CD-ROM Not Working in 486. Dead or Not Compatible? \ VOGONS

CD-ROM Not Working in 486. Dead or Not Compatible?

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First post, by Tempest

Posted on 2024-09-25, 19:44

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I have a nice looking CD-ROM drive with the model number GCE-8160B that I believe is a LG rewriteable drive (looks like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/204901597970). It appears to be detected by my Gateway 2000 4DX2-66V but it won't actually work. I have it set to Slave with the jumper on the back, but that appears to be the only thing I can change (master, slave, cable select).

When I try to read a CD (in DOS 6.22) I get this error: CDR101: Not Ready Reading Drive E

I'm wondering if the drive being a writable drive isn't making it incompatible with my system. If this is true, would it work in a Pentium MMX based system (I can swap drives then)? Or is the drive maybe dead?

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Reply 1 of 5, by Shponglefan

Posted on 2024-09-25, 20:02

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It might just be dirty.

I'd test it in another system to see if the same issue occurs. If it still doesn't work, try opening it up and cleaning the laser lens.

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Reply 2 of 5, by rasz_pl

Posted on 2024-09-25, 20:12

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Tempest wrote on 2024-09-25, 19:44:

Gateway 2000 4DX2-66V but it won't actually work. I have it set to Slave with the jumper on the back

dont, stuff that old was very flaky working in pairs. Put it on its own ide controller as lone master.

https://github.com/raszpl/FIC-486-GAC-2-Cache-Module for AT&T Globalyst
https://github.com/raszpl/386RC-16 memory board
https://github.com/raszpl/440BX Reference Design adapted to Kicad
https://github.com/raszpl/Zenith_ZBIOS MFM-300 Monitor

Reply 3 of 5, by Tempest

Posted on 2024-09-25, 20:30

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rasz_pl wrote on 2024-09-25, 20:12:

Tempest wrote on 2024-09-25, 19:44:

Gateway 2000 4DX2-66V but it won't actually work. I have it set to Slave with the jumper on the back

dont, stuff that old was very flaky working in pairs. Put it on its own ide controller as lone master.

I think this motherboard only has one.

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Reply 4 of 5, by Tempest

Posted on 2024-09-25, 22:44

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I tried a known working drive and it did eventually work. It took a few seconds (about 7 or 8 ) to spin up, but eventually it worked. Not sure if that's normal in a 486 or not.

I'm guessing that the other drive is bad or something. Shame, it looks nice and clean too.

Last edited by Tempest on 2024-09-26, 13:58. Edited 1 time in total.

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Reply 5 of 5, by chinny22

Posted on 2024-09-25, 23:14

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When my 2x died I replaced it with what was in the shops at the time a 24x Not sure it was faster though, as you say I was constantly waiting for it to spin up, almost like it the PC was too slow for the CD drive.

I dont really use a CD in my 486's any more but tools exist to slow the drive down which may make it behave better
CD Rom drive speed

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