Install Win 98 from CD using PCMCIA CD-Rom

http://www.iomagic.com/Products/driver_search.asp

You need to download generic PCMCIA MS-DOS driver like ST24XCDR.sys  ( standard 24X CDrom )
Here is one useful link ( look in the STORAGE category)

http://www.targususa.com/support_archive/files.htm

There are instructions in Adobe PDF format how to create autoexec.bat and config.sys files for the MS-DOS ( actually
win98 system floppy ) :Creating a DOS boot floppy-PDF (using the point enabler to access the CD-ROM drive in a
non-Win environment)

http://www.targususa.com/support_archive/files/bootableinstructa.pdf

Also instead of running the setup from the PCMCIA CD-Rom it would be better to copy the file to the HD and then run setup from the HD.

I had to install W95 from floppys and then upgrade to W98 on an old IBM 570.

mimicsu - I checked iomagic before coming here - looks to me like their not supporting 24x anymore.  If I use their driver for, say, 32x, will it still work?  I'll try the other 2 links now.

nedvis - I am looking at these pages now, and installing Acrobat onto this computer as I write this.  I didn't notice anything generic - just one for a pcmcia dvd rom (toshiba) - should I use this?

rayt333 - I formatted the drive already, I guess I could have put install files on a partition THEN formatted - but at this point I dont have a cdrom, remember?  (Already formatted the whole drive, 1 partition)

wdr503 - no win95 here :(

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!

-"nedvis - I am looking at these pages now, and installing Acrobat onto this computer as I write this.  I didn't notice anything generic - just one for a pcmcia dvd rom (toshiba) - should I use this?"
- NO !

I'll do some more research for the driver you need today. OK?

nedvis - I used the instructions in your second link and the driver set labeled "NW24XCD - External 24X Slimline
CD-ROM"  upon starting the computer it tried to load the driver and even said "Archos PCMCIA CDROM Driver" or something like that.  At the top of the dos prompt, this is exactly what it said:

PC-Card CDROM Driver 2.25 - (C) Archos 94-98
No unit found: driver dump

A:\> A:\mscdex /d:arccd01 /L:Q
Device Driver not found: 'arccd01'.
No valid cdrom device drivers selected.


And then an A:\ prompt.  Is it not finding the device, or are the drivers not loaded correctly?  The orig. startup disk was made on a win98 machine, and I copied over the 4 files from the driver set downloaded as mentioned above, as instructed in the directions in your second link.

Any ideas?

I'm still going to try to search for drivers for this part. model as mimicsu suggested.

Thanks again!

nedvis - I used the instructions in your second link and the driver set labeled "NW24XCD - External 24X Slimline
CD-ROM"  upon starting the computer it tried to load the driver and even said "Archos PCMCIA CDROM Driver" or something like that.  At the top of the dos prompt, this is exactly what it said:

PC-Card CDROM Driver 2.25 - (C) Archos 94-98
No unit found: driver dump

A:\> A:\mscdex /d:arccd01 /L:Q
Device Driver not found: 'arccd01'.
No valid cdrom device drivers selected.


And then an A:\ prompt.  Is it not finding the device, or are the drivers not loaded correctly?  The orig. startup disk was made on a win98 machine, and I copied over the 4 files from the driver set downloaded as mentioned above, as instructed in the directions in your second link.

Any ideas?

I'm still going to try to search for drivers for this part. model as mimicsu suggested.

Thanks again!

OK I'll check back later.  Thanks  :o)

LETS DIVE INTO THIS DRIVERS MINE ! ( bookmark the WEB page)

http://www.drivermuseum.com/files/drivers/cdrom_d.html

Panasonic drivers group has few PCMCIA DOS drivers

__________________________
 jonnyz0109 ,
Do you have any info about your PCMCIA card (manufacturer/ make, model) ?
__________________________

Take a look at this IBM WEB site with PCMCIA   DOS drivers ( one should  match your card ?!?!?!)
http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-496LSQ.html?lang=en_US&page=brand&brand=root&doctype=&subtype=Cat

I will check that page later (leaving in 5 min.) - but for now, here is some more specs for you, hopefully it will help.

CD Rom is I/O Magic PCMCIA, I believe it is 24x
Card is Magic Spin PC Card from I/O Magic
Notebook is a Sharp Actius (PC-A280)

If you need more I can get it... but this is all I know off the top of my head.

