i need a driver that will work in the redhat 7.1 for an acer cd-525e 2x drive if anyone knows of such a driver or of a driver that will work please tell me!!!!

Always four places to look for drivers: 1) The manufacturer's website. More and more this is a good option. Now in this case I don't know if Acer is real keen on *nix-like OS's, though. 2) Your existing kernel. Make sure the device is configured properly (and configured for mounting). 3) Google. 4) Documentation. In this case: http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/CDROM-HOWTO/index.html Now it just so happens that Redhat 7.1 is particularly mentioned in that howto. "6.28. I'm having problems with my CD-ROM on Red Hat 7.1 You may be running into an issue with hardware that does not support DMA (Direct Memory Access). RedHat ships a highly tuned version of the Linux kernel which enables DMA on selected IDE controller chipsets. Information on this issue can be found at http://www.exocore.com/linux/rhl71dma/" So follow up with that. Your IDE drive should already be supported by all other distros with kernel 2.x and up.

The kernel doesn't offer atapi cd support?

Yes, this should not require any special drivers. Simply do this at a command prompt: # ln -s /dev/hdc /dev/cdrom (replacing hdc with your CD-ROM's placement on the IDE chain: hda = primary master hdb = primary slave hdc = secondary master hdd = secondary slave) If /dev/cdrom already exists and isn't working, remove it first: # rm -f /dev/cdrom Then, enter the link (ln) line above. Then, mount your CD (put one in the drive): # mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom (You then have access to your CD-ROM's contents, on /mnt/cdrom) now, to unmount: # umount /mnt/cdrom Good luck.

no i am trying to install redhat. but after keyboard selection it ask what cdrom type i have and then it tells me to insert a driver diskfor my cd and i can get no further

Asks for a CD/driver? Or perhaps just asks for the Redhat CD? Look at the manual: http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-7.1-Manual/install-guide/ "after keyboard selection it ask what cdrom type i have" Look at the guide. CD detection comes before keyboard configuration. No real good patching a kernel you haven't installed. Start from the beginning. Follow the directions in the guide.

If you can not find it n the regular Acer site (in the US) try the UK site (acer.co.uk) Acer supports Linux very well, BUT, in the US, since not many people from the "normal public" are into it, they appear to not suport it much. In the UK, Acer and Linux are a superb combo(particualrly in laptops), even winning "Best" in the June 2003 issue of Linux Format. Regards... Manny