i pulled a hd out of a computer that had a different kind of CD ROM drive then the one I'm now running it in, how do i get the computer to recognize the new cd rom drive? Every time i start up the computer it says it isn't hooked up right

First, disable the loading of the driver in config.sys on the transplanted HD. Typically this will be a line like this: DEVICEHIGH=c:\cdromdrv\sjcdapi.sys /D:cddrv Of course, the directory location and the driver name are very likely to be different. Then, you'll need to get the correct driver for the CD ROM Drive you have, hopefully from your old HD, and place it's driver into config.sys. If you use the same driver name (the words after the D: parameter above), your autoexec.bat file will not have to be changed. You can use the dos editor (edit) or notepad to edit config.sys.

You will want to delete lines in both the config.sys and autoexec.bat. From windows open notepad (by default in your ACCESORIES group). Go to the root directory C: In NOTEPAD, change FILES OF TYPE to ALL FILES. type Autoexec.bat in FILE NAME and hit OK. In the Autoexec.bat you will see a line that looks like this; c:\MSCDEX.exe /D:IDECD000 DELETE IT Save the file and open CONFIG.sys with notepad, you will see a line like this; C:\CDROM\AOATAPI.SYS /D:IDECD000 Delete it. Now get the make and model number from your CD-ROM drive, go to either the manufacturer's website or if you can't find it try one of these driver sites; www.driverguide.com www.windrivers.com www.drivershq.com www.driverzone.com You will eventually find the DOS driver for your CD-ROM which is almost always in the form of an install program. Download the program to a temporary directory. If it is an *.exe file you will probably have to double click it, then all the files will expand into your directory. Copy all the files to a floppy disk except the original *.exe file. There will probably be a file in there called install.exe or setup.exe. Exit into DOS type a:install or a:setup and the program will install your drivers and edit your AUTOEXEC.bat and CONFIG.sys for you.