Thanks again.

NOTE:
A- PCMCIA slots needed to be initialized first with their OWN drivers,
 and then the CD rom drivers loaded.
B-What PCMCIA card do you have?
_______________________________________________________________________
These two stories could be a guidance for workaround:
"The thing that was stumping you is that the PCMCIA slots needed to be initialized with their own drivers, then the CD rom drivers loaded."
cited from:
 http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/MSDOS/Q_20656871.html
 
"  I had to load the PCMCIA drivers before the CDROM drivers in the config.sys file. Now I can access my CDROM"
cited from:
http://forums.techguy.org/t39518/sfeca92b717d8c1d74512ad1b71b7fab2.html

_____________________
more resources:
http://www.website-monitoring.us/dir/pcmcia_cd_rom_drivers/index.shtml
______________________


_____________________________________________________________________

Hmmmmm, so I should get PCMCIA drivers from Sharp?  I don't have any original disks that came with the computer...  I'll have to check.  Will keep you posted.

Thanks

Also, another thought: the computer is at least giving power to the drive.  Lights come on at the physical cd-rom unit, and with the cd inside, I hear it spinning up (as if, with a desktop, it was going to try and boot from the cd-rom - which I tried but of course it still didn't find the drive).  So do you think the pcmcia card is already 'initialized' as it was called in the other two posted threads?

..."the computer is at least giving power to the drive"  , AND THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.
In order to READ  files from  CD-ROM  there should be something like "translator "  , in this case
PCMCIA to ATAPI  interface provided by device driver or software written specificaly for that PCMCIA card.
That's why I asked if you can identify your PCMCIA card manufacturer and model number. so we can eventualy
locate driver somewhere on Internet.
I've spent few hours this afternoon trying to narrow down sources but no success.

BTW- is that PCMCIA card 16 or 32 bit model ?

jonnyz0109
I see the comment I place went over your head, or was above your level of understanding.
What I was saying was you would be better off copying the install files from the CD onto your HD, and then run setup from the files on your HD.
See the problem is Windows setup will reboot in the middle of the installation to find and install your PNP devices, but after it reboots then your PCMCIA CD-Rom will no longer be available, since you will not be booting back to the bootdisk but to the HD, and at this point your PCMCIA device will not be available since they would not be installed yet. I didn't realize I would need to explain this so fully, I kinda thought common sense might help out.

nedvis - I really have no clue whether it is 16 or 32... like I said, this is a second or third hand computer and I have no documentation nor drivers for it.

To make this a bit easier, I am now home, and have access to an old PCMCIA cdrom that I used to use with my dell laptop.  Again, not sure if it's 16 or 32 bit but I can probably find out if it matters.  I also have the drivers for this cdrom - on a floppy and on the internet.  I am going to try and get it done today... any suggestions on modifying the win98 boot disk so it includes the pcmcia drivers?

rayt333 - So, what do I do to copy the files?  Just copy the whole i386 to a folder on my hard drive, once I've got the cdrom working?  I guess that does make sense.  Nedvis, what do you think about that?

Thanks again guys!

All you need is the Win98 folder. Run setup.exe from the root of win98.

OK here is an update.  I actually got a boot disk directly from the man. of my "real" cdrom - it is an exp 24x pcmcia.  Here is the page I got it from: http://www.expnet.com/know.nsf/a87c96fe8c97753f8525644900608242/b651746be5db6ba588256cb0006e395e?OpenDocument.  It seemed to like the driver and even found the device but then it failed, mentioning something about command.com being corrupt.  It then sent me to some messed up prompt - it wasn't the normal A:\ >  it was like A> or something... and typing any normal dos commands just came back with an error (like 'dir' and 'A:' even).  It also looked like there was never power sent to the cdrom, or if there was, it was brief.  Double checked that the cdrom was switched to power off the pc - I was wondering if this could have something to do with it, like the pc can't handle powering without pcmcia drivers???  But anyway I'd have to find the ac adapter to test that one out...

About the copying deal, I will do that.  It even stresses to do the same in my above link, for same reasons I'm sure.

Any ideas?  Thanks!

jonnyz0109, we require feedback from you.

Sorry guys, been very busy this week and haven't touched the laptop since sunday.  Hopefully will get time tomorrow afternoon to follow the above suggestion.

