help with linux installation

[Jude DaShiell]

On slackware, try running cfdisk and don't give it any command line 
parameters.  If cfdisk can't find any hard drive, likely one of three 
things has happened.  First and most likely your cmos got hosed and needs 
restoring.  Second your cdrom drive somehow got disconnected inside the 
computer, was anyone to your knowledge inside that computer case lately 
and if so doing what?  Third, your cdrom drive needs replacing or 
cleaning.