Re: Start up disk-me ie sp1
Well that sounds encouraging!
Don't worry about your BIOS - as you haven't been into it, things shouldn't
have changed.
I don't know about your Dell model in particular but I'm quite sure that the
original CD-ROM is a 'bog-standard' IDE model, probably made at the factory
on the road just off the High Street in Taiwan and re-badged with a Dell
logo.
Unless it is not a standard 5 1/2 inch unit, then just pick one up (and
burning software, if required) from your local PC store. Ask their advice if
necessary and take your old one with you. It will be FAR cheaper than buying
thru' Dell - assuming that they could/would be able to supply one.
Mart
"bagger" <bagger@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:373D29A9-99C5-49CC-ABA0-693911395165@microsoft.com...
> Thnks, Mart & everyone who chimed in.
>
>> So, you should now recheck Corday's initial advice :-
>
> Rechecked the 2nd time, OK, cables look & feel solid. Pwred up the
> computer
> after about 5 minutes noise from the cdrom similar to a smoke alarm. Shut
> down the computer & removed the pwr connector from the cdrom. Now
> computer
> boots much faster, no delay between the Dell & Windows logo.
>
>> 'Enabled' in your BIOS
> Not sure how to do that, could you explain?
>
>> So, next step is obtain a new replacement CD-ROM
>
> Probably look for an original equipment because the use of the computer &
> not introducing possible other problems.
>
>
>
> "Mart" wrote:
>
>> Ah! - Progress!
>>
>> So, you should now recheck Corday's initial advice :-
>> > Open case and check that all cables (between your CD-ROM and the
>> > motherboard) are in place and tight.
>>
>> As things stand, your motherboard is not seeing your CD-ROM (so there's
>> no
>> way that WinMe would!) So, if necessary, confirm that your CD-ROM is
>> 'Enabled' in your BIOS - but I see no reason why this could have become
>> 'Disabled' from what you have already described. So, sadly it sounds very
>> much like a dead CD-ROM - see final para. below.
>>
>> Now to :-
>> > also, booting with cdrom support before the A: prompt, the following
>> > messages;
>> > The diagnostic tools were successfullyloaded to drive D.
>> > Device driver not found 'MSCD001'
>> > No valid CDROM device drivers selected
>> > There may be a problem with your CD-ROM
>> > Vol in drive D is MS-RAMDRIVE
>>
>> This confirms the previous comments in that Real Mode DOS also does not
>> see
>> the CD-ROM drive.
>>
>> But be aware, the D: drive that you are seeing is the RAMDRIVE (an area
>> in
>> RAM memory temporarily reserved (about 4MB of it, IIRC) by the startup
>> disk
>> utility for 'workspace' to enable the various startup program utilities
>> to
>> operate in) No operations (at this point in time) take place on your C:
>> drive so the only place left is the little bit of reserved RAM.
>>
>> In fact, had your CD-ROM been working, those 'boot messages' would have
>> advised you that the CD-ROM would probably have been designated E: (not
>> D:
>> as I had given as an *example* - my bad!)
>>
>> So, next step is obtain a new replacement CD-ROM (you may as well buy a
>> burner - even a DVD burner (and associated software) as they are not very
>> much dearer than a CD-ROM drive. Then remove the old and fit the new.
>> Not a
>> particularly difficult DIY task.
>>
>> Good luck
>>
>> Mart
>>
>>
>>
>> "bagger" <bagger@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:0ABB33DB-B522-4F4B-899A-381E76BDB8F9@microsoft.com...
>> > >are you saying the tray won't open with the pb and you need to use the
>> > hairpin technique?
>> >
>> > yes, by checking the 2nd time.
>> >
>> >>the contents of the CD when you use the DIR command in Real Mode DOS)?
>> >
>> > Ah, a closer look, doesn't show the contents of the cd, but the
>> > directory
>> > of
>> > some system files.
>> > also, booting with cdrom support before the A: prompt, the following
>> > messages;
>> > The diagnostic tools were successfullyloaded to drive D.
>> > Device driver not found 'MSCD001'
>> > No valid CDROM device drivers selected
>> > There may be a problem with your CD-ROM
>> > Vol in drive D is MS-RAMDRIVE
>> >
>> >>So hold fire (for the moment) and clarify the above before you
>> >>re-install
>> >> WinMe!!
>> >
>> > I wouldn't do this until completely understanding the procedure.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Mart" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hold fire!! - Is this the real clue?
