Knowledge Base

Cannot Gain Access to Multiple CD-ROM Drives Using Startup Disk

Article ID: 188391

Article Last Modified on 1/23/2007

Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

This article was previously published under Q188391

SYMPTOMS

If your computer contains an integrated drive electronics (IDE) and small computer system interface (SCSI) CD-ROM drive, you may be able to gain access to only one CD-ROM drive when you start your computer using the Windows 98 Startup disk.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the IDE and SCSI CD-ROM drivers both use Mscd001 as the driver ID.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, modify the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files on the Windows 98 Startup disk so that each CD-ROM driver has a unique ID. To do so, follow these steps:

Use a text editor (such as Notepad) to open the Config.sys file on the Windows 98 Startup disk.

Locate the following line:

      Device=btcdrom.sys /D:mscd001

Change the line to the following line:

  
      Device=btcdrom.sys /D:mscd002

Locate the following line:

 
      Device=aspicd.sys /D:mscd001

Change the line to the following line:

      Device=aspicd.sys /D:mscd003

Save and then close the Config.sys file.
Using the text editor, open the Autoexec.bat file on the Windows 98 Startup disk.

Locate the following line:

      LH %ramd%:\mscdex.exe /D:mscd001 /L:%CDROM%

Change the line to the following line:

      LH %ramd%:\mscdex.exe /D:mscd001 /D:mscd002 /D:mscd003 /L:%CDROM%

Save the Autoexec.bat file, and then quit the text editor.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about Mscdex.exe command-line switches, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: 87165
TITLE : Command-Line Switches for MSCDEX.EXE

Additional query words: emergency boot ebd hwcds

Keywords: kbenv kbprb KB188391