My autoexec.bat is empty and my config.sys only has device=C WINDOWS\himem.sys in it.<BR>I'd just back up the 2 files then delete all but that one line from them.

A. It sounds as if the CD-ROM drive is using real-mode drivers. A CD-ROM drive needs protected-mode drivers to work. Check your config.sys file to see if there are references to drivers for the CD ...

How to View Startup Files on XP Home Config.sys. As your PC boots, the startup programs that open or run in the background can affect your computer's performance.