>> >>
>> >> >> Manually as in pressing the button on its front panel?
>> >> > sorry, i didn't clarify, door won't open with the pb(it did before
>> >> > the
>> >> > problem). had to use the hairpin technique.
>> >>
>> >> Now this puts a completely different complexion on things.
>> >>
>> >> Please clarify further :-
>> >> 1. When in Real DOS mode (i.e. booting from the start-up floppy) and
>> >> with
>> >> CD-ROM support, at the A:\> prompt, are you saying the tray won't open
>> >> with
>> >> the pb and you need to use the hairpin technique?
>> >>
>> >> If so, you certainly have a faulty mechanism with your CD-ROM and that
>> >> issue
>> >> alone is just cause for the need of a replacement CD-ROM
>> >>
>> >> However, please also clarify :-
>> >> 2. If 1. above is true, are you also saying that you CAN successfully
>> >> complete the second course of action in my previous post (i.e you can
>> >> see
>> >> the contents of the CD when you use the DIR command in Real Mode DOS)?
>> >>
>> >> So hold fire (for the moment) and clarify the above before you
>> >> re-install
>> >> WinMe!!
>> >>
>> >> Mart
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "bagger" <bagger@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:3818E0F3-DC7C-40F6-803F-EC99788032B3@microsoft.com...
>> >> > Again thks to Mart & Corday for the time.
>> >> > History- i know just enough to be dangerous.
>> >> > this system OEM had a problem 4 yrs ago where a Dell tech had me
>> >> > install
>> >> > win
>> >> > ME over itself where according to Noel Paton & Mike M created
>> >> > version
>> >> > soup.
>> >> > After some painstaking days & with use of Noel's procedure of
>> >> > reinstalling
>> >> > IE6, it purred like a kitten. I will say I've been getting some
>> >> > errors
>> >> > on
>> >> > occasion in the last year or so similar to those days, but nothing
>> >> > like
>> >> > what
>> >> > has happened with the cdrom in the last 2 weeks.
>> >> >
>> >> >>(well, quickest and easiest) solution
>> >> > with me as an operator may not be true
>> >> >
>> >> >>aspi2dos.sys was missing
>> >> > that is from on making a start up disk from add/remove dialog box
>> >> >
>> >> >>need to create a boot disk?
>> >> > after the original lockup due to the picture cd, thought it wasn't
>> >> > going
>> >> > to
>> >> > boot normally. took 60 sec between dell logo & windows.
>> >> >
>> >> >>then what were you thinking of doing with the boot disk?
>> >> > don't know, just stabbing for answers.
>> >> >
>> >> >> as in it didn't restore at all?,
>> >> > yes, once i booted & found cdrom not working thought to do a sys
>> >> > restore
>> >> > to
>> >> > an earlier date (2). sys restore told me not successful. should
>> >> > have
>> >> > created a date & tried from that, but me being a dummy installed the
>> >> > patch
>> >> > which lost all previous dates. After the patch created a date & sys
>> >> > restore
>> >> > worked.
>> >> >
>> >> >>clarify exactly which CD-ROM
>> >> > the original cdrom that came with the system is read only which has
>> >> > the
>> >> > problem. I tried to purchase from Dell a r/w to replace the read
>> >> > only
>> >> > after
>> >> > about 4 yrs ago. They didn't have a Dell replacement, so I bought a
>> >> > periphal
>> >> > usb connected with burner software (nero) No DVD on this system
>> >> >
>> >> >> Manually as in pressing the button on its front panel?
>> >> > sorry, i didn't clarify, door won't open with the pb(it did before
>> >> > the
>> >> > problem). had to use the hairpin technique.
>> >> >
>> >> >>then it won't show if WinMe didn't re-detect and install it when
>> >> >>you
>> >> >>re-booted (into Normal Mode)
>> >> > OK, i understand.
>> >> >
>> >> >>Which brings us back to a 'faulty' (damaged or missing system files)
>> >> >>WinMe
>> >> >> installation.
>> >> > Any suggestions on procedures to do this?
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > "Mart" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Bagger, on the face of it, I have to agree with Corday that clean
>> >> >> install
>> >> >> of
>> >> >> WinMe may be your only (well, quickest and easiest) solution. It
>> >> >> would
>> >> >> certainly appear that your CD-ROM is not faulty if suggestion #2
>> >> >> was
>> >> >> successful and that suggests the problem is therefore with your
>> >> >> WinMe
>> >> >> installation.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> However .... several things that you've mentioned in the thread
>> >> >> ring
>> >> >> little alarm bells.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> You started by implying the link to aspi2dos.sys was missing - in
>> >> >> itself
>> >> >> is
>> >> >> no biggie, just a little unusual but does raise the question why.
