I just installed Mandrake 9.1 on my computer:
- Pentium 4, 1.7 GHz
- hda: Western Digital 160 GB (master) - 15 GB Windows XP, remaining = storage
- hdb: Maxtor 160 GB (slave) - 8 GB Mandrake, remaining = storage
- cdrom0: Plextor Plexwriter
- cdrom1: Pioneer 16x DVD drive

When I try to install packages from the Mandrake CDs, the computer will ask for me to insert the disc into dev/hdc. So I tried putting the correct disc in both cdrom0 and cdrom1, but the same dialogue box pops up as if I hadn't inserted the correct medium.

Since I don't really know what to call this problem, please let me know if there are more specifics needed to figure this out. Thanks!

You could try going into the MCC screen and removing your sources for updates.
You can then add them back making sure that Mandrake picks up the right drive this time.
Are the cdroms usable for other things normally? if not the problem is the drives.

Thanks! I appreciate your patience with my lack of familiarity with the interface. I promise I won't hesitate to ask more questions when I run into them.

NP post back any future troubles.

I know I'm still learning and post questions myself.

When I try to use the software update gui app, it kept asking me to put the disc 1 in the /dev/hdb drive. No matter what, it would never access the disc when I put it in.

I'm not really sure what the problem is, though. I haven't done anything with the cdrom drive after the original install. When I checked harddrake, it said the cdrom was on /dev/sc0. I really don't think this is a scsi cdrom drive, though. I don't have a scsi adapter in this computer.

Just another finicky and annoying thing I'll probably spend several hours trying to figure out. Or, I'll just avoid updating any packages from the cdrom for the time being until my annoyance pushes me to the point of dealing with the problem.

appreciatively,

di11rod

If the cdrom is actually a cd writer then its fine that its registerd as a scsi device. linux uses the scsi for cdr's and cdrw's probably for dvd writers also.
you can go into the MCC and try removing your update sources then try adding them back. This might clear up the problem.

Though I have found the GUI update for Mandrake to be a little buggy. I use urpmi from the command line. If you would like to try that just post back. Its actually easier, faster and more complete. You can check out this link for a little more info.

http://urpmi.org/easyurpmi/index.php