Thanks

Well sorry guys it took so long... you've got me for sure now, till this thing is fixed.  I've been busy fixing other pc's actually.

I took a look at the disk - no system files, but I'm assuming this is because I'm looking at it in Win. explorer, in Win XP, and it's trying to be smart and block me from "the important stuff!"  Or, there just aren't any of those files on the disk, but I doubt that, since it did boot to the floppy (or at least, it tried to anyway).

Thanks

OK I found the option, it hides system files.

Contents of A:\config.sys
====================================
[menu]

menuitem=NORMAL
menuitem=CD-PORTABLE
menuitem=CD-USB
menuitem=DVD-Eseries
menuitem=DVD-ModelF
menuitem=HD-Plus


[common]

device=himem.sys /testmem:off

[NORMAL]

[CD-PORTABLE]
DEVICE=EXPCDI.EXE /P:1 /I:10 /D:MSCD001

[CD-USB]


[HD-Plus]
DEVICE=EXPHD.EXE /P:320

[DVD-Eseries]
DEVICE=EXPCDF.EXE /P:320 /D:MSCD001

[DVD-ModelF]
DEVICE=ARICDF.EXE /P:340 /D:MSCD001

[common]
=======================================

Adding "SHELL=A:\command.com" to the bottom, will check back upon trying the disk again.

Same error... I'll give u exactly what the screen says
===================================================

Microsoft Windows Startup Menu
1. Normal
2. CD-PORTABLE
3. CD-USB
4. DVD-Eseries
5. DVD-ModelF
6. HD-Plus

Enter a choice:

bottom is: F5=safe mode  Shift+F5=Command Prompt  Shift+F8=Step-by-step confirmation [N]

[ I choose 2 and press enter ]

Windows XMS Driver  Version 3.95
Extended Memory Specification (XMS) Version 3.0
Copyright 1988-1995 Microsoft Corp.

ERROR: An Extended Memory Manager is already installed.
             XMS Driver not installed.

EXP Portable CD-ROM/DVD-ROM device driver v.6.2
Copyright (C) 1994-1999, EXP Computers, Inc.

Configure card to:
     I/O Port: 170-177, 376-377
     IRQ Number: 10
     Device Name: MSCD001

EXP Portable CD-ROM/DVD-ROM card is present in socket 1
Error: CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is not found, aborting installation!
Incorrect MS-DOS version

The following file is missing or corrupted: A:\COMMAND.COM

The following file is missing or corrupted: COMMAND.COM
Type the name of the COmmand Interpreter (e.g., C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM)
A> _

===============================================

I will try remaking the disk from scratch and will check back once again.

OK I formatted the disk and made a startup disk with my win98 box.  Extracted the files as instructions from the file at my previously posted link (http://www.expnet.com/know.nsf/a87c96fe8c97753f8525644900608242/b651746be5db6ba588256cb0006e395e?OpenDocument), and WinZip gave me the error that the disk was full.  This was verified by going to A:\ drive properties, and it showed as 0 bytes free.

I then reformatted the disk in XP as MS-DOS bootable, and extracted the files as specified - this time enough room.  Tried booting to the disk with the laptop, same exact error as above.

A note a forgot to include last post: at the point where it reports the cdrom as being found, the cdrom has power and I can hear it seeking for a disk... but as soon as the error comes up power is shut off.

Went to bootdisk.com and tried a bunch... either they dont fit with the added files, or I get the same error.  Then a thought hit me, why not use that disk for the cd driver and another for command.com... so i got 2 disks, one is the dos version i was using, the other is the same dos version with the files added.  This got me to a command prompt.  No drives are recognized besides A: and B:, however.  (Not even C: which I know was formatted properly).  At this point, the cdrom also still has power, and upon inserting the Win98 cd, it spun up like it was seeking for something.

Any ideas???????  I'm about to give up and start searching for the old Windows 95 floppy installation ruitine!!

Just emailed EXP tech support:
I am using the boot disk instructions found at the following url:
http://www.expnet.com/know.nsf/a87c96fe8c97753f8525644900608242/b651746be5db6ba588256cb0006e395e?OpenDocument

It is just not working for me... I have nothing on the C: drive and need access to the cdrom to copy the win98 folder to my hard drive.  Below is exactly what comes up after following the directions the page specified above.

