Adaptec Family Manager Set v4.0a Service Pack 3

DOS Drivers for CD-ROM access


Creating a DOS bootable floppy for your scsi adapter

Install the CD-ROM drivers only if DOS mode access to a SCSI CD-ROM drive is required. DOS mode access is needed during certain Windows 95, Windows 98, or Netware installations, and to create driver diskettes for Adaptec supported Operating Systems from the Adaptec Family Manager Set v4.0a CD-ROM (if using a system without an installed OS and existing CD-ROM access).
If Windows 95, Windows 98, or NetWare is already installed, or if the CD-ROM drive is not connected to a SCSI adapter, these drivers do not need to be copied or installed. However, you may choose to install these drivers if you are having trouble accessing your CD-ROM from Netware or Windows 95/98.

NOTE: You do not need these drivers for Windows NT or UNIX.

The following driver files are provided on the Adaptec Family Manager Set Utility Diskette:

            ASPI8DOS.SYS       (device driver for Ultra class host adapters)

            ASPI8U2.SYS          (device driver for Ultra2 and Ultra160 class host adapters)

            ASPICD.SYS           (driver for SCSI CD-ROM drive)

NOTE: You will also need the file MSCDEX.EXE available from MS-DOS 6.0 or higher, Windows 9x, or download from Microsoft BBS or CompuServe forum.

To update your DOS, Windows 95 or 98 Boot Diskette:

1. Make a backup of the Boot Diskette.
2. Copy ASPI8DOS.SYS, ASPI8U2.SYS, and ASPICD.SYS from the Adaptec Family Manager Set ASPI DOS driver diskette to the root directory of your DOS, Windows 95 or Windows 98 Boot Diskettes. This is easier to do on a system that has DOS, Windows 95, or Windows 98 already installed.

Here is one example:

·         Insert the Adaptec Family Manager Set Utility diskette in drive a: and at the DOS prompt type:

copy a:\DOS\aspi8u2.sys c:\ (if you have an Ultra2 or Ultra160 adapter)
copy a:\DOS\aspi8DOS.sys c:\ (if you have an Ultra adapter)
copy a:\DOS\aspicd.sys c:\ (if you want access to your SCSI CD-ROM)

·         Then insert the backup Windows Boot Disk in drive a: and type:

copy c:\aspi8DOS.sys a:\ (if you have an Ultra adapter)
copy c:\aspi8u2.sys a:\ (if you have an Ultra2 or Ultra160 adapter)
copy c:\aspicd.sys a:\ (if you want access to your SCSI CD-ROM)



3. Modify the A:\CONFIG.SYS file for loading ASPI8DOS.SYS, ASPI8U2.SYS AND ASPICD.SYS.

Below is an example of what the command strings should look like:

DEVICE=A:\ASPI8DOS.SYS /D
DEVICE=A:\ASPI8U2.SYS /D
DEVICE=A:\ASPICD.SYS /D:ASPICD0

NOTE: Make sure you customize the command strings above to reflect the actual location or path of the ASPI8DOS.SYS, ASPI8U2.SYS and ASPICD.SYS files.

4. Copy MSCDEX.EXE to A:. In Windows 95/98 the file is located in the \Windows\Command subdirectory.

5. Modify the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to load MSCDEX.

Below is an example of what the command string should look like:

A:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:ASPICD0 /M:12


This will assign the CD-ROM to the next available driver letter, typically D: if there is only one DOS drive.

NOTE: Make sure you customize the command strings above to reflect the actual location or path of the MSCDEX.EXE file. For example if your MSCDEX.EXE file is located in the c:\windows\command directory, either copy the MSCDEX.EXE file to the root directory of the Boot Diskette, or change the path in the A:\Autoexec.bat file to reflect the actual location of the MSCDEX.EXE file

NOTE: If you are using MS-DOS 5.0 and do not already have MSCDEX.EXE, you will need to either upgrade to MS-DOS 6.0 or above, or download MSCDEX.EXE from Microsoft BBS or CompuServe forum.

6. Reboot your system. You are now able to access your CD-ROM drive from the command line and from Windows or Netware.

Creating a DOS bootable floppy for your scsi adapter

Follow these steps if you want to enable SCSI CD-ROM access from a bootable hard drive.

The following systems files will be modified:

- CONFIG.SYS
- AUTOEXEC.BAT

1. Copy the files ASPI8DOS.SYS, ASPI8U2.SYS (depending on your host adapter hardware configuration) and ASPICD.SYS from the Adaptec Family Manager Set Utility diskette to the appropriate drive (C:) and directory in which they will be used (for example c:\SCSI).

2. Modify the CONFIG.SYS file for loading ASPI8DOS.SYS, ASPI8U2.SYS and ASPICD.SYS.

Below is an example of what the command strings should look like:

DEVICE=A:\ASPI8DOS.SYS /D
DEVICE=A:\ASPI8U2.SYS /D
DEVICE=A:\ASPICD.SYS /D:ASPICD0

NOTE: Make sure you customize the command strings above to reflect the actual location or path of the ASPI8DOS.SYS, ASPI8U2.SYS and ASPICD.SYS files.

3. Modify the AUTOEXEC.BAT file for loading MSCDEX.

Add this line to the existing AUTOEXEC.BAT.
C:\DOS\MSCDEX.EXE /D:ASPICD0 /M:12


This will assign the CD-ROM to the next available driver letter, typically D: if there is only one DOS drive.

NOTE: Make sure you customize the command strings above to reflect the actual location or path of the MSCDEX.EXE file. For example if your MSCDEX.EXE file is located in the c:\windows\command directory, either copy the MSCDEX.EXE file to the root directory of the Boot Diskette, or change the path in the A:\Autoexec.bat file to reflect the actual location of the MSCDEX.EXE file

NOTE: If you are using MS-DOS 5.0 and do not already have MSCDEX.EXE, you will need to either upgrade to MS-DOS 6.0 or above, or download MSCDEX.EXE from Microsoft BBS or CompuServe forum.

4. Reboot your system. You are now able to access your CD-ROM drive from the command line and from Windows or Netware.

Contacting Adaptec

Technical information, including product literature, answers to commonly asked questions, information on software upgrades, and other topics is available electronically through the following: