CD drive not working

[Larry]

In my Dell Dimension with Windows 98, when I put a CD in the CD drive, I
get this message:

"E\: is not accessible. The device is not ready."

Where do I start with troubleshooting on this? Thanks much.

Larry

[Larry]

I looked up this on the web, and I checked out the device manager and
the driver for the CD seemed ok. Should I delete it and let it be
rebuilt? But can it be rebuilt if the replacement drive is on the W98
CD, since the CD player doesn't work?

Larry





Larry wrote:
> In my Dell Dimension with Windows 98, when I put a CD in the CD
> drive, I get this message:
>
> "E\: is not accessible. The device is not ready."
>
> Where do I start with troubleshooting on this? Thanks much.
>
> Larry

[Gary S. Terhune]

If you want to rule out drivers and configuration issues, you should boot to
Safe Mode, go into Device Manager, and remove *all* drives, *all* controllers,
and the System device called "PCI Bus". While you're there, review all devices
and make a list of any items that are *exactly* duplicated, and how many times.
Restart and let Windows reinstall the drives. Will probably require two restarts
and may require the Windows setup CD.

If that doesn't help, you'll want to check the drive's connections inside the
PC, or perhaps try blowing it out from the hatch cover (in case dust inside the
drive is involved), though that may simply make it worse, or even waste some
money on a cleaner CD--but my guess is that the drive is a goner. For what
little those things cost these days, I'd go straight for a new drive.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Larry" > wrote in message
...
> I looked up this on the web, and I checked out the device manager and
> the driver for the CD seemed ok. Should I delete it and let it be
> rebuilt? But can it be rebuilt if the replacement drive is on the W98
> CD, since the CD player doesn't work?
>
> Larry
>
>
>
>
>
> Larry wrote:
> > In my Dell Dimension with Windows 98, when I put a CD in the CD
> > drive, I get this message:
> >
> > "E\: is not accessible. The device is not ready."
> >
> > Where do I start with troubleshooting on this? Thanks much.
> >
> > Larry
>
>

[Larry]

Gary,

From what you're saying, removing all drives etc. would be very risky,
since you say it may require the Windows setup CD to restore Windows
after deleting all the drives. If the CD drive is still not working at
that point, I wouldn't be able to restore Windows and would have an
unusable computer, instead of an unusable CD drive, as at present.

Maybe you're right and I just need a new CD drive.

Larry





Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> If you want to rule out drivers and configuration issues, you should
> boot to Safe Mode, go into Device Manager, and remove *all* drives,
> *all* controllers, and the System device called "PCI Bus". While
> you're there, review all devices and make a list of any items that
> are *exactly* duplicated, and how many times. Restart and let Windows
> reinstall the drives. Will probably require two restarts and may
> require the Windows setup CD.
>
> If that doesn't help, you'll want to check the drive's connections
> inside the PC, or perhaps try blowing it out from the hatch cover (in
> case dust inside the drive is involved), though that may simply make
> it worse, or even waste some money on a cleaner CD--but my guess is
> that the drive is a goner. For what little those things cost these
> days, I'd go straight for a new drive.
>
>
> "Larry" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I looked up this on the web, and I checked out the device manager
> > and the driver for the CD seemed ok. Should I delete it and let it
> > be rebuilt? But can it be rebuilt if the replacement drive is on
> > the W98 CD, since the CD player doesn't work?
> >
> > Larry
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Larry wrote:
> > > In my Dell Dimension with Windows 98, when I put a CD in the CD
> > > drive, I get this message:
> > >
> > > "E\: is not accessible. The device is not ready."
> > >
> > > Where do I start with troubleshooting on this? Thanks much.
> > >
> > > Larry

[Gary S. Terhune]

My apologies.

The only reason you'd need the Windows Setup CD is to install bits of drivers.
In the case of drives and supporting devices, I'm almost certain this won't be
needed. I don't recall it ever being so--more with other devices like network
cards and sound, etc. However, I see your point. I was not quite with it when I
posted that response. And it brings up an issue that should be addressed
eventually, even if you can't do it immediately--one should *always* copy
Windows installation files to the hard drive, in order to avoid just this
problem--needing the installation files when a CD drive is unavailable.

Bringing us to another solution: Test your CD drive by booting with a floppy
Windows Startup boot disk. You should be able to test your CD drive this way,
and even copy over the Windows installation files to your hard drive. Might want
to make sure they're not already there, though. They consist of several dozen
files with the name format WIN98_xx.CAB, where xx is a two-digit number.
Usually, they're added to C:\Windows\Options\CABS.

