Windows 98SE "add hardware"

I have been going back and forth with ASUS technical support attempting to get an ASUS CB-5216A (external optical drive USB connection) to be recognized as a CD-ROM by Windows 98SE.

Windows on start up knows there is new hardware and recognizes the CB-5216A. Then Windows trys to find a driver and fails. At which point Windows calls the CB-5216A an unknown USB device. ASUS has been useless at providing a driver.

I have attempted to use add hardware and manually add the device. When choosing CD-ROM it only lists three manufacturers. Is there some way to expand the list of manufacturers to include ASUS. I have looked at the "library" at Windows and do not see anything. I have also used the Windows 98SE installation disk.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

Normally with many USB devices you must install the software and driver set first and during setup it will tell you to connect the device and power it up.
If you did not do this in this order (you connected and powered up the device to an already powered up computer or connected it and powered up the computer) disconnect it and go to device manager and remove any possible references to it, any unknown devices and any malfunctioning devices.
Reboot and then run the software and connect when told to.

 

I would recommend that you check that your USB drivers are up to date. Some of the older VIA chipset motherboards need a "patch" that you can get from the download site at www.viaarena.com.

I can see the problem. Modern optical drives don't need drivers, but Win 98 needs drivers to run USB equipment, catch 22.

I wondered if you might be able to bypass the USB connection and connect it to an IDE cable. After it is recognized there, Plug n Play should be able to identify it when connected as a USB drive. If you do get it connected as an IDE, update the firmware at the Asus website.

It is a USB 2.0 drive. Is your USB system 2.0? Check in Device Manager under USB Controllers for "Enhanced USB Controller ".

It may need to have Nero installed for it to be recognized.

Check any paperwork that came with it and "explore" any CDs for a User Guide that will guide you in the setup.

Check the Asus website for a User Guide download or setup help webpage.

Matt
PS Try installing it as one of the other CD drives you mention in the "list ". Most optical drives are basically manufactured by a handful of companies and rebadged as OEMs. Windows may balk at having the wrong drivers installed, but then may start reading the firmware of the drive and allow you to install it correctly.

 

Steve, Oshwyn5 and mattman:

Thank you for your responses and in response:

There were no drivers with the unit. The disk (which has Nero) also does not have any drivers.

I followed your advice and removed the CB-5216A from the hardware listing, then installed all the software which came with it. On running the software and on rebooting at no time did the software request I plug in the device. I do note however that in the hardware listing Windows now shows the CB-5216A by its proper name and listed as an "Other device ".

I did follow the link to look for the USB drivers. I am faced with a choice of 1.1 or 2.0. Being unsure which one I have, I did nothing. Opening Device Manager, it shows Universal Serial Bus controllers as follows:
Generic USB Hub
USB Root Hub (two of them)
Intel 82801BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller 2442
Intel 82801BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller 2444

I do not see "Enhanced USB Controller ".

The installation guide states the computer will just recognize the CB-5216A and add it to the hardware listing. I have taken the unit and attached it to a different computer running Windows XP and it installs perfectly.

I did also try adding one of the CD ROM devices listed in add hardware. There was a new category, "CD ROM Controller" which is apparently not the same as the CD-ROM category. Again Windows did not recognize the CB-5216A as a CD-ROM.

Nero come with a little utility which checks out your CD-ROM. It recognized the internal CD-ROM I have in the computer but did not "see" the CB-5216A.

The package for the new CD-ROM states it is compatible with Windows XP/NT/2000/98. I was glancing at the ASUS website and it only shows XP.

Thank you for your help. I will keep plugging away and see if I have any luck.

 

A cdrom drive, even when placed in a USB drive enclosure is and IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) device. This means it contains its drivers in the drive firmware, there are none to load. But you have to tell windows this. That is why you load the software first. It has to set things like the upper and lower buffers in the registry and do other things so that windows does not try to guess what it is .

 

Don't fret too much if your system is not USB 2.0 capable. The drive should run as USB 1.1. USB 2.0 PCI cards are not expensive.
It looks like you have an Intel 850 chipset. If you have a branded (OEM) system like a HP, Dell, Compaq, etc, you will need to get updated drivers from the manufacturer. If it a not branded system you can get updated drivers from Intel. You will need to know/confirm which motherboard/chipset you have.
http://support.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-009262.htm
They specify 82801DB or later for USB 2.0, so your's may only be USB1.1

There are updated INF information/drivers that will allow Windows to identify and install hardware better, they may also improve the USB.
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr...=Windows*+98+SE&lang=eng&strOSs=18&submit=Go!

Follow Oshwyn's suggestion first. If you install Nero it may be able to identify the drive. I would also recommend that you disconnect the drive first. Install Nero. If Nero asks for the drive to be connected do it then, otherwise shutdown and connect the drive. You may need to shutdown again if it looks hopeful so that Windows can install addition drivers at the next boot.

Matt