===================================================

Microsoft Windows Startup Menu
1. Normal
2. CD-PORTABLE
3. CD-USB
4. DVD-Eseries
5. DVD-ModelF
6. HD-Plus

Enter a choice:

bottom is: F5=safe mode  Shift+F5=Command Prompt  Shift+F8=Step-by-step confirmation [N]

[ I choose 2 and press enter ]

Windows XMS Driver  Version 3.95
Extended Memory Specification (XMS) Version 3.0
Copyright 1988-1995 Microsoft Corp.

ERROR: An Extended Memory Manager is already installed.
            XMS Driver not installed.

EXP Portable CD-ROM/DVD-ROM device driver v.6.2
Copyright (C) 1994-1999, EXP Computers, Inc.

Configure card to:
    I/O Port: 170-177, 376-377
    IRQ Number: 10
    Device Name: MSCD001

EXP Portable CD-ROM/DVD-ROM card is present in socket 1
Error: CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is not found, aborting installation!
Incorrect MS-DOS version

The following file is missing or corrupted: A:\COMMAND.COM

The following file is missing or corrupted: COMMAND.COM
Type the name of the COmmand Interpreter (e.g., C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM)
A> _

===============================================

Also does not work if I use option [1] - it still doesn't find command interpreter.  The disk was formatted with MS-DOS files using WinXP, and then the files extracted as per the instructions on that page.  I also tried with numerous other dos versions from www.bootdisk.com, none of which work (either files do not fit and can't be extracted to the floppy, or I get the same error as above).

Please help!!!  The CD-ROM definately works, and it is switched to PC power, and the drive receives power as soon as the computer is turned on... also upon inserting a cd, it spins it up, so the drive is certainly working.

Thanks in advance!


If anyone has any more suggestions please let me know!!  My goal is to have the computer working before my friend starts with her school.  (Next week)

Points increased to 250.

You're getting error : Incorrect MS-DOS version ?
Why ?
Because you "...reformatted the disk in XP as MS-DOS bootable..." , which is wrong.
Try to make bootable system floppy on Windows 98 PC !!!
Simply   do the unconditional, system  format :
FORMAT A:  /u /s
so you'll have only three files on floppy ( MSDOS.SYS, IO.SYS and COMMAND.COM ) and plenty of room for customized CONFIG.SYS , AUTOEXEC.BAT and PCMCIA CD-ROM driver file(s) .
YOU MUST SYSTEM FORMAT FLOPPY on WINDOWS98 PC because you have to issue " copy d:\win98\*.* "  command once you have acces to the Win98 installation CD-ROM - . Othervise ( when you create MS-DOS floppy from withing WinXP) you need to copy the WinXP version of  copy.com file to the floppy if you want to "mirror" win98 installation folder to your hard-disk.
Simply put you can not "mix-and-mach" files from different operating system ( e.g. command.com from Win98 and copy.com from MS-DOS 6,22 or WinXP )

  ERROR: An Extended Memory Manager is already installed.
                XMS Driver not installed.
indicates that you have two instances of himem.sys trying to load from your CONFIG.SYS file.
Review your config.sys file and remove duplicate line  referring to HIMEM.SYS
 ( most likely in section 2. [ CD-PORTABLE  ]  and [ common ] ) .

OK I am in contact with a support person.  We got it down to just the cdrom is not being found.  (Command Interpreter works without a problem).  In the config.sys file he told me to change the "/P:1 /I:10" in:
[CD-PORTABLE]
DEVICE=EXPCDI.EXE /P:1 /I:10 /D:MSCD001

/P: can be 1, 2,or 3
/I: can be 5, 7, 9, 10, or 11

I tried every combination of the two and got the same error for all.

As soon as it gets to the point where it finds the pcmcia card in the slot, it turns off the power to the cdrom and immediately turns it back on, spins up the cd, and seeks for a while... after a couple of seconds the error that a cdrom cannot be found comes up on the screen, and the power to the cdrom is cut.

The disk was made wrong, by me!  All I had to do was in Win98 go to format the disk and include system files when formatting (DUH!!  Can you tell it's been awhile since I used windows 98!)

He will write me back in the morning, I'm sure - although he hasn't been too much help in the last couple of replies - apparently he has very poor english skills and it is taking quite a bit of effort to figure out what he is asking me to do.  Any other thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated!!  Also if you want me to post anything from the email just let me know and I'll do that!