In any case, is *not* a risky affair--I do it all the time. Probably ought to
forget I even mentioned the setup files requirement. I added it by habit, since
other devices often *do* require access to those files.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Larry" > wrote in message
...
>
> Gary,
>
> From what you're saying, removing all drives etc. would be very risky,
> since you say it may require the Windows setup CD to restore Windows
> after deleting all the drives. If the CD drive is still not working at
> that point, I wouldn't be able to restore Windows and would have an
> unusable computer, instead of an unusable CD drive, as at present.
>
> Maybe you're right and I just need a new CD drive.
>
> Larry
>
>
>
>
>
> Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> > If you want to rule out drivers and configuration issues, you should
> > boot to Safe Mode, go into Device Manager, and remove *all* drives,
> > *all* controllers, and the System device called "PCI Bus". While
> > you're there, review all devices and make a list of any items that
> > are *exactly* duplicated, and how many times. Restart and let Windows
> > reinstall the drives. Will probably require two restarts and may
> > require the Windows setup CD.
> >
> > If that doesn't help, you'll want to check the drive's connections
> > inside the PC, or perhaps try blowing it out from the hatch cover (in
> > case dust inside the drive is involved), though that may simply make
> > it worse, or even waste some money on a cleaner CD--but my guess is
> > that the drive is a goner. For what little those things cost these
> > days, I'd go straight for a new drive.
> >
> >
> > "Larry" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I looked up this on the web, and I checked out the device manager
> > > and the driver for the CD seemed ok. Should I delete it and let it
> > > be rebuilt? But can it be rebuilt if the replacement drive is on
> > > the W98 CD, since the CD player doesn't work?
> > >
> > > Larry
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Larry wrote:
> > > > In my Dell Dimension with Windows 98, when I put a CD in the CD
> > > > drive, I get this message:
> > > >
> > > > "E\: is not accessible. The device is not ready."
> > > >
> > > > Where do I start with troubleshooting on this? Thanks much.
> > > >
> > > > Larry
>
>

[Larry]

> Bringing us to another solution: Test your CD drive by booting with a
floppy
Windows Startup boot disk.

What happens when I boot using the boot disk? Will it give me options
to test the CD drive?

(I have a boot disk sitting around from when I first set up the
computer. I've never had occasion to use it.)

As for the installation files, in \Windows\CABS there are a bunch of
files numbered from WIN98_22.CAB to WIN98_69.CAB. I also see an
unidentified file W98SETUP.BIN.

Given this information, should I proceed with the instructions from your
earlier e-mail? You wrote:

> If you want to rule out drivers and configuration issues, you should
boot to
Safe Mode, go into Device Manager, and remove *all* drives, *all*
controllers,
and the System device called "PCI Bus". While you're there, review all
devices
and make a list of any items that are *exactly* duplicated, and how many
times.
Restart and let Windows reinstall the drives. Will probably require two
restarts
and may require the Windows setup CD.

Also, just to be sure, what are controllers as distinct from drivers?
(You wrote drives but I think you meant drivers.)

