#SoundBlster and all that
3 messages in this thread
OK, I admit defeat.
I have treated myself to a SoundBlaster Pro 16 and an NEC CDR-84i and my wife
to a SoundBlaster 16 kit.
So, tonight was the big night, open up the computers, install the cards, fit
the drives and see who could be first to find where Carmen really is!
I forgot that nothing in the world, and computers,is ever that simple….
First, despite the assurances of the supplier – he in NY, me in Tokyo – that
the NEC and the SoundBlaster were compatible, the NEC has a 50 pin SCSI socket
and cable, but the SoundBlaster card only has a 40 pin socket!
So, cursing mildly whilst removing the NEC, I fit the SoundBlaster CD drive,
re-install the drivers as the manual says that the drive driver is on the
diskette. Rebooting, the POST tells me that the CD ROM drive is drive
"MSCD001" – What is wrong with pain old F or G or anything that I can access?
Does anyone know how I can get to access the drive? I have played an audio CD
from the CDPLYR directory, so I know that the drive works, but I hope that I
have not just turned my 486/50 into an oversized Walkman!
For info I am running MS-DOS6 with the C drive DBLSPACE'd (no problems so far
folks!), but the SoundBlaster is installed on an uncompressed D drive,
physically different as well as logically. The SoundBlaster installed fine
with no conflicts – I had removed a potential problem (game port) before.
Sorry folks, but I am in need of an idiots guide – you wouldn't think that I
have been playing with computers for a dozen or more years would you – but the
manuals are about as much use as Andrex for solving this problem.
Any recommendations for a good adapter board to use with the NEC would also be
most welcome.
Thanks and BBFN…
You need Microsoft Extensions for CD-ROM (MSCDEX.EXE to interpret commaands
from DOS to the CD-ROM file format, and also to assign a DOS drive letter.
MSCD001 is the device driver name that MSCDEX.EXE uses to assign a drive
letter. I'm not familiar with DOS 6.0 yet, so I hesitate to give you more
detailed info, but there IS a book that can help you, though it's hardly a
guide for idiots – I don't think anybody smart enough to buy a CD-ROM drive is
an idiot! Technology Edge: Guide for CD-ROMs, published by New Riders
Publsihing, is available at most bookstores and at Software Etc. Rich Bowers,
our distinguished Sysop, has reviewed it on this forum. It has extensive
instructions for installation of drives, device drivers, and MSCDEX.EXE.
Dana,
Thanks for the info and advice. I shall look for the book.
Please see my subsequent message, acknowledging my stupidity, though I would
like to think that the manual did not help with a trouble free setup…
Anyway, I shant use it instead of Andrex just yet…
Any ideas on a compatible card for the NEC?
BBFN…