Problem with old Intel 486 PC

[Whoo]

I picked up a Tandy Sensation! computer today at a yard sale. It went for around $8,000(?) in 1992. Got it for free. Anyway, it comes with Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS 6.0. Everything works perfectly- except the CD-ROM drive. It's detected by the PC and all that, but the disk tray doesn't open. I've tried the manual way(Push tray in slightly), and the automated way(Eject button in Media Player). The automated way spurts out "The MCI Device you are using does not support this command.". Here's a picture of the PC:

Any ideas?

 

[MadMaxData]

I'm not so sure that the chillout room is a proper place for support questions. Don't be surprised if the staff moves it somewhere else.

 

[Whoo]

The other sections are for Windows 7. This computer is 18 years old.

 

[DocBrown]

open case check data & power cables

CPU speed ? How much ram ?

 

[Whoo]

Power cables are fine. I got a response on another forum. The person says these old drives malfunctioned a lot, so it needs to be replaced. I have a spare IDE Drive, so I can use that. Only problem is that the mounting screws are on the bottom of a tray. I've badly illustrated this in Paint:

 

[DocBrown]

There is usually a way to remove & lift out the bracket to get to the mounting screws

I just looked at a new SATA DVD drive, it has 4 holes on the bottom sides for mounting like you show

 

[Lordbob75]

I'm not so sure that the chillout room is a proper place for support questions. Don't be surprised if the staff moves it somewhere else.

This is the proper place. This is where it would be moved if it was posted elsewhere.

I agree with Doc, and worst thing is you could put in a new CD drive.

~Lordbob

 

[Dragor1]

Hi Whoo!

The manual way that you mentioned, does it sound like this: Take a pin and insert it in the little hole below the tray and push till the tray is ejected.

Cause that trick is still followed to this day, so it might help. Provided of course such a pinhole does exist on the drive!

 

[whs]

Is an external CD ROM an option? Here is some more info: http://support.radioshack.com/support_computer/1290.htm

 

[theog]

Do have a old CD drive with the DOS drivers?

 

[pebbly]

are mscdex drivers installed ,if i remember you allways had to load the drivers for the cdrom drives

 

[MadMaxData]

This is the proper place. This is where it would be moved if it was posted elsewhere.

Pffft.....shows you what I know.

 

[AvatarOfTheShip]

This is the original CD drive and you expected it to work? Look, I own this fantastic tower, right in the centre of Paris, got no use for it, make you nice price. What you say?

 

[WindowsStar]

I picked up a Tandy Sensation! computer today at a yard sale. It went for around $8,000(?) in 1992. Got it for free. Anyway, it comes with Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS 6.0. Everything works perfectly- except the CD-ROM drive. It's detected by the PC and all that, but the disk tray doesn't open. I've tried the manual way(Push tray in slightly), and the automated way(Eject button in Media Player). The automated way spurts out "The MCI Device you are using does not support this command.". Here's a picture of the PC:

Any ideas?

Is this truly an IDE CD-Rom? Some of the first drives like this look like they are IDE but they are NOT they are propriety using the same IDE cable. If it is old IDE and you cannot find a drive slow enough to work in this system I have a shelf full of OLD CD-Rom drives from years ago that will work just fine. Some are brand new never used. You pay shipping and you have 2 or 3 for FREE.

 

[rvbfan]

Try that gag virus that was going around a few years ago about
the free drink holder from Coke.
What do you have to lose.

 

[MilesAhead]

If it was 1992 the CDROM likely only read at 1x anyway. I remember in '93 I paid almost $500 for a Toshiba SCSI CDROM because it read at 2x!! Woo hoo!!!

Guess it's a conversation piece though.

edit: btw I still have CD Caddies in the cellophane I bought for that drive. I used to have a bunch with the CDs I used most already in.