VOGONS


First post, by jpolo

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Originally posted this in the wrong forum, was told it belongs here

I have a Tandy 2500 SX/33 (33mhz 386sx) which I'm using for DOS gaming, everything's been good except no matter what CD-ROM device driver I load, the system reboots immediately, regardless if there is even a CD-ROM plugged into the IDE port or not. My OS is DOS 6.22.

This system has a single IDE port on the motherboard, it's BIOS has no provision for a CD-ROM (but I think that shouldn't matter?). This occurs no matter what I specify for the "D:" drive in the BIOS (choice of Auto or None).

Here's a video of the problem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooGhuJjXeCE

Here's my config.sys (CD-ROM driver REM'd out so I can boot):

DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE RAM
BUFFERS=15,0
FILES=40
DOS=UMB
LASTDRIVE=E
FCBS=4,0
DEVICEHIGH /L:1,25904 =C:\APPS\VIBRA16\DRV\VIBRA16.SYS /UNIT=0 /BLASTER=A:220 I:5 D:1 H:5
DEVICEHIGH /L:1,10416 =C:\APPS\VIBRA16\DRV\CTMMSYS.SYS
REM ** FILES=30
DEVICEHIGH /L:1,12048 =C:\DOS\SETVER.EXE
REM DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOS\CDROMDRV.SYS /d:mscd001
DOS=HIGH

And autoexec.bat:

@ECHO OFF
SET SOUND=C:\APPS\VIBRA16
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
SET MIDI=SYNTH:1 MAP:E
C:\APPS\VIBRA16\DIAGNOSE /S
C:\APPS\VIBRA16\MIXERSET /P /Q
loadhigh C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE
loadhigh c:\dos\mscdex.exe /d:mscd001
c:\dos\ctmouse.exe /3
PROMPT $p$g
PATH C:\APPS;C:\DOS
SET TEMP=C:\TEMP
SET DIRCMD=/o:gne
echo.

Apologies for the messy files but it's a pretty new install and I just let memmaker do it's thing. Does anyone have any idea what's going on here? I'm completely stumped.

EDIT: I've tried five or six different CD drivers (Oak, LG,etc) all with the exact same effect.

The only other problem I'm having with this machine is this error Creative's diagnose.exe gives me when I run it:

9E5wL5rl.jpg

The sound card I have installed is a CT2800 Vibra16 (no IDE), despite giving this error it works fine. Maybe related?

EDIT2: The problem occurs even with config/autoexec files that are completely empty save for the driver and mscdex.

Reply 1 of 3, by jpolo

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This is mostly solved.

I found the jumper settings for the drive included with this system here (it is not labelled): http://www.wonkity.com/~wblock/a4000hard/st3144.html

It was set to "single drive", a setting I didn't know existed. The problem persisted with all the normal CD drivers (Toshiba, LG, Oak etc etc) until I tried atapicd.sys recommended on another forum from here: http://www.hiren.info/downloads/dos-files

Previously, this was the one driver that didn't restart the machine, it only said it couldn't find any drives. Now it worked flawlessly. I'd still like to know if there's a technical reason why the most common CD drivers crash this machine in the exact same way, but I'm just satisfied to have a working CD-ROM.

Reply 2 of 3, by Robin4

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Is there anymore who know more websites like these:
http://www.hiren.info/downloads/dos-files

~ At least it can do black and white~

Reply 3 of 3, by smeezekitty

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Often a random reboot is caused by a CPU fault
such as bad memory access or bad instruction (such as requiring 486 or pentium)