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- CDROM Audio in Windows 3.1
-
- This is a complete description of the support for CDROM Audio support in
- Windows 3.1. This article will try to completely explain the CDROM
- environment. It will also include a detailed list of things that need to be
- done to use Music CD's in your CDROM under Windows 3.1.
-
- The support for CDROM Audio is a multilevel cooperation of three levels
- of drivers. They are the manufacture's CDROM device driver, Microsoft's
- MSCDEX.EXE, and Windows 3.1 MCICDA.DRV. These are the three
- drivers required to use the CDROM Audio support in Windows 3.1. The
- manufacture's driver interfaces directly to the CDROM device. It talks to
- MSCDEX.EXE. MSCDEX.EXE is the programmers Red Book CD Audio
- driver. It talks to MCICDA.DRV of Windows 3.1. MCICDA.DRV
- supports Windows applications using CD Audio. It talks to Windows
- programs. WinCD (TM) a windows applications talks to MCICDA.DRV.
-
- All three drivers must be installed and configured correctly to play music
- CD's. When Windows 3.1 setup program is run, it checks for the presence
- of MSCDEX.EXE. If it is found, it will create an entry for MCICDA.DRV
- in your system. But, it will NOT install the driver! This must be done by
- the user after the installation is completed, WinCD (TM) gives instructions
- on how to do this when it detect the situation. Following are the exact
- steps to add all these drivers to your system:
- A) Add your manufacture's driver supplied with the CDROM
- Drive to CONFIG.SYS.
- B) Add MSCDEX.EXE from manufacture or Microsoft to
- AUTOEXEC.BAT.
- C) Configure the above drivers for each other. Use the
- documentation from manufacture.
- D) Goto Control Panel in windows and select Drivers Icon.
- E) Press the ADD Button.
- F) Select "[MCI] CD Audio" entry and press OK Button
- G) Insert Windows Disk asked for and follow instructions.
- H) Restart windows. You should now be able to Run Win CD to
- play Music CD's.
- If after the above steps you are still not getting the MCICDA.DRV to run,
- follow these instructions:
- A) Edit SYSTEM.INI.
- B) Find the [MCI] section.
- C) There should be a "CDAudio=mcicda.drv" entry. If not, add it.
- D) Save SYSTEM.INI and exit editor.
- E) Do a directory listing on your <windows>\SYSTEM directory.
- F) Is MCICDA.DRV present? If not:
- 1) Search Windows 3.1 Install disks for a file
- "MCICDA.DR_". On 3 1/2 HD it is #4.
- 2) Use EXPAND.EXE command to expand file to
- <windows>\SYSTEM.
- 3) Restart windows.
-
- One major problem that I have seen with CD-ROM drives is that the lens pickup system gets
- dirty easily. This can cause the CD-ROM drive to act very strange. It will skip in
- playing songs, reset the drive, or not play a disk at all. To clean a CD-ROM drive, a CD
- cleaning disk can be bought at most audio stores. Run the disk through the drive. This
- should solve the problem. You should clean your drive at least every 60 days.
-
- I hope this clears up the problems I have seen with using Music CD's in
- Windows 3.1. I, of course, have a vested interest in seeing it get cleared
- up. I would like more people to be able to use WinCD (TM) my CD player
- application. I would love to get more registrations! It is available in the
- WINADV forum under the name WCD101.ZIP or WCD120.ZIP.
-
- Thanks,
- Brett McDonald
- BFM Software
- CIS 77370,1254
-