CDROM problems

Hey guys, dunno if this is in right category, but I sure could use some help...

I was trying to help a friend reinstall Win98 (because it is totally ****ed up and needs to be swiped). Problem is when I boot on a DOS-floppy I can't use the CD reader/writer (a PHILIPS PCRW4816K).

* I can't boot from CD (it is supported by the BIOS). I tried another bootable CD also (Win95) and it wouldn't boot from that either...

* The system will find and recognize CD when booting. No problems.

* When I use a boot-floppy I can't get it to "find" the CD. I tried a few different DOS-disks (old stuff I had lying around) and most of them would result in total crap. But one of them resulted in at least "mounting" the CD to P:. I seems like it uses the ATPI(?) driver. When I check out the CD it will show everything ok, but I can't access files or directories that have lowercase letters in the name (like Install.exe or Setup.exe)... Aaarrrgh!!! Seems like I need some better support for FS with not only "eight uppercase letters" filenames or something...

So I guess what I need is a DOS driver that will work for this CDROM and instructions in how to set that up... I tried to find it on the internet, but no luck at all...
Any ideas?

I have also a backup plan (totally desperate):
* Get some linux-boot floppys (minimal system) that hopefully will get the CDROM going.
* If necessary install linux on HD and keeping C: (resized/smaller). Might need a partition magic boot-floppy for this...
* Mount the FAT partition and the Win98 CD under linux. Swipe C: from old **** and copy the CD to a temprary directory on C:
* Boot from DOS-floppy and install Win 98 from the temporary directory

This will only work if linux will get CDROM going (and everything else is working smoothly, fat chans...).

As you can see, I'm pretty desperate! It feels like this should be soooo easy!!!

Anyway. ALL input is welcome. I'm stumped.
/Magnus