cdrom and cdrw works ok in winxp and worked to install mandrake but refuse to budge in mandrake. I see from the threads that this is a common problem and some of the solutions included:
/mt/cdrom
/mount/mt/cdrom
ls
/etc/fstab
I have no idea how to use or apply these commands. Can anyone give detailed instructions or dircted me to a tutorial? I have lots of other problems and questions, but one thing at a time.....
thanks

mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
the above should work, I use Mandrake 9.0 and it works. Make sure directory /mnt/cdrom exists. If you want it to work from boot, it gets a little more involved.

Thanks for your prompt reply. Like I said I have no idea on how or where to use or apply these commands. Just assume I am looking at the screen for the first time. Also it will not hurt my feeling if you tell me to stay away from the forum until I know some basics as long as you tell me where to find the basics.
Thanks

If you have to type "startx" to get to your "desktop", then the above commands will work. Instead of typing "startx", type the commands provided by Sharpy Warpy. If you boot into a graphical mode, then open up a terminal in KDE you should be able to click on your "K" then go to System the Konsole (if I'm wrong, please someone correct me--haven't used KDE since I got XFCE about 6 months ago). Once the window pops up, type

su -
password: <enter your root password here>

Then type what Sharpy Warpy suggested:

mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom

This should mount your cdrom for you. Now, I would HIGHLY recommend doing some searches for "vi tutorial" or "pico tutorial" or "emacs tutorial" on www.google.com so you can get more familiar with using a text editor as you'll need this. Additionally, if you're willing to shell out some cache (whoops...cash), I'd recommend going to your bookstore and getting a copy of Running Linux by O'Reilly. This is a GREAT book to have around and you'll learn a lot from it.

All the commands you listed in your first post can be entered in to that terminal window that should now be up on your screen. Go to google and search for "linux commands" or the sort and you will find loads of information on what exactly those commands are for. Here's a few to get you started:

cd (change directory)
ls (list contents of current directory)
ls -a (lists all files including hidden ones)

Say you want to see what that "/etc/fstab" is all about. In your terminal window, you'd type:

cd /etc
ls

You'll get a BUNCH of files and directories listed there. You'll need a text editor to view and/or edit your "fstab" file. These should get you started. Additionally, Mandrake comes with some pretty good tutorials as well that you might want to check out.

Copy and paste your etc/fstab here so someone can have a look at it.I think it's probably a problem with supermount.There are several ways to modify the fstab to get things working again if it is a supermount problem.
lynch

Studying.....I'l be back

Got the cdroms working with data cd such as the installation cd...can view files, etc. Music cds are still no go. I do have sound at boot up.

I put a mp3 on a floppy and it plays OK

What CD player are you using?Have you tried kscd?
lynch

K--->multimedia---->sound----->Aumix,Grip,Xmms. mp3 on floppy will play on xmms. cd tracks not displayed on any. I think kscd was removed when I reinstalled and added mulitimedia , anyhow it did not work either...locked up every time I tried it. My specific problem is getting this thing to recognize audio tracks on a cd.
Thanks

Still no sound when trying to play cd's and no tracks displayed...been playing with it off and on while configuring other things like printers internet and internet connection sharing all of which was straight forward. Answers to other posts say you do not mount an audio cd you just play it/ HOW? ....whentracks are not displayed?
so far this linux mandrake is only a novely and not a very useful novely at that and it is just like win xp...locks up and shuts down for no apparent reason...but that is for another post if I last that long.
No tunes...no Mandrake!

Well I'll keep aggravating you nice people until you tell me to go away. I CAN play an audio cd using the buttons on the front of the cd drive (never knew what they were for before: play, pause. stop) If I type cdplay in a terminal I get an infinitely repeating input output error. Right now I am downloading and installing updates...maybe that will fix it. Is there a source for technical help even if i have to pay?

here's the etc/fstab that was asked for a long time ago...btw it still ain't working:
/dev/hdb5 / ext3 defaults 1 1
none /dev/pts devpts mode=0620 0 0
/dev/hdb7 /home ext3 defaults 1 2
none /mnt/cdrom supermount dev=/dev/scd0,fs=auto,ro,--,iocharset=iso8859-1,codepage=850,umask=0 0 0
/dev/hdd /mnt/cdrom2 auto iocharset=iso8859-1,codepage=850,ro,umask=0 0 0
none /mnt/floppy supermount dev=/dev/fd0,fs=auto,--,iocharset=iso8859-1,sync,codepage=850,umask=0 0 0
/dev/hdb2 /mnt/nt ntfs iocharset=iso8859-1,ro,umask=0 0 0
/dev/hda1 /mnt/win_c vfat iocharset=iso8859-1,codepage=850,umask=0 0 0
/dev/hdb1 /mnt/win_c2 vfat iocharset=iso8859-1,codepage=850,umask=0 0 0
/dev/hdb8 /mnt/win_d vfat iocharset=iso8859-1,codepage=850,umask=0 0 0
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
/dev/hdb6 swap swap defaults 0 0
I hope someone can help...I'm tired of being the main contributor to this post.

thanks

So the only thing you can't do now is play an audio CD, right? You can read a data CD just fine, though, right?

What happens when you open up XMMS and open the directory /mnt/cdrom/ ?

Also, open up the program Grip and see if you can rip a track off of the CD.

No tracks are displayed so no ripping or playing...all other sound works and cd's work with data cd