CD-ROM and BIOS

[nicks60610]

We have a system we received from another plant, and when you boot it up with a bootable W2K cd in it, it does not detect the CD; I look in the Bios setup and the CD-ROM is listed as primary device; tried a different CD-ROM and data cable, it can see that there is a CD-ROM listed a secondary master device (HD and CD-ROM are not on the same IDE cable), but it still will not detect the CD. I tried other bootable CD's, and the same thing happens. I tried the W2K install disks, but when it comes time for it to load from the CD-ROM it tells me that it could not find a CD-ROM. Is it possbile to "lock" a CD-ROM in the bios or by setting a jumper on the system board? This is a Gateway E-3400, PIII.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mulga]

Check the jumpers on the CD-ROM itself, they are usually set to slave as default, make sure they have been changed to master All things are possible except skiing through a revolving door.

 

[nicks60610]

I did check this, and I tested it with Master, Slave and Cable Select, neither seemed to work. I even took the CMOS battery out and replaced it to make sure everything was reset, but still nothing. It is so bizarre.

 

[nicks60610]

I set it to slave, master and cable, but none worked, always the same thing, it would detect it in the bios, but would not boot from it.

 

[edfair]

If you are trying to boot from it, is the boot order selected in the BIOS/CMOS?
Booting from, detecting, and accessing, are 3 different things. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[nicks60610]

Yes, it is set as primary device in the boot order

 

[edfair]

Would normally say the drive was toast. But.. You might try reseating the board end of the IDE cable. You might also try moving it to slave on the primary channel. Will tell you if you have problems with the secondary.
Or you could try putting it alone on the primary and using a boot disk with cd support and see if the drivers can find it there. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.