Larry



Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> My apologies.
>
> The only reason you'd need the Windows Setup CD is to install bits of
> drivers. In the case of drives and supporting devices, I'm almost
> certain this won't be needed. I don't recall it ever being so--more
> with other devices like network cards and sound, etc. However, I see
> your point. I was not quite with it when I posted that response. And
> it brings up an issue that should be addressed eventually, even if
> you can't do it immediately--one should *always* copy Windows
> installation files to the hard drive, in order to avoid just this
> problem--needing the installation files when a CD drive is
> unavailable.
>
> Bringing us to another solution: Test your CD drive by booting with a
> floppy Windows Startup boot disk. You should be able to test your CD
> drive this way, and even copy over the Windows installation files to
> your hard drive. Might want to make sure they're not already there,
> though. They consist of several dozen files with the name format
> WIN98_xx.CAB, where xx is a two-digit number. Usually, they're added
> to C:\Windows\Options\CABS.
>
> In any case, is *not* a risky affair--I do it all the time. Probably
> ought to forget I even mentioned the setup files requirement. I added
> it by habit, since other devices often *do* require access to those
> files.
>
>
> "Larry" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Gary,
> >
> > From what you're saying, removing all drives etc. would be very
> > risky, since you say it may require the Windows setup CD to restore
> > Windows after deleting all the drives. If the CD drive is still
> > not working at that point, I wouldn't be able to restore Windows
> > and would have an unusable computer, instead of an unusable CD
> > drive, as at present.
> >
> > Maybe you're right and I just need a new CD drive.
> >
> > Larry
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> > > If you want to rule out drivers and configuration issues, you
> > > should boot to Safe Mode, go into Device Manager, and remove
> > > *all* drives, *all* controllers, and the System device called
> > > "PCI Bus". While you're there, review all devices and make a list
> > > of any items that are *exactly* duplicated, and how many times.
> > > Restart and let Windows reinstall the drives. Will probably
> > > require two restarts and may require the Windows setup CD.
> > >
> > > If that doesn't help, you'll want to check the drive's connections
> > > inside the PC, or perhaps try blowing it out from the hatch cover
> > > (in case dust inside the drive is involved), though that may
> > > simply make it worse, or even waste some money on a cleaner
> > > CD--but my guess is that the drive is a goner. For what little
> > > those things cost these days, I'd go straight for a new drive.
> > >
> > >
> > > "Larry" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > I looked up this on the web, and I checked out the device
> > > > manager and the driver for the CD seemed ok. Should I delete
> > > > it and let it be rebuilt? But can it be rebuilt if the
> > > > replacement drive is on the W98 CD, since the CD player doesn't
> > > > work?
> > > >
> > > > Larry
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Larry wrote:
> > > > > In my Dell Dimension with Windows 98, when I put a CD in the
> > > > > CD drive, I get this message:
> > > > >
> > > > > "E\: is not accessible. The device is not ready."
> > > > >
> > > > > Where do I start with troubleshooting on this? Thanks much.
> > > > >
> > > > > Larry

[Gary S. Terhune]

"Larry" > wrote in message
...
>
> > Bringing us to another solution: Test your CD drive by booting with a
> floppy
> Windows Startup boot disk.
>
> What happens when I boot using the boot disk? Will it give me options
> to test the CD drive?
>
> (I have a boot disk sitting around from when I first set up the
> computer. I've never had occasion to use it.)

No, there are not test options per se: You just put in a CD and see if you can
read it. Take note of the new CD drive letter. let's say it's now F: (boot
disk's RAM drive will occupy one of the letters, temporarily boosting teh CD
drive(s) to the next letter.)

Type in:

F: (F, colon), then <enter>. You should see:

F:\>

Now (with a data CD inserted) type in DIR, press enter, and see if it gives you
a directory listing of the CD. If so, that's a good sign. Not proof positive
that the drive is good, but a good sign nontheless. If you get some kind of
error, one that you can't get around, then you may as well open the case and
check the cables, etc., or just go get a new drive now.

> As for the installation files, in \Windows\CABS there are a bunch of
> files numbered from WIN98_22.CAB to WIN98_69.CAB. I also see an
> unidentified file W98SETUP.BIN.

Then you have them, don't need the Setup CD.

>
> Given this information, should I proceed with the instructions from your
> earlier e-mail? You wrote:
>
> > If you want to rule out drivers and configuration issues, you should
> boot to
> Safe Mode, go into Device Manager, and remove *all* drives, *all*
> controllers,
> and the System device called "PCI Bus". While you're there, review all
> devices
> and make a list of any items that are *exactly* duplicated, and how many
> times.
> Restart and let Windows reinstall the drives. Will probably require two
> restarts
> and may require the Windows setup CD.
>
> Also, just to be sure, what are controllers as distinct from drivers?
> (You wrote drives but I think you meant drivers.)

Controllers are the motherboard (or PCI card) devices that you plug the drives'
cables into. They are what "control" the drives, translate the data stream. They
are "parent devices" of the drives, and they in turn are "child" devices of the
PCI Bus. Drivers are software files that allow Windows to control each of these
devices. This is why *all* of these devices--hard drives, CD drives, floppy
drives, controllers and PCI Bus need to be removed--so that Windows will
reinstall and configure them properly, rebuild that entire portion of the
hardware "tree".

Yes, I'd say you're free to proceed as I initially suggested. You'll find that
two devices called FIFO devices (part of the Controllers) will not permit
themselves to be removed. There are ways to do this, anyway (their not being
removable is actually a bit of a bug), but I've seldom found it necessary.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

[Larry]

Gary,

Thanks for the continuing help. You're explaining what drives and
controllers are in the three dimensional universe, but I want to be
clear about what I'm supposed to remove in the Device Manager tab.
Sorry about these questions.

For example, I click open the level below CDROM and I see NEC CD-ROM
DRIVE:28D. Which of these do I remove?

Next, there is Disk Drives. I open up the level below that and there
are three items including GENERIC IDE DISK TYPE01. Which of these do I
remove?

