The only other thing I can think of is using a 52x CD-ROM drive with DOS drivers from my other build, that I know will work. I'd rather not remove the CD-ROM and install it on this one, install windows, then remove it install the other 2 CD-ROM's and put the 52x back in its original computer.

Also on my boot disk I included fdisk and format so I can make my hard drive usable. The correct way to use fdisk would be "fdisk c:" from the A:\ prompt, or just fdisk? I've seen somewhere the correct usage is "fdisk c:" but, if it isn't partitioned yet, it wont have a drive letter thus fdisk c: is useless.

[DrZaius]

Hi Eric H.,

First, use a Windows 98SE bootdisk, it contains all of the necessary CD-ROM drivers so that you can install Windows. If you don't have access to a Win98SE computer, just download this (http://www.user-friendly.net/ftp/pub/Boot%20Disks/boot98se.exe).

Second, the command is just fdisk. This will take you to a menu with the options of creating a partition, deleting a partition, and viewing partitions. Just follow the instructions and it should be relatively easy. Hope that helps.

[HAL9000]

Why be so difficult about CD drivers. Set your boot sequence in the BIOS to CD-Rom, C, A and boot from your Win98/ME/NT/2K CD.

[Eric H.]

How do I boot from a CD without the CD-ROM being installed?

[HAL9000]

Just as I stated above, set the BIOS, insert your Win98/ME/NT/2K CD and it will boot from it.

[glc]

Set the BIOS to AUTO on all IDE channels and boot from CD first in the appropriate place, if you have a bootable CD in the drive it will boot. NO drivers required or desired. I would recommend that you put just the Artec and the video card in to do this, and then put the burner and the other cards one at a time in after Windows is installed. If you would rather boot from a floppy, a 98SE startup disk has all the required drivers for CD support. Once Windows is installed, NO drivers are required for the CD - Windows takes care of this all by itself. It's not like the old Dos/Win 3.1 days any more.

[Hpro]

Eric H.


Philips I believe won't work in DOS, and Artec I can't find the drivers for. I made a boot disk with 5 generic CD-ROM drivers


They will ALL WORK with either AOATAPI.SYS (Comes on the Philips installation disk)or OAKCDROM.SYS which is one of the Win9X - Ms-Dos Default drivers.

If those doesn't work then it's only because of not putting the right Statement into the Config.sys and or Autoexec.bat.

But anyway as HAL9000 wrote boot out of the bios and in ADAVNCED SETTINGS on BIOSES up to version 4.51 For AWARD or BOOT menu version 6.0 Phoenix or in AMI ADAVANCED SETTINGS select the BOOT SEQUENCE to be CDROM, C, A and it will boot without that you have to have drivers installed - if no bootable CDROM is found it will jump to the next drive this would be then C:\after it has been FDISKED and FORMATTTED properly..