CD-ROM Drives Requiring Real-Mode Drivers

• Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

Windows 95 can access most CD-ROM drives in protected mode. However, unsupported CD-ROM drives must use the real-mode drivers provided by the vendor. If you use real-mode drivers for your CD-ROM drive, you should use SMARTDrive to obtain optimum performance with the CD-ROM drive.

SMARTDrive is a disk-caching tool included with versions of MS-DOS and Windows. Only version 5.0 of SMARTDrive, included with MS-DOS version 6.2 and Windows 95, can cache CD-ROM drives.

This article lists CD-ROM drives that require real-mode drivers to either work in Windows 95 or be detected by Windows 95.

Real-mode CD-ROM drivers include:

• Drivers that must be loaded in the Config.sys file.
• The Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions (MSCDEX) driver (or third-party equivalent) that must be loaded in the Autoexec.bat file.

MORE INFORMATION

Backpack CD-ROM (External/Parallel Port) from Micro Solutions

The Backpack CD-ROM drive has a proprietary parallel port interface and is not automatically recognized by Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0. Current Backpack CD-ROM drive models can use a 32-bit protected-mode driver obtainable from the manufacturer for compatibility with Windows 95 and Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0. This driver can be downloaded from the Software Library at Micro Solutions' Web site at:

   http://www.micro-solutions.com

The Backpack CD-ROM drive 16-bit real-mode driver can also be used as an alternative in Windows 95 if it is loaded in the Config.sys file and Mscdex.exe (or equivalent) is loaded in the Autoexec.bat file. Early models of Backpack CD-ROM drives (single-speed model 160550 and double- speed model 162550) must use the 16-bit driver, as they are not compatible with Micro Solutions' 32-bit driver. Therefore, these early models of Backpack CD-ROM drives are not compatible with Windows NT 3.51 or 4.0.

If Windows 95 or Windows NT still does not access the Backpack CD-ROM drive, or for information about driver parameters, configuration options, or Windows NT installation steps, please refer to the driver documentation or check the Technical Support area of Micro Solutions' Web site at http://www.micro-solutions.com before you call Micro Solutions.

CD-ROM Drives on Mozart Sound Cards

Windows 95 requires that the MOZINIT.SYS real-mode driver be loaded in the Config.sys file and MSCDEX (or equivalent) be loaded in the Autoexec.bat file to access the CD-ROM drive. This driver is necessary to set up the hardware.

For information about the parameters for MOZINIT.SYS and MSCDEX, please refer to the drive's documentation or contact the manufacturer.

Chinon CDS-435 or CDS-535

When you install Windows 95 on a computer with a Chinon CDS-435 or CDS-535 CD-ROM drive, the hardware detection portion of Setup does not detect the CD-ROM controller. When Setup is finished, you cannot access the CD-ROM drive, and the drive is not listed in Device Manager.

The Chinon CDS-435 and CDS-535 CD-ROM drives use a proprietary SCSI controller card that is not supported by the Windows 95 protected-mode SCSI drivers.

To use the Chinon CDS-435 or CDS-535 CD-ROM drive with Windows 95, use the real-mode device drivers that are included with the drive.

For information about installing the device drivers, please refer to the documentation that is shipped with the drive, or contact Chinon Technical Support.

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Value CD4x MK4062

The CD4x MK4062 is not detected by Windows 95 when connected to the IDE controller on the sound card. An updated driver, Sbide-95.exe, can be downloaded from Creative Labs to correct this problem.

Matsushita or Panasonic CD-ROM Drives on Ensoniq Soundscape Cards

Windows 95 cannot detect Matsushita/Panasonic CD-ROM drives if they are connected to Ensoniq Soundscape sound cards. This is because the Ensoniq sound card offers different I/O ports for the Matsushita/Panasonic interface than the Windows 95 Panasonic CD-ROM driver supports. The real- mode drivers for these drives must be used.

Media Vision Reno

Windows 95 cannot access this CD-ROM drive without the real-mode driver being loaded in the Config.sys file and MSCDEX (or equivalent) being loaded in the Autoexec.bat file.

If Windows 95 still does not access the CD-ROM drive, or for information about the parameters for the real-mode CD-ROM driver and MSCDEX, please refer to the drive's documentation or contact the manufacturer.

NEC CDR-38, NEC CDR-250, CDR-260, CDR-260R, CDR-260GW

The NEC CDR-38, NEC CDR-250, CDR-260, CDR-260R, and CDR-260GW CD-ROM drives are incompatible with the ATAPI specification version 1.2. Therefore, Windows 95 cannot detect these drives if NEC_IDE.SYS is not loaded in the Config.sys file and MSCDEX (or equivalent) is not loaded in the Autoexec.bat file. After Windows 95 detects these drivers, it uses protected-mode drivers to access the CD-ROM drive.