Then below Display adapters there is ATI Rage Pro AGP 2X. It doesn't
say anything about a driver.

Under Mouse there is PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port. It doesn't say
anything about a Mouse driver.

What exactly do I remove?

Also, since the only problem is the CD, why not just remove the CD
driver instead of all the drivers?

Larry




Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> "Larry" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > > Bringing us to another solution: Test your CD drive by booting
> > > with a
> > floppy
> > Windows Startup boot disk.
> >
> > What happens when I boot using the boot disk? Will it give me
> > options to test the CD drive?
> >
> > (I have a boot disk sitting around from when I first set up the
> > computer. I've never had occasion to use it.)
>
> No, there are not test options per se: You just put in a CD and see
> if you can read it. Take note of the new CD drive letter. let's say
> it's now F: (boot disk's RAM drive will occupy one of the letters,
> temporarily boosting teh CD drive(s) to the next letter.)
>
> Type in:
>
> F: (F, colon), then <enter>. You should see:
>
> F:\>
>
> Now (with a data CD inserted) type in DIR, press enter, and see if it
> gives you a directory listing of the CD. If so, that's a good sign.
> Not proof positive that the drive is good, but a good sign
> nontheless. If you get some kind of error, one that you can't get
> around, then you may as well open the case and check the cables,
> etc., or just go get a new drive now.
>
> > As for the installation files, in \Windows\CABS there are a bunch of
> > files numbered from WIN98_22.CAB to WIN98_69.CAB. I also see an
> > unidentified file W98SETUP.BIN.
>
> Then you have them, don't need the Setup CD.
>
> >
> > Given this information, should I proceed with the instructions from
> > your earlier e-mail? You wrote:
> >
> > > If you want to rule out drivers and configuration issues, you
> > > should
> > boot to
> > Safe Mode, go into Device Manager, and remove *all* drives, *all*
> > controllers,
> > and the System device called "PCI Bus". While you're there, review
> > all devices
> > and make a list of any items that are *exactly* duplicated, and how
> > many times.
> > Restart and let Windows reinstall the drives. Will probably require
> > two restarts
> > and may require the Windows setup CD.
> >
> > Also, just to be sure, what are controllers as distinct from
> > drivers? (You wrote drives but I think you meant drivers.)
>
> Controllers are the motherboard (or PCI card) devices that you plug
> the drives' cables into. They are what "control" the drives,
> translate the data stream. They are "parent devices" of the drives,
> and they in turn are "child" devices of the PCI Bus. Drivers are
> software files that allow Windows to control each of these devices.
> This is why *all* of these devices--hard drives, CD drives, floppy
> drives, controllers and PCI Bus need to be removed--so that Windows
> will reinstall and configure them properly, rebuild that entire
> portion of the hardware "tree".
>
> Yes, I'd say you're free to proceed as I initially suggested. You'll
> find that two devices called FIFO devices (part of the Controllers)
> will not permit themselves to be removed. There are ways to do this,
> anyway (their not being removable is actually a bit of a bug), but
> I've seldom found it necessary.

[Gary S. Terhune]

"Larry" > wrote in message
...
>
> Gary,
>
> Thanks for the continuing help. You're explaining what drives and
> controllers are in the three dimensional universe, but I want to be
> clear about what I'm supposed to remove in the Device Manager tab.
> Sorry about these questions.

No problem. You are smart to move slowly. Wish there were more like you, <s>.

>
> For example, I click open the level below CDROM and I see NEC CD-ROM
> DRIVE:28D. Which of these do I remove?

The latter. That first level is only the category. Once you remove all devices
in a category, the category disappears of its own accord.

>
> Next, there is Disk Drives. I open up the level below that and there
> are three items including GENERIC IDE DISK TYPE01. Which of these do I
> remove?

ALL of them. Do you really have three hard disks in your machine? Because this
is one of the reasons I have people look for duplications. Windows frequently
reinstalls a device even though it's already been installed. When it does that,
the configuration may not turn out the same (and please don't ask me to go into
*those* details--I'm not qualified, <s>.) The result is, however, that if while
starting up the system picks the wrong Registry entries for that device, it
doesn't work so well, because it's now not configured in good concert with the
rest of the system. This is why we rebuild entire sections, instead of simply
reinstalling single devices. So they all play well together. (And yes, in this
sense, saying that we are "removing" devices is misleading--we're actually
removing Registry entries that tell the system how to configure the device and
what drivers files to use, etc.) We do all this in Safe Mode because in Normal
Mode only those devices that have loaded (working or not) are shown, while in
Safe Mode every entry for the device is shown.