Thanks again,
Jonnyz

Where can I find that converter?  I had thought of that but didn't think it was easy to do...

You can find it here online, or pick one up at your local computer shop.
Its very easy to do, its just like connecting a 3.5" hard drive as the slave.
Have you ever done that before? The tricky part is getting the ahrd drive out, just remember they put them(laptops) together so they do come apart, just be careful and take your time. Most of the time you just take the key board off and there it sits. There will be a bracket assembly on the hard drive and an adapter on the pin connections that need to be removed so that you can install the 2.5" to 3.5" adapter. It has a power molex that you plug into a harddrive power connector from the powersupply. Let me know if you need more instructions.

http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buyer/ProductM.jsp?pdir=0&ptitle=4055242&core=&node=&lgsearch=2.5_to_3.5_adapter&lgnode=&nxtg=3437f_C9D9EDC853DF13E7&kw=Startech_IDE4044_2_5IN&page=1&click=n

Is the hard disk being detected by the bios?  From an A prompt what does fdisk /status show?

mimicsu,
He stated that he formatted the drive in his original post, wouldn't that indicate that the bios recognized the HD?

Yes hard disk is detected.  I can copy files from floppy to C: drive once booted up.

wdr - before I went to bed lastnight I unscrewed the computer and got access to the hard drive fairly easy, and I was also able to figure out how the ribbon cable came off.. I am going to stop by our local computer store today and see if they have that part, otherwise I may way for the email from the tech support guy... my classes actually resume today, so time will be a little more tight  :o(

Anyway thanks for all your continued suggestions... keep 'em coming!!

The response from the "tech support" guy:

well if you already try all these I/O setting, still no work, then the cd-rom drive that you have,
it work only for windows not for dos. because the slim type cd-rom, when it come form manufacture
sometime is MASTER / SLAVE / CS,
if the drive you have is master should work, but I think your drive is cs. that why it will not work in dos.

Apparently, EXP Tech support SUCKS!  That is the ENTIRE message I got back from him... extremely unprofessional... at least have the responses edited for CORRECT GRAMMER!  Anyway sorry for venting, this is just even worse than most of my excursions with Tech Support!

Any more ideas, I've love to hear them, otherwise it looks like I will have to go with the whole adapter deal  :o(

Also get that pcmcia to ide converter, WDR suggested to copy the file from another pc or try another cdrom from another laptop.

What I suggested was a harddrive converter to take the 2.5" harddrive out of the laptop and hook it up to a desktop ide cable by an adapter. Then copy the Win98 folder from the OS install cd to the laptop hard drive. Then put the little HD back in the laptop and run the setup.exe from the win98 folder to install the OS.

mimicsu - huh???  I understand what wdr suggested... so if you were just trying to re-explain, I'm all set ;o)  If you have another suggestion then can you re-explain yourself?

Thanks

BTW I got an email back from the tech support guy - I will be calling the Customer Service center and reporting his email address, whether they care or not... he was extremely unprofessional in the way he handled the request...

Explanation simplified - You mentioned getting a ribbon cable at the shop, so I just added a reminder to see about that converter that WDR mentioned, since we have a few at work that I've used to do the same thing.

ok yeh I know what wdr is saying - there is no ribbon involved, I already have IDE ribbons in my desktop.

No I haven't yet, hopefully will find the time tomorrow or Friday.  I have my doubts as to finding the product at the local PC shop - he doesn't carry much hardware, unless he's got one of his own, in which case he would be more likely to let me borrow it.  Anyway, I will stop there first, but where else could I go to find it if he doesn't have one?  I have Staples, Circuit City, Best Buy all within 15 minutes, CompUSA is 45 minutes away so that would be the last option...

I/O Magic - been there done that, read the beginning of the thread.  They don't list the model (or actually, speed) of the cd-rom that we have.  On top of that I really dont know the model of the drive, it doesn't say ANYTHING on it!!  I only "know" that it's 24x because that is what the previous owner told me.  They could also be wrong.

Sharp - the model number for the laptop is PCA280, not sure if I posted that before.  There are video drivers (etc) for this model, so that will help once I've loaded windows 98 into the laptop... I hadn't found that page yet, so thanks!

Compusa might be your only bet. Let your fingers do the walking. Call around first. Staples,CC,BestBuy I don't think would have those.
I have a PC Club and a Fry's Electronics(please no slams) near me to get the hardware that I need. Or you will need to mail order.

haha, actually I've heard fry's is good!  Neither of those around here though!

