BACKPACK CD-ROM Drive Notes Version 2.09
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The BACKPACK CD-ROM User's Guide
Complete usage instructions, troubleshooting guide and technical
support information are available in the backpack CD-ROM User's Guide
on this diskette.
The User's Guide is available in regular text format as CDGUIDE.TXT,
and as a Microsoft Word document as CDGUIDE.DOC.
The preferred way to view and print a copy of the User's Guide is
with Microsoft Word. Open Word and choose File - Open - A:\CDGUIDE.DOC.
If you use Windows or Windows 95 but do not have Microsoft Word, you may
have another word processor that can open Word documents.
You can also download a free Microsoft Word viewer/printing program from
Microsoft's site on the World Wide Web. You can find Microsoft Word Viewer
at: http://www.microsoft.com
You can also view and print the backpack CD-ROM User's Guide in regular
text (ASCII) format with DOS EDIT or Windows Write. Open the file
A:\CDGUIDE.TXT.
BACKPACK CD-ROM Installation Notes
To get started with backpack first set up the hardware, then install
the software driver from diskette.
Hardware Installation
1) Locate the parallel printer port connector on your computer. If you
have more than one parallel printer port, it doesn't matter which
one you use for backpack.
2) If you have a printer connected to the parallel printer port, disconnect
it and attach the printer cable to the printer port on the backpack
drive.
3) Connect the backpack cable to the printer port on the computer.
4) Plug the backpack power unit into a wall outlet and attach the power
cable to the power connector on the backpack drive.
5) Set the backpack power switch to the ON position.
Windows Installation
Place the backpack diskette in your A: drive.
From Windows Program Manager choose File, Run..., or from the Windows 95
Desktop click Start, Run. In the dialog box enter:
A:INSTALL <Press OK>
Follow the instructions on screen.
MS-DOS Installation
Start your computer as you normally would. Place the backpack diskette
into drive A:. Run the INSTALL program with the following command at the
DOS prompt:
A:\INSTALL
Answer the questions about your disk drive letters.
Technical Note 1 - Older Backpack CD-ROM drives
This version is intended for use with current Backpack models. It
will not recognize model 160550 and 162550 Backpack CD-ROM drives.
Technical Note 2 - LOADCD.BAT and TRKPLAY.EXE
LOADCD
In the backpack CD-ROM directory you will also find the batch file
LOADCD.BAT and program DEVICE.COM.
DEVICE.COM is a command-line loader for Micro Solutions device drivers.
LOADCD.BAT is a batch file that uses DEVICE.COM to load BPCDDRV.SYS
and then MSCDEX.EXE.
LOADCD.BAT may be used to load the Backpack CD-ROM drivers after the
system has booted up.
This can be useful if you prefer not to include these drivers in
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT.
To use LOADCD, remove the lines that load BPCDDRV.SYS and MSCDEX.EXE
from CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT.
Change to the directory containing your Backpack files (usually BPCDROM)
and type the command LOADCD.
NOTE: You may use DEVICE.COM to load other Micro Solutions device drivers,
but DEVICE will not load these other drivers if DoubleSpace or DriveSpace
is installed.
TRKPLAY
TRKPLAY is a program for playing CD-AUDIO discs from DOS. TRKPLAY is
in the UTILITY directory of the Backpack distribution disk. See the
file TRKPLAY.TXT for instructions.
TESTPORT
TESTPORT is a parallel port diagnostic program helpful in diagnosing
EPP compatibility with various parallel port designs. TESTPORT.EXE is
in the UTILITY directory of the Backpack distribution disk. See the
file TESTPORT.TXT for instructions.
Technical Note 3 - What to do if Backpack works in DOS, but not in Windows:
If a Backpack drive works properly in DOS, but experiences read
errors within Windows, it will be necessary to examine your Windows
configuration. Start by making these changes within Windows:
Disable Print Manager. This option is in the "Printers" program
under MAIN - CONTROL PANEL.
If problems persist, enter the "Printers" utility again (above),
and choose "Connect". In this screen, you can change the parallel
port's definition from LPT1: Local Port, to LPT1.DOS. Also,
disable the option "Fast Printing Direct to Port"
If you use a laser printer that uses a Status Window program, close
that program, or disable it in your WIN.INI file. Some HP printers
include a program called HPSW.EXE which should be closed before the
Backpack is accessed. This HPSW.EXE, or similar program, can be
disabled completely by placing a semicolon (;) in front of its
WIN.INI line, as follows:
;LOAD=HPSW.EXE (all other programs on that line will also be disabled)
or ;LOAD=HPLJSW.EXE (Status Windows software for HP5L model)
Windows Printing System drivers can have a similar effect and
should be disabled in WIN.INI
;LOAD=WPSLOAD.EXE
;LOAD=HPWHRC.EXE
;LOAD=WPSHRC.EXE
If the suggestions above do not solve the Backpack read problems,
you will need to determine whether Windows is loading additional
drivers that are blocking parallel port access, such as drivers for
a laser printer, parallel port scanner, parallel port sound device,
or other parallel port peripheral. The "Not Ready" or " Not
Found/Not Detected" errors might be the result of a third-party
driver loading in Windows' SYSTEM.INI file under the [386Enh]
section. Several "386-Enhanced" drivers have been found to
restrict parallel port access and need to be commented out of the
SYSTEM.INI by placing a semicolon (;) at the beginning of its
"device=" line. Some of the drivers known to cause parallel port
conflicts are:
WPSLJVPD.386 VDS301.386 WPSRCOM.386 VSND16D.386
VHPVD.386 BI-DI.386 WPSCREM.386 VECPD.386
GENO.386 LEX01.386 WPSREND.386
LMCAP.386 CDPSCSI.386 OKIPORT.VXD
OKIPORT.386 CMSTAPE.386 VSNDSYS.386
Consult the documentation provided with those drivers to determine
the necessity, functionality, or drawbacks to disabling those
[386Enh] drivers in your SYSTEM.INI.