>
> Then below Display adapters there is ATI Rage Pro AGP 2X. It doesn't
> say anything about a driver.

Again, you're confusing "drives" with "drivers". All devices have drivers. Even
drives. A drive is a piece of hardware. A driver is a bit of software that
manages the hardware.
PS--Do NOT remove the display adapter! This is the one device that can cause
real trouble if you just remove it. Instead, you should change the display
adapter drivers to be "Standard VGA", then in Normal Mode, reinstall the proper
drivers for your device.

>
> Under Mouse there is PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port. It doesn't say
> anything about a Mouse driver.

Don't worry about it. That "port" has it's drivers, and this happens to be the
way your mouse is recognized and operated.

>
> What exactly do I remove?

ALL Drives (CD, hard drive and floppy.) ALL Controllers (IDE and Floppy), and
the one device in the System category called "PCI Bus."

For now, do not remove anything else, just make a list of any items that are
*exactly* duplicated and post it back here. Some are *supposed* to be
duplicated, some aren't. And what to remove/reinstall depends on what you find.

>
> Also, since the only problem is the CD, why not just remove the CD
> driver instead of all the drivers?

Well, unless you have three hard drives, perhaps the problem isn't the CD
drive--it's the fact that you have three entries claiming to be hard drives when
only one really exists. s explaioned above, the existence of ghost devices can
cause problems for the real device--but it can also cause problems for closely
related devices, or even major problems for all devices, since you may get
dumped into "Real Mode Compatibility" and be running Normal Windows under
conditions that are more like Safe Mode---where CD drives don't work, for
instance. In fact, this situation may also require an additional fix, but that
can wait until we test this hypothesis.

Anyway, that's why we rebuild this entire "branch" of the hardware tree. Going
farther toward the trunk (motherboard devices) might be necessary, but
experience has shown that the devices I mention are usually all that need
reconfiguring in your situation, no more and no less.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

[Larry]

Great. Thanks so much. I'll try to get to this tonight.

As for the apparent two hard drives, a possible explanation is that a
few years ago, Dell had to send someone to my house to replace the hard
drive. Maybe this is a "trace" of the original hard drive.

Larry



----------------

Larry,

I'm commenting "in line" below, and I'll specifically note which items
to
remove.

Gary

"Larry" > wrote in message
...

> Does this mean the word "drive" or "controller" must be in the item
for
> me to remove it? For example, under the items for Keyboard, Mouse,
> Scanner, Monitor, Ports and Adapters it doesn't say "controller." So
do
> I leave them all alone?

*Those categories have nothing to do with Drives or Drive Controllers,
so yes,
accoding to my instruction, leave those alone. I may comment differently
after
reviewing them, however.

>
> Under System devices, do I ONLY remove PCI bus?

*Again, for the moment that's all. Again, I may change my advice after
reviewing
your report.

>
> I already understand that I leave Rage Pro under Display Adapters
alone.
>
> Re your questions, I have just one hard drive on this machine.
>
> Also, when I go back to remove the items, should I go into Safe Mode
> again?

*Absolutely! DO ALL of this in Safe Mode, do it all at the same time,
then
restart your system to let it reinstall them automatically.

> CDROM
> - NEC CD-ROM DRIVE:28C
>
> Disk Drives
> - Generic IDE Disk Type01
> - Generic IDE Disk Type80
> - Generic NEC Floppy Disk
> - IOMEGA ZIP 100
*Remove everything down to this point. (5 items).
*You don't have three hard drives listed here, only two. You have one
floppy,
one Zip 100, and one hard drive, either a Type80 or a Type01. (or,
perhaps, you
*do* have two hard drives.)

>
> Display adapters
> - ATI Rage Pro AGP 2X
>
> Floppy disk controllers
> - Standard Floppy Disk Controller

*Remove the above.

>
> Hard disk controllers
> - Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bust Master IDE Controller
> - Plus Hardcard II

*Remove the above two. You can't remove the below two.

> - Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
> - Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)

*Everything below this point is OK, except, as noted before, you want to
remove
*only* that "PCI Bus" item in the System section. The multiple instances
of "IRQ
Holder" are normal. Leave them alone. Four copies of "Motherboard
Resources"
isn't quite "normal", but it isn't unheard of, either. For the moment,
leave
those alone. In your case, the SCSI Controller is for your sanner, only,
and has
nothing to do with the disk drives. In some systems, disk drives are
SCSI
controlled.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x


>
> Keyboard
> - Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
>
> Microtek Scanner
> - Scanner 300A4
>
> Modem
> - U.S. Robotics 56Kvoice Win
>
> Monitors
> - (Unknown Monitor)
> - Dell D1025TM
>
> Mouse
> - PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
>
> Network adapters
> - dial-up adapter
> - Efficient Networks P.P.P.o.E Adapter (NTSP3)
> - Linksys LNE100TX(v5) Fast Ethernet Adapter
>
> Ports (COM&LPT)
> - Communications Port(COM1)
> - Printer Port (LPT1)
> - Printer Port (LPT1)
>
> SCSI controllers
> - Microtek Parallel Port Host Adapter
>
> Sound, video and game controllers
> - about 14 items under this, so I won't list them, though there is one
> duplicate:
> - Microsoft Streaming Tee/Sink-to-Sink Converter (appears twice)
>
> System devices
> - Many items under this including PCI bus. Duplicates under this
> category are:
> - IRQ Holder for PCI Steering (4 duplicates)
> - Motherborard resources (4 duplicates)
>
> Univeral serial bus controller
> - Intel 82371AB/EB PCE to USB Universal Host Controller
> - USB Root Hub

[Gary S. Terhune]

I figured that might be the case, with regard to the HDDs, but you don't know
which one is the real one, so best to kill them all and let God, er, Windows
sort it out.

I have to admit, after all this, that the most likely result is that your CD
Drive is in need of replacement.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Larry" > wrote in message
...
>
>
>
>
> Great. Thanks so much. I'll try to get to this tonight.
>
> As for the apparent two hard drives, a possible explanation is that a
> few years ago, Dell had to send someone to my house to replace the hard
> drive. Maybe this is a "trace" of the original hard drive.
>
> Larry
>
>
>
> ----------------
>
> Larry,
>
> I'm commenting "in line" below, and I'll specifically note which items
> to
> remove.
>
> Gary
>
> "Larry" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > Does this mean the word "drive" or "controller" must be in the item
> for
> > me to remove it? For example, under the items for Keyboard, Mouse,
> > Scanner, Monitor, Ports and Adapters it doesn't say "controller." So
> do
> > I leave them all alone?
>
> *Those categories have nothing to do with Drives or Drive Controllers,
> so yes,
> accoding to my instruction, leave those alone. I may comment differently
> after
> reviewing them, however.
>
> >
> > Under System devices, do I ONLY remove PCI bus?
>
> *Again, for the moment that's all. Again, I may change my advice after
> reviewing
> your report.
>
> >
> > I already understand that I leave Rage Pro under Display Adapters
> alone.
> >
> > Re your questions, I have just one hard drive on this machine.
> >
> > Also, when I go back to remove the items, should I go into Safe Mode
> > again?
>
> *Absolutely! DO ALL of this in Safe Mode, do it all at the same time,
> then
> restart your system to let it reinstall them automatically.
>
> > CDROM
> > - NEC CD-ROM DRIVE:28C
> >
> > Disk Drives
> > - Generic IDE Disk Type01
> > - Generic IDE Disk Type80
> > - Generic NEC Floppy Disk
> > - IOMEGA ZIP 100
> *Remove everything down to this point. (5 items).
> *You don't have three hard drives listed here, only two. You have one
> floppy,
> one Zip 100, and one hard drive, either a Type80 or a Type01. (or,
> perhaps, you
> *do* have two hard drives.)
>
> >
> > Display adapters
> > - ATI Rage Pro AGP 2X
> >
> > Floppy disk controllers
> > - Standard Floppy Disk Controller
>
> *Remove the above.
>
> >
> > Hard disk controllers
> > - Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bust Master IDE Controller
> > - Plus Hardcard II
>
> *Remove the above two. You can't remove the below two.
>
> > - Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
> > - Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
>
> *Everything below this point is OK, except, as noted before, you want to
> remove
> *only* that "PCI Bus" item in the System section. The multiple instances
> of "IRQ
> Holder" are normal. Leave them alone. Four copies of "Motherboard
> Resources"
> isn't quite "normal", but it isn't unheard of, either. For the moment,
> leave
> those alone. In your case, the SCSI Controller is for your sanner, only,
> and has
> nothing to do with the disk drives. In some systems, disk drives are
> SCSI
> controlled.
>
> --
> Gary S. Terhune
> MS MVP for Win9x
>
>
> >
> > Keyboard
> > - Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
> >
> > Microtek Scanner
> > - Scanner 300A4
> >
> > Modem
> > - U.S. Robotics 56Kvoice Win
> >
> > Monitors
> > - (Unknown Monitor)
> > - Dell D1025TM
> >
> > Mouse
> > - PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
> >
> > Network adapters
> > - dial-up adapter
> > - Efficient Networks P.P.P.o.E Adapter (NTSP3)
> > - Linksys LNE100TX(v5) Fast Ethernet Adapter
> >
> > Ports (COM&LPT)
> > - Communications Port(COM1)
> > - Printer Port (LPT1)
> > - Printer Port (LPT1)
> >
> > SCSI controllers
> > - Microtek Parallel Port Host Adapter
> >
> > Sound, video and game controllers
> > - about 14 items under this, so I won't list them, though there is one
> > duplicate:
> > - Microsoft Streaming Tee/Sink-to-Sink Converter (appears twice)
> >
> > System devices
> > - Many items under this including PCI bus. Duplicates under this
> > category are:
> > - IRQ Holder for PCI Steering (4 duplicates)
> > - Motherborard resources (4 duplicates)
> >
> > Univeral serial bus controller
> > - Intel 82371AB/EB PCE to USB Universal Host Controller
> > - USB Root Hub
>
>