Is this the product at CompUSA?  http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=50208026&pfp=SEARCH

Notice it's not available in the store... would take a few days to get here!

jonny, u said it was an io magic magic spin 24x pcmcia cdrom, which I found at iomega's site.  Best bet is to d/l & try the drivers from there.  Even if the speed it wrong, as you only need the drvr for dos which won't be needed in the config.sys or autoexec.bat once windoze is loaded.

I went here
http://www.iomagic.com/Products/driver_search.asp

category = cd rom drives
product = magicspin 24x

after hitting search it display model# DR-CD24 & if you look closely at the pic, under "IC SPIN" you'll barely make out pcmcia.

Yes that is the product at compusa, if they have it instore is another question.

OK wdr I'll check the pc store.  mimicsu - I guess they have either updated/fixed or added to the page since I checked at the beginning of this thread - I was on their website for at least 2 hrs.  Will check later today when I get home!

Thanks

OK - Once you get the driver, you'll have to copy it to the bootdisk & modify the config.sys & autoexec.bat to load it for dos.

which is what I've been trying to do for a week with my own cd-rom... if one doesn't work, why should the other?  And I happen to be biased towards my cdrom working as opposed to the one that came with the computer   :o(

Anyway I just got home from my classes, and I'm gonna go take a ride to the pc shop now... I'll check back later.

Jonny, did get & try the iomagic drvr for the iomagic magicspin 24x?

I went and found the part, and have successfully installed Win98 to the machine.  Still looking around for drivers for the modem, haven't gotten to the cd-rom yet.  I'm assuming it's the modem that I still need, as there is no modem listed in Device Manager, but there is a mystery "Unknown PCI Device" or something like that in there, with no drivers installed.  It didn't like any of the drivers I had already downloaded, and none of those included a modem........

Will check the cd-rom drivers next this evening, when I should have time to work on it again (if not, tomorrow afternoon there will be time).

Thanks again!

When installing a modem, alot of then are voice modems which require a WDM driver. I believe this for a Wave Device. Many times the modems will need these drivers.What I do, if you have an install cd, is to go through every folder until it finds the driver it likes. What is frustrating about this is the device doesn't tell you what it needs so you have to guess and with enough experience the guessing gets easier or just luckier.

yeh, i know... picky picky..... it's been a while since I had to march to the beat of windows 98's drum, too (I'm spoiled with XP!)

Persistance pays off, eventually.  Until then, we're in for the long haul!  I'll let you know how I make out... I think I might try to get some work in now, unless I get too tired (12:19 and I just got up here, not sure how long I'll last!)

Thanks

Great site mimicsu, I have bookmarked it for future reference.

WOW!!  That is the greatest program EVER!  I ran it and it immediately detected an "Unknown device from Sharp Corp." and identified it as "Chip: Pctel Inc  HSP MicroModem 56"

Now I'm off to go find the drivers.

I got a message that the drivers I was installing wasn't written specifically for the hardware, and that it may not work, and do I wish to proceed.  I said yes and it appears as if everything is installed correctly.  I will not be able to verify until I have a phone line free (family using dsl on the line, right now).  Do you think I will have a problem?  The driver name was "MicroModem 56" and thats the one I installed...

And the drivers page you gave me for the cdrom worked as well.  When first plugged in, it thought the cdrom was an external hard drive... no, genious, just use these and you'll be fine  :P

I think now its just a matter of loading software onto the laptop.  Let me know about that little message above... I am giving this to a friend and dont want her to have a problem down the road (considering she will need the modem to get onto the internet when not on campus or at her home).

Thanks for your help.  I will be splitting points, somehow...

Explanations:

rayt333 - Copied win98 folder to hard drive using the technique specified by wdr503 (whose solution really fixed the problem).

nedvis - info about the command interpreter, which even the "tech support guy" wasn't figuring out!

wdr503 - it was so easy once I had the part.  By the way, I ended up finding the part at a PC Warehouse type place... Both local PC Shops did not cary them, nor Radio Shack, Staples.  CompUSA does, but you have to order it online and have it shipped.

mimicsu - the two comments both got points, because I know I searched everywhere for those nasty I/O Magic drivers and couldn't find them... not sure why they suddenly appeared on the website again... and also the drivers that you found on the sharp website, I hadn't found... this is what got the computer working once Windows 98 got installed.  And then Unknown Devices - what a great program!  It's already been put on my "diagnostic cd!"

