Alright, now for Questions number 2...
...I got an old 98 Machine that I want to convert to Linux, am getting the CD's and all that I need form my dad. The only problem is that my 98 Machine wont find the CD-ROM. So my dad suggested I put Knoppix in the ROM to see if Knoppix could recognise the CD-ROM....well, the Bios says its not there....so my dad suggested that I try and make a Knoppix Boot Disk for my floppy drive....he donts know how and I sure as hell dont either.
Does any body know how to do that from a Windows XP Machine? (thats what I am using now) And if so can you put it in lamens terms?
Thanks alot-

If you are correct when you say that the BIOS does not find the CDROM, then you will probably have to troubleshoot this hardware problem (verify cable connections, replace CD drive) in order to proceed. If you really mean that the BIOS does not see the CDROM as a bootable device, then there should be hope.

I have excerpted the Knoppix FAQ section about this problem below. Base on it, you should be able to insert the Knoppix CD in your MSWinXP box, run the mkfloppy.bat file to create a Knoppix floppy boot disk, then take the floppy boot disk and CD to your old MSWin98 box, insert the CD and boot from the floppy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Knoppix FAQ: (http://www.knoppix.net/docs/index.php/FaqDownloading)

Q: My computer won't boot from CD. What should I do?

A: Look in your computer's BIOS (on many computers you need to push the "delete" or F1 key during the POST) to see whether it is set to boot from CD. If this is already set, your computer may not be able to read the CD (some notebooks have problems with black-coated CD's, for example). Some computers will only use the new BIOS settings after a hard reset.

A: If your computer doesn't support booting from CD, you can create a boot floppy using the "rawrite" or better yet the mkfloppy.bat file program in the "KNOPPIX" directory on the CD.

A: Get the Smart Boot Manager, and install to floppy, this should let you boot from any bootable CD. httphttp://btmgr.sourceforge.net/ . If you want to install from windows, download the sbminst.exe and run it from the Command Prompt like : sbminst.exe -d 0 to install to floppy drive.

Ok, I tried the boot disk Idea, and it didnt work. When I 1st boot the Computer, you know when its finding the drives, it finds the Hard drive, and the Floppy. But it tells me that my CD-ROM is "ATAPI Incompatible"....I know that has SOMETHING to do with thi i just dont know WHAT it means. Other then the fact the CD_ROM is incompatible with SOMTHING in my computer.

All my cables are firmly in place.

I have a 'Khypermedia CD-ReWriter' and thats all it says on the box...

Any ideas on how I can get this CD-ROM to work, or do you need more info?

Does your drive work properly under MSWin98?

I did a quick google search on "ATAPI incompatible". Here is an excerpt from the first hit that came up:
(http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000392.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cause:

This issue can be caused by any off the following possibilities:

1. Cable loose or not connected.
2. CMOS values not properly set.

Solutions:

CABLE LOOSE OR NOT CONNECTED

If any hardware has been recently added or the computer has been recently moved it is possible that the IDE or power cables connected to the hard disk drive or the CD-ROM drive may have become loose or disconnected.

* When ever inside the computer ensure you are aware of ESD and it's potential risks.

Verify that the hard disk drive as well as the CD-ROM, CD-R or CD-RW drive have at least two or more cables connected to them. Once cable should be a gray flat cable (data / IDE/EIDE cable) and the other should be the power cable. In addition the gray flat cable should be connected to the motherboard or the interface card on your computer.

If the cables appear to be connected properly, disconnect the data and power cables and then reconnect them to insure that they are not loose.

CMOS VALUES NOT PROPERLY SET

If all IDE/EIDE/ATAPI cables have been checked or disconnected and reconnected as instructed above and you continue to experience the same issue it is possible that the IDE/EIDE/ATAPI device may not be setup properly in CMOS.

Verify that if your hard disk drive or CD-ROM drives are IDE/EIDE/ATAPI that they are setup in CMOS and setup properly to their configurations. If the hard drive or drives are setup as Auto values do not need to be checked.

Additional help and information on CMOS can be found on our CMOS page.

BAD HARDWARE

If you have followed the above steps and continue to experience the same issues it is possible that your computer may have any of the following bad hardware devices:

* IDE/EIDE/ATA Cables
* Hard Drive
* CD-ROM Drive
* Motherboard / Interface card.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OK, so then what I need to do is change the setting in CMOS?

My connections r fine, and its a brand new CD-RW.

Did you verify that the master / slave jumper is set correctly?

Do you know how to enter the BIOS setup? During the POST a message should (but not always) display say press del to enter setup. Might be f2 key or ctrl-enter.

Depends on the BIOS but you should have several menus to choose from the MAIN page or standard settings is where you change the time and configure the IDE controller settings. Again depending on your BIOS use the arrow keys to move to the IDE controller channel where the CDRW is installed and select auto for the type and auto for the mode. Usually its page up or page down key to modify.

Save and exit.

BTW each IDE channel, most motherboards have two can have two devices a master and a slave.

By master slave jumper, do you mean the sheath that covers the pins on the back of the CD-RW?

OH, I know where that is in the Bios, I just didnt wanna fiddle with anything I didnt understand, and I have the CD-RW on the same cable as the Hard Drive. SO I know its not that cable....Thanks, I'll try messing with that.

Yes, thats the jumper. If its on the same cable as the hard drive it should be set as slave.

Well, I THOUGHT I knew where that was in the Bios, I couldnt find it....is there any other way to acess this thing?

This would probably be easier fi I knew what kind of mother board I have, any body know of any way I can identify it other then taking out a flash light and a magnifine glass?

Nope. Knowing the BIOS manufacture would help. It will be displayed during the POST.

You could POST some of the BIOS menu screens.