[Hugh Candlin]

Gary S. Terhune > wrote in message ...
> I figured that might be the case, with regard to the HDDs, but you don't know
> which one is the real one, so best to kill them all and let God, er, Windows
> sort it out.
>
> I have to admit, after all this, that the most likely result is that your CD
> Drive is in need of replacement.

I think that the superfluous Device Manager entries,
such as the extra HD entry and the extra Monitor entry
are throwing his PC into MS-DOS Compatibility Mode.

When that happens, you lose access to the CD_ROM drive,
and get the message
"X:\ is not accessible. The device is not ready."
where X is the CD-ROM drive letter.

I have experienced this first-hand on a number of occasions.
However, I have also had the CD-ROM Drive die on me,
so your postulation that the drive is kaput is quite valid,
and will tend to be more likely the older the PC is,
but I think that the MS-DOS Compatibility issue
is also a reasonable and possible cause of the problem.

[Gary S. Terhune]

Agreed, except that it seems to have been running fine in this state until
recently, which is what makes me suspect bad drive is more probable. Note that
I've seen "rebuild IDE tree" work even when Real Mode Compatibility was not
invoked. Certainly, if it *is* present, then rebuilding is called for--and maybe
even the NOIDE fix--which I've neglected to mention. Probably just as well to
suggest running the fix, anyway, eh?

Larry, download the file found here, read the instructions, and run it. Harmless
if NOIDE isn't an issue, priceless if it is.
http://www.aumha.org/regfiles.php#noide

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Hugh Candlin" > wrote in message
...
>
> Gary S. Terhune > wrote in message
...
> > I figured that might be the case, with regard to the HDDs, but you don't
know
> > which one is the real one, so best to kill them all and let God, er, Windows
> > sort it out.
> >
> > I have to admit, after all this, that the most likely result is that your CD
> > Drive is in need of replacement.
>
> I think that the superfluous Device Manager entries,
> such as the extra HD entry and the extra Monitor entry
> are throwing his PC into MS-DOS Compatibility Mode.
>
> When that happens, you lose access to the CD_ROM drive,
> and get the message
> "X:\ is not accessible. The device is not ready."
> where X is the CD-ROM drive letter.
>
> I have experienced this first-hand on a number of occasions.
> However, I have also had the CD-ROM Drive die on me,
> so your postulation that the drive is kaput is quite valid,
> and will tend to be more likely the older the PC is,
> but I think that the MS-DOS Compatibility issue
> is also a reasonable and possible cause of the problem.
>
>

[Hugh Candlin]

Gary S. Terhune > wrote in message ...
> Agreed, except that it seems to have been running fine in this state until
> recently, which is what makes me suspect bad drive is more probable.

He didn't say when the problem started,
but if you are correct that the PC has been running fine
for some time, then a bad drive is the likely scenario.

> Note that
> I've seen "rebuild IDE tree" work even when Real Mode Compatibility was not
> invoked. Certainly, if it *is* present, then rebuilding is called for--and maybe
> even the NOIDE fix--which I've neglected to mention. Probably just as well to
> suggest running the fix, anyway, eh?

It won't hurt. The worst that can happen [touch wood]
is that he will "change" a setting to what it already is,
so the patch would have no effect in that case.

And if he does need it, then it can only help.
It has been a LONG time since I have seen NOIDE mentioned.
I had totally forgotten about it. Nice catch.

