Author: Jack Carroll
Email: jac--no-spam@chives.mv.com
Date Submitted: Sun, Nov 8, 1998
Status: New Entry

Requester: robert
Email: rform@compuserve.com
Request Made: Sat, May 9, 1998

Releases: all
Platform: intel
Category:  Installing Issues
Category Listing:  i'm trying to install redhat linux but can't get system to identify my cd rom drive

Issue

My pc is made by maple computers. the cd rom is ide 24x is this the 
problem? 

Response

First, make sure this isn't a hardware problem. Does this CD-ROM 
work under any other operating system? My motherboard had poor 
electrical design of the DE port, with the result that it was 
unable to support more than one IDE device unless both were 
within 4 inches of the end of a single ribbon cable. If the 
hardware isn't working with any software, and the cabling is OK, 
check the jumpers on the devices. The hard disk should have its 
jumpers set as the primary master, and the CD-ROM should be set up 
as the primary slave. I never had any luck using a cable in the 
secondary slot, because of electrical reflections on the bus. All 
this means you need the instruction sheets for both drives, to 
get the jumper settings right. Second, if you're convinced that the 
CD-ROM and the hard disk are both working correctly in the system, 
and there's no electrical interference with anything else, you 
need to identify the type of CD-ROM so you can tell the 
installation script what it is. This may involve removing it from 
the chassis to read the label. If you do have to open the case, 
take rigorous precautions against ESD damage. This means a 
standard wrist strap, static mat for the table, and ground wires 
connecting the strap, the mat, and the chassis all to earth ground. 
One thing you don't need is damaged, flaky hardware to complicate 
the troubleshooting. In my situation, the physical dimensions of 
the case made it impossible to install both an IDE CD-ROM and an 
IDE hard disk in a way that would satisfy the cabling 
limitations. I went to SCSI and got rid of the problems. This is a 
bit radical, but if you have to take that approach, it's a lot 
easier if you get a SCSI card that has on-board BIOS, so the 
installation script can auto-probe it. 

References

LDP Hardware HOWTO, available as hardcopy in "Linux, the complete 
reference" (Linux System Labs) or "Linux Undercover" (Red Hat) 
"Upgrading & Repairing PCs", Que, ISBN 0-7897-1295-4