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I have a relatively new software cd that I wanted to install. Turns out when it says 'runs on Windows 95' and 'runs on Windows 3.1' it means it cannot load on anything else. My computer (Windows Me) doesn't even know that there is a cd in the drive. Is there someway I can install it? Or can a Windows 95 computer install it somehow?
you be able to at least look at the content of the cd, if you cannot then there may be something wrong with your cd drive or the cd itself.
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If it 'runs on Windows 95' it will probably work on Win 98 and 98SE as well, but it doesn't necessarily follow that it will work on ME.
There are lots of things that won't work on or with ME, and lots of devices that never had drivers written for ME, and won't work in it.
Sometimes there are readme files or docs on the CD that explain a different way of installing for ME. You could also look on the manufacturer's web site for ME info fotr that product.It is strange that you can't see the CD though - have you tried it on anyone elses' computer?
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budm is exactly correct. For some reason now my cdrom is not working. Did not detect any problems last time it was used (think last week). Now what can I do?
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1. Try a cdrom drive cleaning disk (CD).
2. If the drive shows up in My Computer or in Explorer it's recognized. If it spins up when you put in a cd the drivers should be OK. You could try removing it (the drive) in Device Manager and then letting windows re-install it on the next boot. If windows doesn't detect it as new hardware, and if a Add New Hardware (through Control Panel) doesn't detect it it may have gone bad.
3. Check the IDE channels in your bios and in Device Manager to ensure both are enabled. (These things happen.) You may need to re-install motherboard drivers if the system has "hicupped".
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If you have not fiddled around with any of the CDRom cables inside the case lately -
The most common cause of CD drive death is failed drive motor bearings.
With a CD in the drive, eject the CD tray, and note the CD's position. Insert the tray with the CD in it, wait until the LED goes out, eject the tray again.
If the LED does not go on, either there is problem with the CD drive cables (not likely but possible) or the CD drive's board is fried (not likely, but see below), or you have a problem with the 5 volt power in the Power Supply - make sure it's fan is spinning okay at the back of the case.
if the latter is true, your floppy drive will not work either.
- if the CD is in the same position as before, the CD drive motor is seized, the CD drive is toast.
- if the CD is not in the same position, either there is a problem with your CD drive data cable (unlikely but possible) or the drive motor is starting to fail and the CD isn't spinning fast enough, and it's board won't let Windows see it. This is harder to check for - you have to take the CD drive out of the computer, take the top off, connect it up and watch it when it tries to spin - if it is having problems it will be slow to start spinning, and cannot acheive full speed of even 1X (same as an conventional audio CD). You could remove the hold down hardware overtop the center of the CD, and making sure the drive is level, start the CD (use one you can afford to lose) spinning and then carefully spin the CD faster with your finger, and that may be enough to get it spinning fast enough for the CD board and Windows to recognize it, (been there, done that) but it is a waste of time because the drive motor is going to be toast in a short time anyway.The second most common cause of CD drive death is it has been exposed to too much heat and the CD drive board has failed - the drive motor may be fine, and it spins fine.
The most common cause of too much heat inside the case is the Power Supply fan has failed - make sure it's fan is spinning okay.
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On some old computers there is only 1 fan - the power supply fan - you should be able to feel a breeze behind the case from that. Most computers also have at least a small fan on the cpu or processor inside the case. The only way to tell if you have such is to open the case and look - the screws that allow you to remove the outside of the case are at the back or the computer - if it is not spinning, or spinning very slowly, or makes noises, especially when the computer is started after sitting a long time, it should be replaced as soon as you can manage - the cpu (processor) can burn out in a short time, and the computer will not work.
It sounds like your CD drive is toast. Unplug the computer, or turn off the power if you have it connected to a power bar. The screws that allow you to remove the outside of the case are at the back or the computer. Open the case and remove the CD, noting which way the flat, wide data cable goes (a stripe on one side), and what position the jumper on the back or the drive is in (master, slave, or CS).
Get another CD drive - CDRom (read only)drives are very cheap, or CD burner drives are a bit more, or DVD burner drives are more yet. If you like, take the dead CD drive with you and have them check it.
The jumper on the back may not be in the same physical position as on the old drive - see the labelling for which is master, slave, or CS, and use the same as was set on the old CD drive.
Mount and connect the new drive the same way as the old. The stripe on the data cable goes next to the 4 wire power connector.
Restore the power to the case, start up Windows before replacing the case cover - the CD drive should work fine - if it doesn't recheck your cables, and the jumper zssetting.
Replace the cover.
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Yes, it was the cd rom itself and the inside of the computer was very dusty. Swapped my son's cd rom for mine and was able to read the cd I originally asked about, though the program did not install. Since my son no longer has a cd rom drive we can't try to install to Windows 98 yet. Thanks everyone.
All three fans are running at the moment. Any suggestions what I should do now besides compressed air?
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You should have no problem installing & running a 95 program on a 98 machine. Not all CDs "Auto-install"...you may have to explore the CD contents & click on an executable file to get it to install. What program is it?
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Good going Betsyvv!
The fans can be cleaned with tissues or rags, old toothbrushes, etc., to remove most of the grime. If you want to go father, use methyl or rubbing alcohol, and let them dry a while - don't use water. The cpu fan should be removed by unscrewing it if possible so you can get at the backside, and so you can clean the heatsink - don't remove or unlatch the cpu if you can manage it. The case fan can be similarily removed to get at the backside - it often snaps in, and you need to unlatch something. For the power supply fan, obviously there's only air unless you want to open the power supply, and it is a good idea to blow in all the power supply openings to lessen other mung inside.
You can use a vacuum hooked up to blow from it's exhaust, but don't touch the mboard with it's hose or attachments - vacuums generate a tremendous amount of static electricity. If you do that, it's a good idea to leave the computer plugged in, connected to a power bar that is turned off, or turn off the switch on the power supply if it has that - that grounds the computer.
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