[Larry]

I downloaded and merged the NOIDE.reg file. The CD problem persists.
Later tonight I'll do what we were talking about with the Device
Manager. If that doesn't work, I'll have to buy a new CD ROM drive.

Larry



"Gary S. Terhune" > wrote in message
...
> Agreed, except that it seems to have been running fine in this state
until
> recently, which is what makes me suspect bad drive is more probable.
Note that
> I've seen "rebuild IDE tree" work even when Real Mode Compatibility
was not
> invoked. Certainly, if it *is* present, then rebuilding is called
for--and maybe
> even the NOIDE fix--which I've neglected to mention. Probably just as
well to
> suggest running the fix, anyway, eh?
>
> Larry, download the file found here, read the instructions, and run
it. Harmless
> if NOIDE isn't an issue, priceless if it is.
> http://www.aumha.org/regfiles.php#noide
>
> --
> Gary S. Terhune
> MS MVP for Win9x
>
> "Hugh Candlin" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Gary S. Terhune > wrote in message
> ...
> > > I figured that might be the case, with regard to the HDDs, but you
don't
> know
> > > which one is the real one, so best to kill them all and let God,
er, Windows
> > > sort it out.
> > >
> > > I have to admit, after all this, that the most likely result is
that your CD
> > > Drive is in need of replacement.
> >
> > I think that the superfluous Device Manager entries,
> > such as the extra HD entry and the extra Monitor entry
> > are throwing his PC into MS-DOS Compatibility Mode.
> >
> > When that happens, you lose access to the CD_ROM drive,
> > and get the message
> > "X:\ is not accessible. The device is not ready."
> > where X is the CD-ROM drive letter.
> >
> > I have experienced this first-hand on a number of occasions.
> > However, I have also had the CD-ROM Drive die on me,
> > so your postulation that the drive is kaput is quite valid,
> > and will tend to be more likely the older the PC is,
> > but I think that the MS-DOS Compatibility issue
> > is also a reasonable and possible cause of the problem.
> >
> >
>

[Gary S. Terhune]

If I recall correctly, even with the NOIDE fix in place, you still need to fix
the hardware tree. It's just that once the NOIDE flag is in place, you *can't*
fix the problem. To know if you're in Real-Mode Compatibility, look on the
Performance tab of System Properties. It will tell you if you are. If you
aren't, it will say something about "Configured for Optimal Performance. (This
is in Normal Mode, not Safe Mode, which is always in Real-Mode Compatibility.)

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Larry" > wrote in message
...
> I downloaded and merged the NOIDE.reg file. The CD problem persists.
> Later tonight I'll do what we were talking about with the Device
> Manager. If that doesn't work, I'll have to buy a new CD ROM drive.
>
> Larry
>
>
>
> "Gary S. Terhune" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Agreed, except that it seems to have been running fine in this state
> until
> > recently, which is what makes me suspect bad drive is more probable.
> Note that
> > I've seen "rebuild IDE tree" work even when Real Mode Compatibility
> was not
> > invoked. Certainly, if it *is* present, then rebuilding is called
> for--and maybe
> > even the NOIDE fix--which I've neglected to mention. Probably just as
> well to
> > suggest running the fix, anyway, eh?
> >
> > Larry, download the file found here, read the instructions, and run
> it. Harmless
> > if NOIDE isn't an issue, priceless if it is.
> > http://www.aumha.org/regfiles.php#noide
> >
> > --
> > Gary S. Terhune
> > MS MVP for Win9x
> >
> > "Hugh Candlin" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >
> > > Gary S. Terhune > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > > I figured that might be the case, with regard to the HDDs, but you
> don't
> > know
> > > > which one is the real one, so best to kill them all and let God,
> er, Windows
> > > > sort it out.
> > > >
> > > > I have to admit, after all this, that the most likely result is
> that your CD
> > > > Drive is in need of replacement.
> > >
> > > I think that the superfluous Device Manager entries,
> > > such as the extra HD entry and the extra Monitor entry
> > > are throwing his PC into MS-DOS Compatibility Mode.
> > >
> > > When that happens, you lose access to the CD_ROM drive,
> > > and get the message
> > > "X:\ is not accessible. The device is not ready."
> > > where X is the CD-ROM drive letter.
> > >
> > > I have experienced this first-hand on a number of occasions.
> > > However, I have also had the CD-ROM Drive die on me,
> > > so your postulation that the drive is kaput is quite valid,
> > > and will tend to be more likely the older the PC is,
> > > but I think that the MS-DOS Compatibility issue
> > > is also a reasonable and possible cause of the problem.
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>