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I've tried for 3 weeks to get 3.1 to recognize my cd-rom drive. I've searched this forum and tried all suggestions. Yesterday I replaced the cd-rom with a new one but still no luck. I've got a Gateway 486 running Win 3.1. I do have a problem with 3.1, it freezes the system every time I shutdown. I also get a message at bootup that says "incorrect version of mscdex for dos". Should I wipe everything out and reinstall 3.1?
Pat, I hope someone answers your question as I am having the same problem.
Reinstalling does sound like a good idea, especially with the freezing action. If you do find out how to get 3.1 to see your cd rom please post it here or email me. Thanks!
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Response Number 2
Name: Krystyna Date: July 3, 2000 at 05:49:43 Pacific
Reply:
I would say that maybe your problem is the mismatched mscdex.exe file. Look at your autoexec.bat and config.sys files and see where mscdex.exe is pathed to. If the path is C:\DOS then check to see if the actual file in c:\dos directory has the same date or version as all the other files in the dos directory. If the path is C:\WINDOWS then check to see what version or date is on the mscdex.exe file in that directory. If they are mismatched in any way, then you will have to reinstall the right file for the right version of DOS or WINDOWS. Obscure as this may sound, hope it helps. Good luck !
Krystyna has the best idea. CD-ROMs are managed by MS-DOS not Windows 3.1 As you do not say which version of DOS you have, that is all I can say. MS-DOS 6.x (Any version) comes with MSCDEX.exe but older versions do not (Other than version 5.0)
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Response Number 4
Name: Preston Date: July 3, 2000 at 18:40:32 Pacific
Reply:
Your problem IS the "incorrect version of mscdex for dos"
Mscdex must be loaded properly in order for your CD-ROM to work in Win3.1
There are two files that have to be loaded in order for any CD-ROM to work. The first file is the driver for your particular model of CD-ROM. It has to be loaded in the config.sys file. It sounds like your driver is fine. The second file is mscdex. It has to be run from the autoexec.bat file which your computer tries to do. However, your error states that the version of mscdex that your computer is currently using is not compatable with your version of DOS. So you need to change to the correct version of mscdex.
The correct version may be on your computer. If the mscdex.exe line in your autoexec.bat file does not point towards the DOS directory, then try changing it to the DOS directory.
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Response Number 5
Name: Preston Date: July 3, 2000 at 19:00:18 Pacific
Reply:
I tried to e-mail you with more precise details of what to do next but your e-mail address doesn't work <<< 550 MAILBOX NOT FOUND
If you want more help in solving your problem, just write me or ICQ me at 77844658
I've got my cd-rom drive now. I replaced the mscdex file with one that was for my dos version and made sure the path was correct in the autoexec file and it worked!
I wonder if you could be so kind as to provide me with precise directions on how to make sure my autoexec and config are matching cd direction wise. Or whatever you were going to tell Pat. Help!!!! I have been messing around with this cdrom for weeks now...thanks for any assistance.
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