CD-ROM Not Working...Primary IDE Controller Not Working...C Drive in DOS Compatibility Mode...Please help.

[abracadabra1]

Preface
I purchased a Sony CDRW Drive (32X10X40) for an old P166 w/ 32 MB RAM. I know that the system is not fast enough to burn at the max speed of 32, but I figured that once I upgraded the drive would be quite useful and having the extra speed wouldn't hurt.

Installation
I opened the case, disconnected the power, and removed all power cables. Then I popped in the drive and connected all the cables. I powered up the computer and the bios detected the drive correctly. Thereafter, while booting, I received a long message from Windows 95 indicating that the computer had to be restarted in Safe Mode to prevent corruption because of some conflict. I rebooted into Safe Mode and removed the CDRW drive and shutdown the computer. The CDRW was disconnected (both power and data cables) and the system was in its original configuration when I rebooted.

The Problem
Now, the CD-ROM drive (the TEAC) will not function (read: it is not detected by Windows 95). The Primary ide controller has an exclamation point next to it and the Hard Drive is in DOS compatibility mode. I only want to setup the computer in its original configuration (i.e. without the new Sony Drive). What do I do so that it will work properly?

I have tried removing the IDE Controllers from Windows and rebooting, but that has not worked. After rebooting the controller is detected by Windows again and it once again has the same problem (exclamation point, CD-ROM doesn't work).

[/b]System Configuration[/b]
Micron Home MPC
Pentium 166
32MB RAM
12X TEAC CDROM
2GB HD
3COM 3C905C-TX
Sound Blaster 16
Supra 28.8 Modem
Windows 95

Thanks!

 

[spanky]

i never heard of dos compatability mode before, but if i had to take a stab at it.... try reinstalling the cdrom drivers that came with the toshiba cdrom?

 

[abracadabra1]

Here's what Microsoft has to say on the subject:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q130179

I'm just not sure what I should do, I'm trying to use that guide and apply it to my situation. Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[KillerCow]

You need to remove the hard drive controllers from device manager while in safe mode. Remove all HD controllers and related drives while in Safe Mode -- there will probably be multiple entries for the controllers. This was a common problem in Win95.

When you get it back up, be sure that the CDRW is installed on a channel apart from the HD, you didn't mention in your post if that was the case. It's possible that the CDRW won't work in the old box. It may require DMA transfers and your 166 board probably only goes up to PIO4 (can't remember if UDMA2 was around back then).

If you cant get rid of the exclimation point (without the CDRW in) you will have to go into safe mode, delete EVERYTING in device manager (except the mouse and keyboard i think) and then re-install windows 95 overtop of itself. Be sure to use the same CD key that was used for the first install. It's in the registry somewhere, search for -oem- if it was an OEM install. This requires that you have access to all drivers, of course.

Good Luck.

 

[abracadabra1]

I ran a logged boot-up and everything loaded successfully except for the following:
[000FCCFC] LoadFailed = ndis2sup.vxd
[000FCD21] LoadFailed = vshare

I don't know whether these two are important. Any information and/or help would be useful.

Killer Cow
The CDRW is no longer in the system. I only have the original system configuration. The CDROM is on a separate controller than the Hard Drive. Even if I disconnect the IDE cable from the CD-ROM Drive, the hard disk controller is still in MS DOS Compatibility mode.

I have gone into safe mode twice and removed all IDE controllers. I have had no luck with this option.

If I were to reinstall Windows, would that force me to reinstall all software? Or would my computer be exactly the same as it was, except that the CDROM would now function properly?

Thanks

 

[abracadabra1]

Here's what the IOS.log file is reporting:
Unit number 02 going through real mode drivers.

Driver Name: io.sys
Block Driver controlling 03 unit(s)
Driver Info:
Driver Address: 0070005E
IOSYS INT 13: F0002770
INT 13 Hook: 007003EE
INT 4B Hook: F00000FD
INT 4F Hook: 007004FC
Config.sys line number: 00000000

Driver Name: himem.sys
Character Driver
Driver Info:
Driver Address: 02470000
Config.sys line number: 00000002
Config.sys date/time stamp: 2B849A2C
Hardware interrupt hook map: 00000001

Driver Name: ifshlp.sys
Character Driver
Driver Info:
Driver Address: 02900000
Config.sys line number: 00000000

Driver Name: setver.exe
Character Driver
Driver Info:
Driver Address: 03430000
Config.sys line number: 00000000

Autoexec Date/Time Stamp: 2B849A2C

I hope this is helpful.

I really need to get this problem resolved because I'm leaving tomorrow to Annapolis and my uncle has no one else to fix his computer. Any help is very much appreciated.

 

[KillerCow]

Another though... try the safe mode thing again... go in in safe mode, delete all IDE controllers (should be 3 of them), then start regedit and search for their registry entries for the controllers... I used to search for "fifo", I think. Since the Intel IDE controllers would always have FIFO in their names. Be sure to get the root controller and the primary and secondary channel. Remove all of the Registry keys that you find associated with the IDE controllers; then reboot. I think that was a nexessary step. It's been a few years since I had to do this...

If I were to reinstall Windows, would that force me to reinstall all software? Or would my computer be exactly the same as it was, except that the CDROM would now function properly?

An over-top install would not require you to reinstall apps. Just don't remove windows from the system before you start the install. All of the old INI files, registry entries and shortcuts will still be in the environment. I don't think you will need to reinstall anything (other than drivers).

You will have to clean out device manager while in safe mode and then run the install routine for 95. I used to do this as a tech while working on 95 boxen. This compatability mode problem would come up alot when a new cdrom was installed. The safe mode cleaning of the controllers would usually solve the problem though. Early versions of 95 freak out when new drives get installed and sometimes won't recover.

I hope it works out... I remember one Compaq system that I just could not bring back.

 

[KillerCow]

[000FCD21] LoadFailed = vshare

vshare? not vshare32

ok... check your System.ini's (or win.ini's... can't recal) load and run lines.
Make sure that vshare.exe does not appear hear.
Win 95 has a replacement vsare module, but some crdom's install disks loaded the old 16 bit version via the load and run lines, that would put you in compatablilty mode.
Also make sure that it isn't being loaded in the config.sys or autoexec.bat.

config.sys and autoexec.bat should be empty for win95 boxes -- unless your CDROM is not ATAPI, which is usually not the case.

 

[abracadabra1]

Yup, vshare, not vshare 32.
Vshare.exe is not loaded in the system.ini

Going to try delete all registry entires now.

Thanks again.