>> >> >> This
>> >> >> leads to another question in my mind, why did you feel the need to
>> >> >> create
>> >> >> a
>> >> >> boot disk? - OK, you had a problem with the CD (and CD-ROM) but if
>> >> >> you
>> >> >> weren't aware of suggestion #2 (which I assume you weren't) then
>> >> >> what
>> >> >> were
>> >> >> you thinking of doing with the boot disk?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Then you pointed out that scanreg /restore was unsuccessful (and
>> >> >> latest
>> >> >> cab.file not started??) - as in it didn't restore at all?, or just
>> >> >> didn't
>> >> >> fix the problem? You didn't make that too clear (to me).
>> >> >>
>> >> >> But then you confuse us with talk of an external cd burner. So
>> >> >> please
>> >> >> clarify exactly which CD-ROM you are having problems with.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Then finally(ish) you say that you tried (several?) KB article
>> >> >> fixes
>> >> >> which
>> >> >> makes me wonder if some of your system files have (since?) become
>> >> >> damaged -
>> >> >> and now with all those little alarm bells ringing, that's where I
>> >> >> start
>> >> >> to
>> >> >> agree with Corday's solution.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> But perhaps a little more interesting is in your last reply re:
>> >> >> suggestion#2, when you said :-
>> >> >>
>> >> >> > this worked, but had to manually open & close the disc door.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Manually as in pressing the button on its front panel? How did you
>> >> >> expect
>> >> >> to
>> >> >> open & close it when you were in Real Mode DOS - WinMe would not
>> >> >> even
>> >> >> have
>> >> >> been loaded so how else would you open & close it?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> and then :-
>> >> >>
>> >> >> > Also, the cdrom does not show in the device mgr
>> >> >> > in the safe mode after performing #1.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Well as you'd previously "Removed" it in the first part of #1, then
>> >> >> it
>> >> >> won't
>> >> >> show if WinMe didn't re-detect and install it when you re-booted
>> >> >> (into
>> >> >> Normal Mode)
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Which brings us back to a 'faulty' (damaged or missing system
>> >> >> files)
>> >> >> WinMe
>> >> >> installation.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Mart
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "Corday" <10Swinner@net.net> wrote in message
>> >> >> news:88CF19E0-CD8A-48B8-B4D5-E82D2012DDDF@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> > NEC made most of the DVD stuff for Dell back in "the day". You
>> >> >> > might
>> >> >> > try
>> >> >> > their website. Hate to say the obvious, but a clean Windows ME
>> >> >> > reinstall
>> >> >> > might be inorder.
>> >> >> > --
>> >> >> > I mastered Wordstar graphics!
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > "bagger" wrote:
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> Thks, Mart, really appreciate the help.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> > 1.
>> >> >> >> didn't work.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >2. If 1 is not successful,
>> >> >> >> this worked,
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> but had to manually open & close the disc door. Also,the cdrom
>> >> >> >> does
>> >> >> >> not
>> >> >> >> show in the device mgr in the safe mode after performing #1.
>> >> >> >> Again, from my original post, this all started when trying to
>> >> >> >> read
>> >> >> >> a
>> >> >> >> picture
>> >> >> >> disc in my cdrom. Later that disc was checked for viruses in my
>> >> >> >> external
>> >> >> >> burner attached to my system. My sys is a Dell 4100 (8 yrs old)
>> >> >> >> also
>> >> >> >> when
>> >> >> >> booting either normally or safe mode, it takes 60 sec between
>> >> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> Dell
>> >> >> >> logo &
>> >> >> >> Windows logo which never happened before. Also, lost the sys
>> >> >> >> restore
>> >> >> >> function which had to do a repatch to get to work again, but
>> >> >> >> lost
>> >> >> >> all
>> >> >> >> previous restore dates. I've tried all sorts of diagnostics on
>> >> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> system
>> >> >> >> per kb articles.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> "Mart" wrote:
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> > You can't see the CD-ROM in Device Manager!
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > Hmm .. In Normal Mode?
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > That might be considered 'strange' .. BUT ..
>> >> >> >> >
and at the A:\> prompt, (don't select, or close