Installing CDRW Hangs Windows 98 on Startup

[melissas]

Hi,

Hope someone can help me. I'm running 98 SE with 384 Mb RAM. I had a normal CD drive and just tried to add a Sony CRX-320 CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive to my computer. I left my original CD drive as Master and added the new Sony as Slave. I can boot into DOS and both drives work. However, since I installed the new Sony, I can not boot into Windows 98. It hangs every time. It locks up so tight that I can't even turn it off using the power button. I have to unplug it. I can go into Windows in Safe Mode, but neither of my CD drives show up at all.

Anyone have any ideas why I can't run Windows 98 after installing the Sony CD-RW as Slave to my original CD drive?

Thanks so much,

Melissa

[horsecharles]

Hi, welcome to the forum!

Could be a million things--- what exactly have you tried so far, what's the other model & software accompaying it? (btw try the bottom tips first-- they're the quickest & maybe the most likely)

have you tried the obvious: alternating slave/master, updated firmware / software, etc. (Sony updates have been regularly & recently released)

I tried looking up info re the model at the sony site-- unfortunately it's gotta be the worst site for looking up anything-- i defy anyone to disprove that-- & a site search returns a 'no info about such a model message'.

I suspect this is because some other Jap/Chin co manufactured it(liteon, mats***a, etc.) & just stamped a sony label on.

By chance, did you spell out the model name fully? I found this variation: CRX320E here: http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/shows...p?storyid=52986

By chance i saw this link mentioned in an article: http://www.vaio-link.com/Downloads/downloads.asp?l=en

But one's required to enter computer serial # before accessing software. What a piece of **** company. I tried ftp as a last resort & got lucky. Here's 12/04 firmware update:

ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/CDRW/Firmware/crx320a_nyk5.zip (Careful when flashing)

cyberlink5 patch: http://www.gocyberlink.com/multi/download/...odId=1〈=ENU

pick your nero version here: http://www.nero.com/us/Downloads.html

Which gets us to the most likely causes:

You don't mention your other cd model-- i'm thinking it's an older model whose UDF & other software may clash with your present Sony's, or it may need updating(if so, Adaptec got bought by Roxio, who got bought by MySonic... in case you need to go looking for patches), it may be a case where competing DLA(drive letter assignment) software from both is clashing-- for troubleshooting purposes: try disabling one or the other in startup(msconfig/startup) AND as well disable both auto-detect & auto-play for both data and music(TweakUI).

Pls do a Find for this file: ext2.vxd... If you have used partioning software, say Paragon's, this installed file clashes with some DLA software versions and prevents Windows from starting and/or totally freezes the computer when you attempt to use your cd/dvd-- or a cd can be read ok, but when trying to burn windows locks up. You can rename this file & just remember you did that when you wish to partition again.

And the #1 Letterman most likely reason:

Close all these / disable from starting up / auto-running, reboot and then re/over-install all the software that came with your Sony:

firewall, antivir, immunizers, spy blockers, any other real-time file protectors-- also, protected recycle bin, Norton Doctors may conflict for other reasons.

One particular reason is: as you're installing your udf/dla, a SpywareGuard or other such software may pop up right during the install with a warning about a possible bad object being installed--& do you wish to accept or block. Well, even if you select accept, it can be too late: something gets messed up in the install, which seemingly proceeds without a hitch-- however, this will cause the same symptoms as with that ext2.vxd file.

btw I've seen instances with both Zone Alarm & Norton where it hasn't been enough to just close them-- they need to be uninstalled, the other software then installs properly... further, i have verified this as occurring randomly vs the same exact program(say you intall it once, everything ok-- for some reason you need to reinstall it, you get a conflict)... whooda thunk it?

Good luck-- pls keep us posted..