I have .sys files i used in dos for my cd-rom drivers (i checked and am pretty sure my proprietary cdrom isn't supported). From the errors I've gotten, it says to try something like: insmod driver when I tried that with my .sys files, it said that it wasn't an ELF file. Is there a way I can convert the .sys file to an elf format so I can load the drivers? Am I headed down the right alley or am I guessing the wrong thing to do?

Linux isn't dos. You can't use any dos drivers in linux, or vice versa, period. What brand and model is your cdrom?

Mitsumi double-speed FX001D. Proprietary and old.

Quote from kernel's configure help file: Standard Mitsumi [no XA/Multisession] CD-ROM support CONFIG_MCD This is the older of the two drivers for the older Mitsumi models LU-005, FX-001 and FX-001D. [...] Note that this driver does not support XA or MultiSession CDs (PhotoCDs). There is a new driver (next question) which can do this. If you want that one, say N here. [...] This driver is also available as a module ( = code which can be inserted in and removed from the running kernel whenever you want). The module will be called mcd.o. [...] [...] Mitsumi [XA/MultiSession] CD-ROM support CONFIG_MCDX Use this driver if you want to be able to read XA or MultiSession CDs (PhotoCDs) as well as ordinary CDs with your Mitsumi LU-005, FX-001 or FX-001D CD-ROM drive. In addition, this driver uses much less kernel memory than the old one, if that is a concern. This driver is able to support more than one drive, but each drive needs a separate interface card. [...] This driver is also available as a module ( = code which can be inserted in and removed from the running kernel whenever you want). The module will be called mcdx.o.

so I need to download the mcdx. o file and use it? Do I then use the insmod command to install it?

You don't need to download anything, it comes with the linux kernel. If you're using a precompiled kernel that came with your distrib, you should have it installed already. Try running "modprobe mcdx" at a root prompt and see what happens. If you don't get an error, you can try to mount a cd: mount /dev/mcdx0 /mnt/cdrom You may need to create the mountpoint first (mkdir /mnt/cdrom). If you need to create the device file, run: mknod /dev/mcdx0 b 20 0 If the modprobe command fails, you may need to specify io and irq values, for example: modprobe mcdx mcdx=0x300,11

Well, I ran modprobe from the root directory and the command wasn't found. When I tried mknod /dev/mcdx0 b 20 0 it said that /dev/mcdx0 File exists Will I not be able to use a cd-rom drive??