Okay formating again, this time following your exact instructions in post #19. No drivers to back up though, they ones we have been working with are all saved to the destop on this computer.

Okay folled you insturctions to the letter.
on the last restart I get a 1/2 splash screen of win98 then instantly it goes to

Microsoft(R) Windows 98
(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp 1981-1999

C:\>


How do I know if it sees my cdrom? I typed d:\setup
It seems as all I have is a:\> and c:\> no d for ramdrive or nothing and I am not getting to coice to select start with or without cdrom support. \
Did I do something wrong? I am sure I did not miss a step.

When I restart with the ebd in I get the choice with r without cdrom suppot, but still says device drivers not found
Also I can get a prommpt b promt c promt and d prompt
a=floppy
b=same files and size as a
c=hard drive
d=ramdrive

Wait we have gotten somewhere....This is what is says after I did c:\setup <enter> <restart>
First screen, quick win98se splash screen then this
"BPCDDRV.SYS v4.02: Copyright 2002, Micro Solutions Inc., DeKalb Il.

ERROR: A BACKPACK CD-ROM drive was not found. Be sure the BACKPACK CD-ROM drive is connected to a printer port and the power switch is in the ON position.

Press R to retry or ESC to continue."

I checked no power switch, but it is plugged in and the lights are on and it is connected to the prionter port after I hit R it says
"BPCDDRV.SYS is using 32.5K of memory.

C:\>IF EXIST BPCDDRV$ \BPCDROM\MSCDEX /D:BPCDDRV$
MSCDEX Version 2.25
Copyright (C) Micrsoft Corp. 1986-1995. All rights reserved.
Drive D:= Driver BPCDDRV$ unit 0

C:\>

C:\>"
If I type d:<enter> and dir iget this
"C:\>D:<enter>
d:\>dir<enter>

CDR101: Not ready reading drive D
Abort, Retry, Fail?"

But it does flask the light on the power in the back pack

OK, this;

"BPCDDRV.SYS v4.02: Copyright 2002, Micro Solutions Inc., DeKalb Il.

"BPCDDRV.SYS is using 32.5K of memory.

C:\>IF EXIST BPCDDRV$ \BPCDROM\MSCDEX /D:BPCDDRV$
MSCDEX Version 2.25
Copyright (C) Micrsoft Corp. 1986-1995. All rights reserved.
Drive D:= Driver BPCDDRV$ unit 0 <---- (Especially this)

tells me it's working. Is your O/S CD a burnt copy? Some older drives won't read these. Can you try some other factory made data CD? (Any software CD with files on it.)

Yes it is a burnt copy, the same disk that I installed on it 2 months ago.
I have tried my brand new pc booter cd and all 3 printer cd's along with lynksys cd's, but nothing. All or factory originals. I agree it definantly seems as though it is trying to read it, but it isn't.
New original music cd won't read either

C:\>trkplay all
Error on play - status = 0x8102
Failed to read TOC
Error on play - status = 0x8102

playing all tracks (0-0)

From the Backpack Help and User's Guide, rev 07.02.03, ftp://ftp.micro-solutions.com/softwa...om/cdguide.doc under Troubleshooting;

Backpack in DOS or Windows 3.x

Detailed troubleshooting steps for backpack CD-ROM connected to the parallel port (LPT Port) in DOS or Windows 3.x is located online at Micro Solutions' Website. Backpack drive letter assignments, detection difficulties, and MSCDEX options are covered in those documents.

I'll head there and see what I can find out.

From the site troubleshooting;

Access the BIOS/SETUP for your computer and make sure that the parallel port (LPT Port) is Enabled and uses a setting similar to: EPP, Extended or Enhanced. The parallel port (LPT Port) should not be Disabled or set to Auto. The recommended parallel port Base Address is either 0378h or 0278h. It is not recommended to use backpack on a parallel port Base Address of 03BCh (default for many IBM brand computers). Try setting the parallel port to LPT2 or LPT3 in your computer's BIOS/SETUP if it is not detected at LPT1.

Download and install the latest backpack 16-bit driver. For all backpack CD-ROM models (not including original 160550 or 162550 models), download the file: BPCD_DOS.EXE Copy the BPCD_DOS.EXE archive file to an empty directory or to a blank diskette and run it to extract all of the SETUP and LOADCD files. (You've done this.)

For backpack 16x700 and 18x200 sound drivers for Windows 3.1, download: BPSD2xx.EXE instead. (Does your unit have sound???)


If you are unable to obtain the updated backpack software, or if the update does not resolve the issue, use a text editor (such as DOS EDIT or Windows 3.1 SYSEDIT) and add one of these parameters to the backpack device driver line in CONFIG.SYS. Make one change at a time, restarting your computer and the backpack after each change.

device=\bpcdrom\bpcddrv.sys /d:bpcddrv$ BUSCLK=0 (the number zero)
(or)
device=\bpcdrom\bpcddrv.sys /d:bpcddrv$ MODE=0 (the number zero)
(or)
device=\bpcdrom\bpcddrv.sys /d:bpcddrv$ NOEPP
(or)
device=\bpcdrom\bpcddrv.sys /d:bpcddrv$ EPP=5

Save the CONFIG.SYS changes before rebooting. It is important to reset the power on your computer (turn it "off", then back "on") and unplug and reapply power to the backpack CD-ROM when troubleshooting EPP conflicts.

Hopefully this might help. It could also be something as simple as a dusty lens in the drive. Do you have a drive cleaning CD?

Okay first we think alike I have tried all lpt ports 1,2&3
1=308H/IRQ7/CH1 , 2, or 3 also available
2=278H/IRQ5/CH1 , 2, or 3 available as well
3=3BCH/IRQ7/CH1 , 2 or 3 (not recommended by micro solutions)
Now all 3 have the option of EPC not epp with ch #1,2,or3 or Std. Bi-Direct(since it is not a cd-rw this is not needed right?)
So my only options are
LPT1 on EPC on CH 1,2,or3 and the same for LPT2, total of 6 different ways, so far I have tried 4..LPT1/1 LPT1/2 LPT2/1 LPT2/2

Yes I have sound and it worked before

I am not sure how to edit under dos, and I under stand the whole complete power shut down thing. And no cd cleaner, but it has been well kept up and closed, I cleaned the eye with a dry q-tip about an hour ago when we got the driver on it in the anticipation that it would read something.
I will try my last two lpt choices, while you try and explain how to edit under dos to me.

YOU have been a great help so far, me and my wife are astonished at how thorough and dilagent you are at helping me to solve this problem.

bpsd2xx.EXE or what I found which is bpsd203.exe is 1864KB so it was to big to put on a floppy and transfer it to the laptop. I guess I will have edit the one I have and get it later, after I put it to a rewritable cd from here to there once the laptop cd reads again. I feel like we are so close, alot further then we have ever been that's for sure.