Hi Cherri,
I also endorse Backpack Parallel port cdrom's, having used them for years.
You don't need to re-boot for some of the models, there is a DOS command
(device.com for my model) that will load the config.sys portion of the driver
so you don't need to re-boot.  There is also a nice feature that allows the PC
to boot without error messages should the drive be disconnected.

However, I always boot with a Windows network diskette that has the
network drivers, etc. so that a DOS pc can connect to a Windows95/NT
network.  I can make the Windows for Workgroups diskette in my sleep
but I can't quite remember how to set up a DOS 7 Win95 boot diskette with
network.  Doesn't matter to me, both allow me to find my network cdrom and
install the Win95b cd, since I never order cdrom drives for my network client PC.
There must be a similar solution for Netware.
Tom Turak
[log in to unmask]

----------
From:   Mercado, Judy[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Thursday, April 23, 1998 2:38 PM
Hi,
I use a portable CDROM unit that connects to a parallel port all the time
and it works great!  We still have a lot of workstations on our site that do
not have CDROM drives and are not on a network so this sure makes my life
easier.  You just attach the unit, install the program (mine installs in
both DOS and Windows) and tadaa!

Judy


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cherri [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Saturday, April 11, 1998 8:40 AM
> Subject:      [PCBUILD] External CD-Rom/Parallel Port
>
> Fellow Listmembers,
>         I will be upgrading the workstations on our Novell 3.12 network
> from Win
> 3.1 to Win 95.  Most of these workstations do not have a CD-Rom drive.
> The
> latest flyer from CDW shows a backpack external CD-Rom drive for parallel
> port.  This seems to be an answer to the upgrade process.  I am not quite
> sure about installing Win 95 on the Server as of yet because of space on
> the HD.  Could anyone advise the amount of space Win 95 would take up on
> the server (space is a consideration at this point on our server).  Any
> one
> have experience with using External CD-Rom drives?  Fast or slow?  Good or
> bad?
>         TIA for sharing your knowledge.
> Cherri Krowten