When you replace a CD-player, you don't have to install any new drivers. Does the same go for CD-burners? Reason I'm asking is that I have replaced two or three CD-burners without using any software that came with them, and it worked just fine, burning software and all. Now I replaced one, and the old CD burning program won't work (says that "the inserted media was not recognized", or something like that). I like the old program and would like to keep it, as I'm too lazy to learn a new one. Does anyone know?

It could be that the old software was "branded" so that it would only work with the drive it came bundled with. I would think the error would reflect that, though. Is it possible you're trying to burn a dvd-r with cd-r software?

Depends on if the software supports that player or can identify it as a cd-burner. Some of the newer burners will not work on older software due to support vs the way the hardware works. Try the latest version of nero or something and then try and burn. If it works buy the software. Also the type of media your burning needs to be checked. when you try and burn does it list your new burner as a burner etc. Sometimes certain brands of cds can be the issue but I bet it is the flavor of burner you have.

Originally posted by Gene McGill:
It could be that the old software was "branded" so that it would only work with the drive it came bundled with. I would think the error would reflect that, though. Is it possible you're trying to burn a dvd-r with cd-r software? Nope, old and new one are both CD-RW's, not DVD's. But the software could possibly be branded, it's the Dell software that came with the PC and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they "tamper proofed" it to make sure you have to buy all spare parts from them :rolleyes:


Originally posted by faulkkev:
Depends on if the software supports that player or can identify it as a cd-burner. Some of the newer burners will not work on older software due to support vs the way the hardware works. Try the latest version of nero or something and then try and burn. If it works buy the software. Also the type of media your burning needs to be checked. when you try and burn does it list your new burner as a burner etc. Sometimes certain brands of cds can be the issue but I bet it is the flavor of burner you have. Yes, it pops up as source and target (only have one drive) in the burning program, so I'm pretty sure that the PC "knows" what it is. The error doesn't occur until I put a CD in it.

One possible problem could be that the old one just died and even disappeared from the list of devices, so I couldn't remove it before installing the new one. It's my office PC, so I can't do anything until Monday, but I might just try to remove it and let Windows detect it again, plus install the software that came with the burner.

BTW, the PC in only 2 years old, but I guess that could mean that the software is obsolete smile.gif

I recently replaced a cdrw drive in a system. Roxio EasyCD Creator did not recognize the drive as a burner even though the system did. An update to Roxio solved the problem.

Yep that is what i'm saying the software doesn't have that burner in it's supported list. Dell etc probably has a supported cd burner list for that version of software. Roxio has it on there website and it lays out which burners are supported and by what version of software.