Thanks to everyone for your help.  If one of you would just let me know about that funky error message, whether to expect problems out of the modem or not, I'd appreciate it!

Another thing - it looks like the cdrom was installed, but is being stuck in the "disk drives" area of device manager, which I assume is keeping it from working properly.  A cd-rom is shown in My Computer but it doesn't open any cd's.

It is under "hard disk controllers"

Well Jonny, glad your working now.  In my 1st post, I just listed where the MFG drvr pag was, but I didn't search for it until later when I was looking for the Sharp Actius PCA280.  I'm glad you both found the UnknownDevices pgm desirable.  You can find more utilities that I use here:
     http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Desktops/Q_20718653.html#9221866

If the cdrom is showing as an external device or as a hard drive, then it isn't being detected as removable media - which may indicate a bios problem.  It should be under the cdrom section in the devmgr not under HDC.

So how do I fix that?

To fix your cdrom problem, start by going into the device manager and remove the cdrom from the device manager. Reboot  and let windows grab it again. If you still have the win98 folder on there that you installed from, just point the 'found new hardware' applet to that folder for the drivers. It should find everything that it needs from there. Oh, I see this is the problem with the pcmcia cdrom drivers. Did you download those drivers to your hard disk? If yes then point the new hardware applet to that destination.

I'll admit I'm not sure.  It is a hot swappable cdrom, right?  Is there a place where you can modify or setup pcmcia cards in the cntl panl?  I know on Toshiba, there is a utility that allows those devices to be configured.  Do you have the manual for the laptop or can you search Sharp's KB articles?  I would suggest going here & asking them via email: http://www.sharpusa.com/global/ContactUsProdSupp/1,1878,,00.html.

I did that already, twice  :o(

Yes the drivers are dl'ed from the website, 24x spinmagic portable cd-rom... the driver even says that, and the device is even listed something along those lines, correctly, in device manager.  Just that, once installed, it is put under hard disk controllers, and some phantom "LG CD-Rom" randomly appears under cd-roms, which has a generic cd-rom driver, and when one of the two is removed, the other goes away as well.

hmmm more tech support, it may come down to that.  Documentation - unfortunately, this laptop has none (either it came with none, or my friend lost it, I wouldn't be surprised in either case).  PC Card slot seems to be working, it found the card and controller without a problem...

Is this the driver you are looking for? Not sure if someone already posted this link or not. Tired eyes and I don't want to read all the way back to findout.

http://www.iomagic.com/Products/driver_results.asp

Yep that's the page.. no problem, I know how it goes  ;o)

( *YAWN* )

btw ur link is in a .asp, but yes that's the site where I got it from... I clicked on 24x spin magic from the dropdown on the search page

are you able to download the drivers?
I am and did, not sure if this is a  problem that you are having.

Yes, and the drivers are installed too.  The problem is that, even with this driver set, the device is being recognized and listed as a hard disk controller instead of a cd rom, which means the physical unit is not being controlled properly (i.e. D:\ is not accessible even when a valid cd is in the drive)

Sorry about that .asp link. Didn't reliese it would error on you.
Anyway that driver isn't working for you?

did you try to uninstall the drive through device manager

Yes, and it prompted me to restart and automatically found the device at boot up, at which point I sent the applet to the drivers location on the hard drive, it was reinstalled, and still recognized & installed as a hard disk controller.

What is the pcmcia cards manufacturer? Some of the researching that I have done show that some will show up under the hard disk controller and some will show as PCMCIA socket.

You have already closed this question. You might want to start this as a new question in hardware so you can get fresh people and ideas on it.
Also put a link here referencing the new question and webpage so that we can follow it, and put a link from this question in the new one so people can go back and see what has been done already.

Please read over this site, it could help you get this figured out. It talks about how to install pcmcia card services.
http://www.synchrotech.com/support/install.html

Haven't forgotten about you guys... been loaded with homework since classes started!  Hopefully have some time to drag the machine out again this coming weekend!!

And yes I might open a new question for the issue... since the main issue was solved in this thread (how to get win98 on the laptop).

Please see new thread for the CD-Rom - full details are included in my original question in that thread.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Win98/Q_20750411.html

Thanks everyone!