CD Drive Vanishes From Drives Available In My Computer \ VOGONS

CD Drive Vanishes From Drives Available In My Computer

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First post, by pierangler

Posted on 2023-07-25, 23:27

pierangler Offline

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Joined: 2023-07-25, 23:19

Odd problem. I completed a fresh install of Windows 98SE on a vintage HP Vectra VEi7 desktop computer. Everything is working great. One issue that I cannot resolve - on each reboot, an icon for the CD Drive is not listed in with the other drives in My Computer. If I go to Add New Hardware, the drive shows up and I am able to install it. Then the icon is visible in My Computer with other drives.
How can I prevent the CD Drive from vanishing?

Reply 1 of 1, by Jo22

Posted on 2023-07-26, 05:36

Jo22 Offline

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pierangler wrote on 2023-07-25, 23:27:

How can I prevent the CD Drive from vanishing?

Well.. If no else makes a recommendation, you can try to install DOS drivers.

It's technically enough to install a driver lile oakcdrom.sys or vide-cdd.sys in config.sys.
DEVICE=OAKCDROM.SYS /D:MSCD001
That way, the CD-ROM extension built into Windows 9x will see it.

But if you want to be sure, better also load MSCDEX in autoexec.bat.
MSCDEX /D:MSCD001 /L:D
/L:D determines the drive letter (D) and is optional.

By having the full set of DOS drivers loaded, you can also read CD-i CD-ROMs and Japanese formats and other obsolete formats (High Sierra).
That's a little known detail, maybe.

The downside is reduced performance. Using DOS drivers needs some more overhead on Windows 9x.
Its caching mechanisms also may not work then (=MSCDEX loaded).

Anyway, good luck! 🙂🤞

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

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