Short Story:
I wanted to show my family the power of linux by installing it on this somewhat dated machine.

So, I decide on Slackware. But since I prefer the graphical partioning wizard 'diskdrake', I boot up with the mandrake 9.2 disk 1. I go to 'custom disk partioning, shrink the ntfs partition, create a 500meg swap, and a 6gig reiserfs, click OK...and then, after 'thinking' for a while, it tells me that an error occured when looking up the packages. It then takes me back to the partioning screen.. Partitions seems to have been set up correctly, but after clicking 'OK' again, I end up with the same error.... Except this time, I realize that the CD has stopped spinning.

I reboot, and can no longer open the drive, or even force it open.

It sits at the IBM startup screen for an excessively long time, and then eventually, after about a minute or two, starts up XP.

Windows no longer recognizes the drive either....

I boot up into the bios..and there is no sign of the CDrom anymore! It just dissapeared! And it continues to take an excessive amount of time on the startup IBM screen..


A little background:
The computer is an IBM Aptiva. 600mhz, 1 floppy, integrated intel 'extreme' graphics, and a generic 'fireball' cdrom.

I've had extensive experience with linux. Partitioning and all that. Diskdrake has NEVER given me these sorts of problems.


Any ideas at all?! I'm completely lost.. The mandrake disk is still in there and I have no clue where to start.

-thanks

If it's not showing up in your BIOS it's a hardware issue. The BIOS grabs the device before the OS, be it *nix, Winblows or whatever. If the BIOS can't see it, nothing else will.

I'd recommend you open the case and make sure all of the cables are properly attached. If that fails, try switching it from slave to master or vice-versa depending on how it's set up now. If you still get nothing try installing the CD drive on another system. If it still doesn't show, then it's time to do the "paperclip rescue" on the CD that's in the drive and go get another one (drive, that is).

To define the "paperclip rescue" - straighten out a paperclip and shove it into the little hole in the front of the CD-Drive to pop the disk tray out. Depending on how old (or messed up) the drive is, you might have to push pretty hard.

Sometimes when the bios gets weird like that , I have found out if I just shut the machine down, walk away from it for a few minutes, the BIOS has reset itself; If that does not help then its time to open the machine adn clear the CMOS Are you familiar with that procedure? There is a jumper, usually clode to the battery on the motherboard where you reverse a jumper momentarily. It is described in detail in your motherboard manual.
Joe

I just want to add that if your motherboard is very dated, it may not have said jumper. In this case all you have to do is remove the batter and push the battery slot prongs together for a few seconds. Don't force em', though. If they're not flexible enough to touch, just let the whole deal sit overnight. That usually works for me.