Adding an External CD RW drive

Question

I want to add an External CD RW drive to my computer due to problems with the Phillip's DVD drive that the system came with. What I would like to know is, when I do get the drive, do I just hook up the USB cord from the new drive to the USB port on the computer, or do I have to add drivers or anything else? I already have burning software. It's Nero 6 Ultra Edition. Will this one program burn CD's for the new drive.   The reason I ask is because I recently purchased a CD RW drive, hooked it up, and installed the software that came with it. It was a version of Nero, 5.5. The computer recognized the drive, but when I wanted to burn a CD from Nero's PhotoShow, it only recognized the computer's 'D' default drive. Is there something I am doing wrong. I've been trying to figure this one out, to no avail. I was unable to get the program to recognize the new 'G' drive. Also, my pc beeped just once. I don't have a clue as to what that means. Anyone have the answer?

osprey4 · Answer

Why external? There is only one advantage to an external drive, portability. But if your Phillips drive has not given you good service, why not replace it with another internal drive?

robinhood42 · Answer

Because it is a DVD drive, and I need a CD RW drive to use Nero's PhotoShow express to burn musical cd's. Nero makes this program, and I have contacted them. The program only uses CDs, not DVDs. If I want a DVD from them, I have to order one for $29.99. I have a 2 year old and I want to make CDs to pass around to family members.   I've posted in other forums. You can read some of them and see the problems I have been having. But I do need the DVD drive too. It will burn CDs ok, but won't play them back. I have tried everything and am just frustrated at this point.

osprey4 · Answer

Sorry if this seems an obvious question, but are you aware that DVD±RW drives are capable of burning CD-R and CD-RW discs?

robinhood42 · Answer

Yes I am, but I can't get my DVD to burn the discs, and for the times that it will burn to cd, it won't play back. This is the problem that I have been having. The program that I am using, Nero PhotoShow, says in the manual that not all cds will burn and/or play back in all DVD players because of incompatability. That doesn't mean all DVD players won't play back the CDs, but the Philips 8601 that I have won't play back the musical slideshows. I've tried everything.

osprey4 · Answer

Ok, I've got myself caught up on your other thread, which Jeff pointed me to.

Let me go back to your original question. When you add a USB drive, you'll need to install the drivers that come with it. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully. USB devices can be finicky, which is why I don't recommend them in lieu of an internal drive. But your case may be different.

Another thought. It seems your system is not too old. It may be worth contacting Dell to see about a replacement for that Phillips drive. If you do a search in this forum for your model drive, you'll see what sorts of problems others have experienced.

robinhood42 · Answer

I've tried burning them in Video CD mode too, and that won't work either.

robinhood42 · Answer

Osprey,

That particular drive has already been replaced 2 times, and my computer is just over 6 months old.

When I added the External CD drive, the computer recognized it, and even my Nero 6 program recognized it, but when it came to burning a cd using Nero's PhotoShow, the computer wanted to burn it using the default drive on my system. On the external drive, I tried using it without the software that came with it-including the driver-and using it after installing the software, which was Nero 5.5. Since I already had a copy of Nero on my system, I deleted the version that came with the new drive. Could that have been the problem, that in uninstalling the software for the drive, I uninstalled the driver also? I tried to just find the driver on the install disc and I didn't see it.

I will give it some thought of installing an internal CD drive, but since I don't have a clue how to do this, I will have to find somebody that came. I'm just wondering if it will cause problems with the DVD RW and DVD Rom combo drives that are on my system now. Those of course are internal drives.

I've read some of the problems that other people have had with their Dell DVD and CD players. I am disappointed in Dell. After paying so much money for this system, I just want it to work. Instead, I'm always fighting with it to do something I want.

If you find any more answers, please let me know. I appreciate the help.

Robin

Jim Hardin · Answer

@robinhood42 wrote:

Osprey,

That particular drive has already been replaced 2 times, and my computer is just over 6 months old.

When I added the External CD drive, the computer recognized it, and even my Nero 6 program recognized it, but when it came to burning a cd using Nero's PhotoShow, the computer wanted to burn it using the default drive on my system. On the external drive, I tried using it without the software that came with it-including the driver-and using it after installing the software, which was Nero 5.5. Since I already had a copy of Nero on my system, I deleted the version that came with the new drive. Could that have been the problem, that in uninstalling the software for the drive, I uninstalled the driver also? I tried to just find the driver on the install disc and I didn't see it.

I will give it some thought of installing an internal CD drive, but since I don't have a clue how to do this, I will have to find somebody that came. I'm just wondering if it will cause problems with the DVD RW and DVD Rom combo drives that are on my system now. Those of course are internal drives.

I've read some of the problems that other people have had with their Dell DVD and CD players. I am disappointed in Dell. After paying so much money for this system, I just want it to work. Instead, I'm always fighting with it to do something I want.

If you find any more answers, please let me know. I appreciate the help.

Robin

Many externals require that you install the drivers before you plug in the drive! If you do it the other way around, they do not work right.

I agree with the others here, that an internal is the best way to go.

I am also not convinced that your CD burning is not successful. I am really stretching the meaning of 'successful'! The burn can be successful but that does not automatically follow that it will work…

Not familiar with Nero, so examine the discs in Explorer and tell us what folders reside there and what files.

I suspect you will see Folders like: VCD, CDDA, CDI, KARAOKE, MPEGAV, etc. These are VCD folders.

Inside MPEGAV you will find a xxxx.DAT file. That is your slideshow. Double click it and choose MS Media Player to play it.

Computers do not know automatically what to do with VCDs. Likewise more and more standalone Players are dropping support for VCD/SVCDs.

robinhood42 · Answer

Sorry for taking so long to respond back. I think you are right. The cd's will burn, but they won't play back. I still haven't figured out a cure for that one yet, unless I add an internal CD RW drive, which looks like I might end up doing unless I can figure a way to get one of these two drives I have now to play back the Nero PhotoShow Elite musical slideshows.   Now I'm wondering if I do make cds when I get an internal CD RW drive, if the disc will even play in other people's computers. These discs would be for family, but they all have DVD drives also. I wonder if these discs would work in their optical drives if they won't work in my, or rather playback what they have burned.   I have looked over the Nero PhotoShow disc in Windows Explorer. I saw none of those file extensions that you mentioned, but I know they must be somewhere. Even when I did a search for MPEGAV, I couldn't find the file. Any other ideas where they may be? I also tried to get Media Player to play back one of the slideshows, but it wouldn't.

ToddGilbert · Answer

Same here. A bad windows update and my internal drive no longer works. I hooked up an external drive and that will not work now either after working for 3 months. Paid 2,500 for this computer. Very disappointed.

Storage, Drives & Media

Adding an External CD RW drive

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