For information about the parameters for NEC_IDE.SYS and MSCDEX, please refer to the drive's documentation or contact the manufacturer.

NEC 55-JD

Windows 95 cannot access this CD-ROM drive without the real-mode driver being loaded in the Config.sys file and MSCDEX (or equivalent) being loaded in the Autoexec.bat file.

If Windows 95 still does not access the CD-ROM drive, or for information about the parameters for the real-mode CD-ROM driver and MSCDEX, please refer to the drive's documentation or contact the manufacturer.

Philips CD-ROM on Media Vision Fusion 16 Sound Card

Windows 95 cannot access this CD-ROM drive when it is attached to a Media Vision Fusion 16 sound card without the real-mode driver being loaded in the Config.sys file and MSCDEX (or equivalent) being loaded in the Autoexec.bat file.

If Windows 95 still does not access the CD-ROM drive, or for information about the parameters for the real-mode CD-ROM driver and MSCDEX, please refer to the drive's documentation or contact the manufacturer.

Philips CM205 and CM206 Proprietary CD-ROM Drives

Windows 95 cannot access this CD-ROM drive without the real-mode driver being loaded in the Config.sys file and MSCDEX (or equivalent) being loaded in the Autoexec.bat file.

If Windows 95 still does not access the CD-ROM drive, or for information about the parameters for the real-mode CD-ROM driver and MSCDEX, please refer to the drive's documentation or contact the manufacturer.

MediaVision has released a Windows 95 driver for the Phillips CM205/206 CD-ROM drives. Obtain the 206w95.exe file from the MediaVision Web site (www.mediavis.com) or FTP server (ftp.mediavis.com).

Pinnacle Micro PCD-100

Windows 95 may detect this single-speed drive as a Mitsumi CD-ROM drive (because it loads MTMCDD.SYS in the Config.sys file) and load the protected-mode Mitsumi drivers. These drivers do not work with the Pinnacle CD-ROM drive. To enable the CD-ROM drive, you must reload MTMCDD.SYS and MSCDEX (or equivalent).

For information about the parameters for the real-mode CD-ROM driver and MSCDEX, please refer to the drive's documentation or contact the manufacturer.

Sanyo (TORISAN) CDR-C3G Multidisk ATAPI CD-ROM

Windows 95 cannot access this CD-ROM drive without the real-mode driver being loaded in the Config.sys file and MSCDEX (or equivalent) being loaded in the Autoexec.bat file.

If Windows 95 still does not access the CD-ROM drive, or for information about the parameters for the real-mode CD-ROM driver and MSCDEX, please refer to the drive's documentation or contact the manufacturer.

For additional information, please see the Hardware.txt file in the Windows folder, or see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q135896
   TITLE     : Windows 95 CD-ROM Hardware.txt File

Sony CDU-6201-20

Windows 95 cannot access this CD-ROM drive without the real-mode driver being loaded in the Config.sys file and MSCDEX (or equivalent) being loaded in the Autoexec.bat file.

If Windows 95 still does not access the CD-ROM drive, or for information about the parameters for the real-mode CD-ROM driver and MSCDEX, please refer to the drive's documentation or contact the manufacturer.

Teac CD55A Proprietary CD-ROM

Windows 95 cannot access this CD-ROM drive without the real-mode driver being loaded in the Config.sys file and MSCDEX (or equivalent) being loaded in the Autoexec.bat file.

If Windows 95 still does not access the CD-ROM drive, or for information about the parameters for the real-mode CD-ROM driver and MSCDEX, please refer to the drive's documentation or contact the manufacturer.

A Windows 95 driver for the Teac CD55A CD-ROM drive can be obtained from Teac. The driver file name is Cd55_w95.zip. Earlier drivers require MSCDEX.

NOTE: The Teac CD55A Windows 95 driver works only with Sound Blaster cards; it does not work with Sound Blaster-compatible cards. For additional information, see the Readme.txt file included with the driver.

Wearnes CDD-110

Windows 95 cannot access this CD-ROM drive without the real-mode driver being loaded in the Config.sys file and MSCDEX (or equivalent) being loaded in the Autoexec.bat file.

If Windows 95 still does not access the CD-ROM drive, or for information about the parameters for the real-mode CD-ROM driver and MSCDEX, please refer to the drive's documentation or contact the manufacturer.

Mitsumi FX001D & FX001 CD-ROM Drive

These double-speed drives require the real-mode Fx116.exe driver that is available on Mitsumi's Web site (www.mitsumi.com). Although these drives are detected by Setup and the Add New Hardware Wizard, the protected-mode driver does not work and generates a "Windows performed an illegal operation" error message at 215D:3F42. Use the real-mode drivers instead.