If your SYSTEM.INI's [386Enh] section contains the statement:
LPT1AutoAssign=xx
Make sure that the value for "xx" is 0 or 1. Values of 30 or
higher may cause parallel port access difficulties for Backpack
drives.
NOTE: [386Enh] driver lines that contain an asterisk "*", such as:
device=*dosmgr are "built-in" Windows drivers that were
installed when Windows was first configured on your computer.
These driver lines are not the source of the problem and should be
ignored.
Technical Note 4 - Using Backpack CD-ROM with a second CD-ROM under
Windows 95
If Backpack is used on a Windows 95 system together with a second
CD-ROM, Windows may not allow access to the Backpack. If the second
drive uses Windows protected-mode drivers Windows will assign the
same drive letter to both drives.
To correct the problem change the drive letter used by the protected-mode
driver:
Click Start, choose Settings, and then Control Panel.
Double-click System, then click the Device Manager tab.
Select the CD-ROM from the list, then click Properties
Set the Start Drive Letter and End Drive Letter to a new
drive letter.
Restart the System.
Alternatively you may change the drive letter used by Backpack. See
the /L: option in Section 4.0 of the User's Guide.
Technical Note 5 - Backpack CD-ROM Audio Outputs
The earphone output on the front of the drive will accept a stereo jack
for headphones or small amplified speakers designed to replace headphones.
It is rated at 0.6Vrms at 32 ohms.
The headphone output is similar to the headphone output on a personal
stereo.
The CD AUDIO LINE OUTPUT at the back of the drive allows connection to the
left and right stereo inputs of an amplifier or sound card.
The CD AUDIO LINE OUTPUT is similar to the audio outputs of home stereo
components.
Either output will allow you to play sound or music from Audio CD tracks.
They do not provide the sound from Multimedia CDs, but from music CDs
such as those you will find in a record store.
The AUDIO outputs do not replace the functions of a sound card. A sound
card may be required by many multimedia titles. Consult the documentation
for the disc you are interested in to see whether a Sound Card is required
or supported.
Technical Note 6 - Backpack CD-ROM's EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port) usage.
This Backpack CD-ROM drive will automatically test and use EPP functions
if your parallel port is fully EPP compatible. To determine if "Enhanced"
mode is being used, run the program: CDDRIVES /X <enter> when the
Backpack CD-ROM is attached and the driver software is loaded. The 'Port'
statistic will indicate "Unidirectional", "BiDirectional" or "Enhanced."
Technical Note 7 - Using a Model 160550 or 162550 Backpack CD-ROM with
this Backpack CD-ROM unit.
Version 1.xx software was designed to recognize and control Model
160550 and 162550 Backpack CD-ROM units. To use those models of Backpack
CD-ROM drives on the same computer as this unit, you should install
the software to a different directory name (such as \BPCD2), change
the /D: parameter to give the device drivers different names and EDIT
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT lines to reflect that change.
For example, in CONFIG.SYS:
device=\bpcdrom\bpcddrv.sys /d:bpcddrv$ (for Version 1.xx software)
device=\bpcd2\bpcddrv.sys /d:bpcd2$ (for Version 2.xx software)
in AUTOEXEC.BAT:
IF EXIST BPCDDRV$ \BPCDROM\MSCDEX /D:BPCD2$ /D:BPCDDRV$
To identify the drive letters assigned to your Backpack CD-ROM
drives use the new CDDRIVES.EXE program that is included on this
Version 2.xx software diskette. The use of Version 1.xx
CDDRIVES will produce unreliable results in this configuration.
For more about Backpack files see Note 2 above.
Technical Note 8 - Backpack CD-ROMs with motorized drawer slide.
Backpack CD-ROM has a motorized slide drawer for loading and unloading
discs. This drawer may be operated manually if power is unavailable.
There are different styles of drawer releases on various Backpack models.
Some models have a round hole in the front of the drive directly above
the busy indicator light:
1) Select a small flat-bladed screwdriver small enough to easily fit
the hole.
2) Carefully insert the screwdriver and engage the slotted screw head
inside. Press and turn the screwdriver counter-clockwise a few turns
until the drawer begins to slide forward.
3) Once the drawer is slightly out of the drive it is possible to
grasp the drawer and slowly pull it the rest of the way out.
Some models have a small hole next to the eject button:
1) Straighten about 2 inches of a heavy paper clip.
2) Carefully insert the straightened paper clip into the eject hole.
Press firmly until the drawer begins to slide forward.
3) Once the drawer is slightly out of the drive it is possible to
grasp the drawer and slowly pull it the rest of the way out.
Other models have a drawer that can be grasped by hand and pulled out.
The drawer may be gently pushed closed.
Micro Solutions Technical Support
132 W. Lincoln Hwy.
DeKalb, IL 60115 USA
(815) 756-9100 BBS - Software updates
(815) 754-4600 Automated Fax Response
WebSite: http://www.micro-solutions.com
(815) 756-4986 FAX
(815) 754-4500
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.