model 910

Certainly the restore would have some difficulty running if the original CD-ROM
drive was one of those turkeys that connected up to proprietary connector on a
turkey of the sound card. (Sorry to offend PB enthusiasts, but that's what it
all is.)

However, an old Windows 95-based restore program very likely cannot tell the
difference between a CD-ROM drive and a DVD/CD-RW combo drive. It was not
until Windows XP that the operating system even had anything built in to burn
CD-ROMs. Prior to XP, Windows had no idea what the capabilities (e.g. CD-RW,
DVD-ROM, DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo, DVD-RW) of an optical drive were, only that the
drive met the minimum requirement of a CD-ROM drive.

Unless the OP had one of the old turkey original CD-ROM drives, it is likely
that changing the optical drive for an older one is likely to make much
difference. My "educated" guess from afar is that the restore CD is
scratched... Ben Myers

On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:37:29 -0500, "Rich/rerat" wrote:

AWM,
"I did change the cd to a newer LiteOn cd/rw/dvd,..."

Might, and I say again "might", be your problem, since the the restore CD
will try to install either CD-ROM drivers that came with that model, or the
generic CD-ROM driver offered by Microsoft. Since the model was built in the
late '90's, DVD were not available, or cost prohibitive. You might want to
see if you can find a generic CD-ROM, with just a player. And try using that
with your restore CD. If that works, and if you have the room in the case,
you may need to have both CD-ROM's. monted in the PC case, and use the
Non-DVD CD-ROM when you use the restore CD.

Hi Gang !

Well, I'm finally going to chime in on this one........been trying not to.
:-)


"Ben Myers" wrote in message
...
Certainly the restore would have some difficulty running if the original
CD-ROM
drive was one of those turkeys that connected up to proprietary connector
on a
turkey of the sound card. (Sorry to offend PB enthusiasts, but that's
what it
all is.)



No offense taken. They are crap at best. :-)

( It is satisfying when they work though..... rare, but satisfying. :-)


However, an old Windows 95-based restore program very likely cannot tell
the
difference between a CD-ROM drive and a DVD/CD-RW combo drive. It was
not
until Windows XP that the operating system even had anything built in to
burn
CD-ROMs. Prior to XP, Windows had no idea what the capabilities (e.g.
CD-RW,
DVD-ROM, DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo, DVD-RW) of an optical drive were, only that
the
drive met the minimum requirement of a CD-ROM drive.



Once again, Ben is of course correct.

Most people get very confused about CD-ROM drives in "old" computers.
Windows does not care if it is a CD-ROM or CD-RW drive. If it can "see" the
drive, and read from it, the drive is not preventing the installation of
Windows, read from a CD-ROM disc, or any other problem related to installing
a program.

Remember, you have to install a CD-ROM DRIVER to even let an old computer
"see" a CD-ROM drive before you can USE a CD-ROM drive. THEN you can
install Windows 9X.

It does not MATTER if the CD-ROM drive is detected by BIOS, your CD-ROM
drive will not work without a driver, OUTSIDE of Windows 9X or above.

( Or better yet, partition your HDD, and keep the cab files on any drive
other than the C: drive, then you won't ever need a CD-ROM driver. Install
Win 9X from your folder, and it will automatically load a CD-ROM driver.
Hell, it disables a DOS driver anyway. )

However, if Windows 95 or above is already running, and you can see the
drive in Windows Explorer, the CD-ROM drive will usually work. If you shove
in a CD-ROM, and it spins up, *usually* you can read from the disk, UNLESS
THE DRIVE OR DISK IS BAD. Doesn't mean it's going to run a program though,
not every disk has an auto-run program.

Unless it's bad. Or the CD is bad. (did I type that again again ? ) Test it
in another computer! This is simple stuff ! It's possible for Windows 95 or
above to "see" the drive, but not be able to use it, simply because the
drive is bad. Just slap in a new drive, it's no big deal to prove it one way
or the other. Windows 9X won't ask for a driver for just about any ATAPI IDE
CD-ROM drive ! It will usually work.

Trying to cover all the stuff that has been asked in this mammoth thread.

This is all Computer 101.


Unless the OP had one of the old turkey original CD-ROM drives, it is
likely
that changing the optical drive for an older one is likely to make much
difference. My "educated" guess from afar is that the restore CD is
scratched... Ben Myers


Or, to be kind, there are a bunch of other "problems" that we don't know
about. :-)

bobwatts


--
boBWatts®©
EartH
Watts Carburetion Service
Whizzbang Computers
Official collector of: transfat asian plastic junk trinkets !

Ben thanks for all the help...perhaps Bob is right time for another turkey
thread. Perhaps its his turn...
All your input is also helping an 'up and coming' Eagle Scout learn how to
work on computers......
mc