Is your hard disk detected upon startup? I'm assuming you have an internal hard disk attached...so that should show up as DH0: or something similar in the Boot Menu.
I'm taking a stab in the dark here, but I'm pretty sure it is normal that your cd drive isn't shown in the boot menu...simply because it has no RDB and therefore your amiga can't read the filesystem.
You will need to install a cd filesystem though on your workbench such as this one:
http://aminet.net/disk/cdrom/AmiCDROM-1.15.lhaJust download and follow the instructions and you should be okay.
As for your problems with your Microbotics board, it's best to solve one problem at a time, therefore I suggest you remove the Microbotics board for the time being and install your cd-rom drive and get that working first...then move onto your board problem.
In answer to your other questions...No, a driver isn't required for your Microbotics board, and there is no need to upgrade your kickstart either....kickstart3.0 will be fine for anything.
Hope to have been some help. Good luck.
Edit - you may possibly need IDEFIX...maybe some of the other members can enlighten you there, I use a FASTATA interface which is different and I have no knowledge of idefix.
